Reinventing Protestant Germany: Dr. Brandon Bloch on the Church’s Role in Nazi and Post-Nazi Eras

In this episode of Faithful Politics, hosts Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram speak with Dr. Brandon Bloch, historian and assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, about his groundbreaking book Reinventing Protestant Germany: The Religious Nationalists and the Contest for Post-Nazi Democracy (Harvard University Press).

Dr. Bloch explores how German Protestants grappled with complicity, guilt, and renewal after World War II, tracing how theology, nationalism, and moral reconstruction intertwined in the decades following Hitler’s rise. The discussion connects these historical lessons to modern America—especially the resurgence of Christian nationalism and the uneasy dance between faith and political identity.

Listeners will come away with a deeper understanding of how religion can both sustain democracy and undermine it, depending on how believers interpret power, patriotism, and divine authority.

Guest Bio – Dr. Brandon Bloch

Dr. Brandon Bloch is an Assistant Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, specializing in modern European history, political theology, and human rights. His research focuses on how religion, nationalism, and democracy intersected in 20th-century Germany. His book, Reinventing Protestant Germany: The Religious Nationalists and the Contest for Post-Nazi Democracy (Harvard University Press), examines how German Protestants rebuilt faith and moral authority in the wake of Nazism.

Dr. Bloch’s work has been featured in academic and public forums for its insight into how religious identity can both challenge and reinforce authoritarian power.