The Cross or the Swastika

By S. J. Tagliareni and S.J. Tagliareni

The Cross or the Swastika is the complex story of many characters caught in the web of the Second World War. It delves into collective pathology, where normal human beings accept and endorse inhuman behaviors. It also explores the roles and influence of the most powerful moral leaders in the world, and attempts to understand their silence as the innocents are led to the crematoria. In the vast array of characters there are monsters and heroes. Broad in scope and thematic undertakings, settings range from a prison cell in London to the Eternal City of Rome, from Denmark to the Russian Front. It imagines the secret conversations of the Nazi inner circle, as Hitler and Goebbels enact their plans for European domination and the extermination of the Jews. The plot follows decision-makers within the Vatican who must choose what course of action the Catholic Church will take as the Nazi cloud descends over Europe. Will they become involved in the politics of the day, going against the tradition of the church, or will they remain neutral and silent, not speaking out against horrific atrocities? An exploration of the role of the church, the depths of human depravity, and the inner strength needed to sustain individuals in times of deep crises, this novel ultimately asks: Which would you have chosen, the Cross or the Swastika?

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1939995043
• ISBN13: 9781939995049
• Release Date: September 2014
• Publisher: American History Press
• Length: 296 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.0" x 0.8" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up