Dietrich Bonhoeffer (February 4, 1906 – April 9, 1945) was a pastor, theologian and martyr.He was also a participant in the resistance movement against Nazism.

His involvement in plans to assassinate Hitler resulted in his arrest in April 1943 and his subsequent execution by hanging in April 1945, 23 days before the Nazis’ surrender.

His view of Christianity’s role in the secular world has become very influential. For a year and a half, Bonhoeffer was imprisoned at a military prison awaiting trial.

There he continued his work in religious outreach among his fellow prisoners and guards. Sympathetic guards helped smuggle his letters out of prison.

These uncensored letters were posthumously published in Letters and Papers from Prison.