Paweł Kaźmierczak Dietrich von Hildebrand and Political Theology Catholic Austria versus National Socialism The credit for reintroducing the concept of political theology to the contemporary political discourse is given to Carl Schmitt (1888-1985), a German jurist and political philosopher, called “a Heidegger of political theory” due to his involvement with the National Socialist regime 1 . In this context Carl Schmitt’s contemporary, a German philosopher Dietrich von Hildebrand (1889-1977), is worth mentioning. As a proponent of realist phenomenology and a fervent Catholic convert, he was a relentless opponent of National Socialism from the very start of the movement in Germany. After Hitler rose to power in 1933, he had to emigrate from Germany and actively opposed the National Socialist regime from Austrian soil. The political concepts of Dietrich von Hildebrand were rooted in his theological vision. Accordingly, he perceived National Socialism and Bolshevism as historical appearances of Antichrist 2 . In his interpretation, they were not just political systems – they aspired to be comprehensive worldviews 3 and earthly messianisms 4 . According to Hildebrand, National Socialism was a heretical movement, notwithstanding the fact that Hitler claimed to adhere to “positive Christianity” and to “oppose neo-paganism” 5 . 1 C. Schmitt, Politische Theologie. Vier Kapitel zur Lehre von der Souveränität , Duncker & Humblot, München 1922. Cfr. T. B. Strong, Foreword: Dimensions of the New Debate around Carl Schmitt, in: C. Schmitt, The Concept of the Political, The University of Chicago University Press, Chicago 2007, p. xii. Cfr. G. Geréby, Political Theology versus Theological Politics: Erik Peterson and Carl Schmitt, New German Critique 105, Vol. 35, No. 3, Fall 2008, p. 8. 2 „The AŶtiĐhrist is reariŶg his head iŶ Bolsheǀisŵ aŶd NatioŶal “oĐialisŵ, D. ǀoŶ HildeďraŶd, Quietistische Gefahr, „ChristliĐhe “täŶdestaat 30, 10. March 1935, p. 227. 3 Ibidem, p. 228. 4 D. von Hildebrand, Noch einmal: Katholizismus und Politik, „ChristliĐhe “täŶdestaat, 1935, No. 46, 17 November, s. 1096. 5 D. von Hildebrand, Ceteruŵ ceŶseo…! „ChristliĐhe “täŶdestaat, 1934, No. 45, 14 October, p. 3.