Historical Theological Questions

What theological developments and academic innovations occurred between the world wars? Niebuhr and Fosdick both refer to relatively recent focuses on the "historical Jesus" and speak about him and his political involvement in ways we have not seen thus far in primary sources. It seemed that Niebuhr's references to the Old Testament were somewhat void of historical criticism, yet he references the "historical Jesus." What was the academic focus in theology at that time and how did affect the American-Christian position on war? What made this situation different from a theological perspective from the debates among the clergy prior to WWI?