Concordat with the Vatican

Churches in Germany had a key role in everyday German life.

Protestantism was more common in the north whilst Catholicism was generally

stronger in the south.

In gaining support from the Catholic Centre Party for the

Enabling Act, Hitler had promised to protect the

Catholic Church.

Over time Hitler was able to take control of the many different branches of the

Protestantism in Germany, creating a new national faith

based around Nazism.

However as the Catholic Church was a global and

powerful organisation, it was harder to control them.

Hitler instead sought to work with the Catholic Church, led by

Pope Pius XI.

The Pope agreed that the Centre Party would be abolished and in

July 1933 both sides signed a concordat to work together. The

Catholic Church promised to stay out of politics, in return for

keeping its freedom.

In theory this meant that the Church would continue to

control educational, youth and other organisations.

Over time though the Nazis began to change this. Parents

were pressured to not use faith (Catholic) schools. In addition many priests were put on trial,

often for false reasons.

Dealing with the Churches (of all Christian faiths) posed problems for the Nazis.

On the one hand they wanted to control all aspects of society,

and the Churches were a potential opposition. However

attacking the Churches often caused public anger, which the

Nazis did not want.

Historians’ views

• Richard J Evans: Even though the Nazis would go back on their promises in the Concordat, signing the deal stopped the Catholic Church from facing even more extreme attacks

• Gregory Paul (an atheist writer): Argues that the Church was at fault for signing the deal as it gave legitimacy to the Nazis, describing it as a “classic political kickback scheme.”

• Geoff Layton: The Concordat was an initial success but masked the Nazis’ ultimate plans to undermine the Church.