the church in nazi germany what was nazi policy towards religion?
TRANSCRIPT
The Church in Nazi Germany
What was Nazi policy towards religion?
Ludwig Mueller, a Nazi sympathizer, was elected to the position of Reich Bishop in 1933 as Hitler attempted to unite regional Protestant churches under Nazi control. Berlin, Germany, November 17, 1933.
Church = possible threat to Nazi power
1925 census: German population of 65 million, 40 million belonged to the main Protestant
(Evangelical Lutheran) church21 million to the Roman Catholic church620,000 to various smaller, mostly Protestant
denominations. "Church Struggle" - strained relationship between
church and state in Germany in the 1870s and then again during the Nazi regime.
Aim of churches: keep control over institutions and maintain freedom to worship
Concordat (Treaty) with Catholic Church (1933)
• Hitler not interfere with the Catholic Church while the Church would not comment on politics
• Confirmed the dissolution of German Catholicism's trade unions and political organizations
• Guaranteed the church traditional rights to cultivate and promote the practice of the Catholic rite, to maintain Catholic schools, and to appoint Catholic clergy
• Many provisions of the agreement were promptly violated, e.g. persecution of Jesuits
Catholic Church continued
• Concordat lasted until 1937 - Hitler started a concerted attack on the Catholic Church arresting priests etc.
• In 1937 pope Pius XI, issued his "Mit brennender Sorge" statement ("With burning anxiety") over what was going on in Germany
• But never a total clampdown on the Catholic Church in Germany
• World-wide movement with much international support
The Protestant Church• Number of different churches represented - easier to deal with• Until 1933 = separate Landeskirchen in 28 areas - own structure• Split: the "German Christians" led by Ludwig Muller who believed that any
member of the church who had Jewish ancestry should be sacked from the church
• Merged into one national “Evangelical Church” - aryans only • Muller supported Hitler and in 1933 he was given the title of "Reich
Bishop". • 1935: greater control: Minister of Church affairs Hanns Kerrl• Opposed: the "Congressional Church”• Led by Martin Niemoller (famous in Germany as WW1 U-boat captain =
potential embarrassing to Nazis) • Arrested by Gestapo for opposing Hitler: Niemoller was sent to a
concentration camp for 7 years where he was kept in solitary confinement• Many other Confessional Church members suffered the same fate.
The Reich Church
• Created 1936• Swastika replaced
Christian cross as its symbol
• The Bible was replaced by "Mein Kampf" which was placed on the altar, also sword
• Only invited Nazis were allowed to give sermons in a Reich Church.
Discussion:
• How were churches affected by Nazi rule?
• In what ways did the Nazis use Christianity to further their control?
• http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/european_football/article1082418.ece