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The Church in Nazi Germany

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The Church in Nazi Germany What was Nazi policy towards religion? Church = possible threat to Nazi power 1925 census: German population of 65 million, 40 million ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: The Church in Nazi Germany


1
The Church in Nazi Germany
  • What was Nazi policy towards religion?

2
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3
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.
4
Church possible threat to Nazi power
  • 1925 census German population of 65 million,
  • 40 million belonged to the main Protestant
    (Evangelical Lutheran) church
  • 21 million to the Roman Catholic church
  • 620,000 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

5
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

6
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

7
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.

8
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.

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Discussion
  • How were churches affected by Nazi rule?
  • In what ways did the Nazis use Christianity to
    further their control?

13
  • http//www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/eu
    ropean_football/article1082418.ece
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