The Church and Nazis, Txt Bk pg 94-99

in 1933, how many percent of Germany is Roman Catholic?

1/3

in 1933, how many percent of Germany is Protestant?

2/3

What are some examples of how the Nazis used the Church?

Many church members were conservative and supported Hitler, They also acted as local power bases for the Naizis

What did Hitler say about Christinaity in 1933

‘the unshakable foundation of moral life of our people’

When did the Catholic Church and the Nazis signed an agreement?

1933

What was the name of the agreement and what was it about

Reich Concordat, the Nazis would not interfere in the running of the Catholic Church if it stayed out of political matters

What did the Pope say about the Concordat?

‘The aims of the Reich…the same of [Catholic Church]’

What was the slogan of the German Christians?

‘Swastika on our breasts and cross in our hearts’

What are some events that the SS would do to replace Christianity? 

New Marriage - Instead of church hymns, the ceremony might feature trumpet fanfares, poetry readings about fire, and a "blood and soil" speech emphasizing race preservation.

It was typically officiated by a high-ranking SS leader rather than a priest,

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New ‘Baptism’ - This was a "naming ceremony" or Lebenslauf meant to replace the Christian christening of children.

a private altar that included a portrait of Adolf Hitler.

was welcomed into the SS community, with the ceremony often focusing on the child's duty to the Volk

Who was Martin Niemoller

Martin Niemoller, a WW1 hero (who won the highest award for bravery) as a U boat commander. He combined with other pastor to form a Confessional Church. he was put in prison camp in 1938 and he said to a visiting pastor ‘And brother why are you not in prison’. He was a critic of Nazism

Who was Paul Schneider?

-pastor in small town, who criticized the Nazis

-arested in 34 and sent to Buchenwald camp in 37

-He refused to take his hat off for Naiz flag, and smuggled letters to church to warn them not to comprimise to Nazi

-he was tortured and whipped

Who was Joseph Fath

• a rural priest ( in the vilage of Leidersbach )who was anti Nazi

• he still hung 70 church flags even though they were banned

• He called for action from the Catholic Mother’s Association against a teacher who hung a picture of Hitler against a Crucifix

• At the village there was 17 girls in Hitler youth, 200 in the Congregation of Mary

• from a Nazi report ‘ [Fath] succeeded in getting rid of everything in his path’

The Jehova Witness during Nazi Rule

30,000 of them in total

1/3 of them died and many more were sent to camps

Witnesses believe that loyalty to Jehovah God is more important than their own lives. They were especially loyal and strict

Nazi actions against the church in 1935

new department for church affairs, Gestapo arrested 700 protestant ministers

Nazi actions against the church in 1936

pressure children not to attend church and trailed priest for crimes

Nazi actions against the church in 1937

Christmas Carols and Nativity banned

Nazi actions against the church in 1938

Church schools abolished

Number Roman Catholic in 1936 Census

1,944,000

roughly 2 million or 1.9 million

Number of Protestant in 1936

42,636,000

43 million

Number of Jews in 1936

308,000

Number of people with no beliefs in 1936

1,208,000

Number of Pagans in 1936

2,746,000

In 1934 what is the percentage split between church and community schools in Munich?

Church : 85%, Community : 15%

In 1935 what is the percentage split between church and community schools in Munich?

Church : 65%, Community 35%

In 1936 what is the percentage split between church and community schools in Munich?

CHruch : 35, Community : 65%

In 1937 what is the percentage split between church and community schools in Munich?

Church : 5%, Community 95%

Who was the ReichsBishop?

Ludwig Muller

How many % of people formaly belong to protestant and catholic chruch before 1933

95%

Facts to show the influence of church on German soceity

Almost all ruling dynasty of Germany had connection with the Church

What did Cardinal von Faulbaber say in 1922

‘The Weimar republic is found on perjury and treason’

What is the position of the church in Ger

what was the chruch the bdrock of

who were the catholics most associated with

all very conservative

they were a bedrock of nationalism and conservatism

the Catholics were more associated with the centre party

the Nazis worked well with the protestant church

what is the word for coordination

Gleichschaltung

(German for "synchronization" or "coordination") was the systematic process of Nazification

What was the organisation of Christianity like and what did Hitler want to change

the Protestants were mainly in the North and Catholics in the south

there were 28 regional protestant church

Hitler wanted to make the 28 into one, run by a reichsbishop

What happened in 1938

all Churchmen must take an oath of allegiance with the Nazis

Who was Dietrich Bonhoeffer

• prominent prelist who refused the Nazi

• banned from preaching and publishing

• started a campaign against the Nazis

• help found the confessing church

• he wanted to suffer like Christ did

• he helped Jews escape with fake documents

• he had a pastoral role in an assassination plot

• choose to return back to Germany as he wanted to share with the trials of his people

• Arrested by Gestapo

• hanged with Piano wire and hanged on a meat hook

What was the confessing church

• Formed in 1934 as a response to Nazi attempts to control Protestant churches.

• Opposed the pro‑Nazi “German Christians” movement, which tried to align Christianity with Nazi ideology.

• Declared loyalty to Christ and scripture over loyalty to Hitler or the state.

What is the line for Nazi control over the Church

it does not work and they can’t control the Church

but most church goes along, and does not resist or oppose

How many percent were community school in Nuremburg (Protestant) in 1934

42%

58% Chruch

How many % were community school in nuremberg in 1937

91

9% chruch

Police report in Bavaria showing the influence of Chruch

‘the influence of the Church on the population is so strong that the National Socialist spirit cannot penetrate