Religion and the Protestant Church

What was the SED’s attitude toward religion?

The SED was officially atheist and viewed religion as incompatible with socialism.

What percentage of East Germans were Protestant in 1949?

Around 75%.

What percentage of East Germans were religious by the 1980s?

Only about 25%.

Why did religious membership decline?

State pressure, secular education, materialism, and generational change.

How did the SED initially treat the Church?

With hostility – church schools closed, youth groups banned, and members discriminated against.

What was the Church’s response to SED hostility?

Adopted a policy of ‘critical solidarity’ – cooperation without full support.

What was the 1950 Church–State Agreement?

Churches were allowed to operate if they stayed out of politics.

What was the Junge Gemeinde?

Protestant youth organisation banned in the 1950s for competing with the FDJ.

When were Church youth groups legalised again?

1953 after worker unrest forced moderation.

How were Christians discriminated against?

Denied university access, public jobs, and party membership; faced social exclusion.

What was the Church’s stance on SED control in the 1960s?

Sought compromise and survival rather than confrontation.

What was the 1969 significant change in Church organisation?

East German churches formed the Federation of Protestant Churches in the GDR, independent from the West

What did the creation of the Federation of Protestant Churches achieve?

Allowed cooperation with the state while maintaining autonomy.

What was the 1978 Concordat between the Church and state?

Formal agreement allowing the Church to run services, publish materials, and hold events in return for staying apolitical.

How did the Church’s position change in the 1980s?

Became a refuge for peace, environmental, and human rights groups.

Why was the Church a safe space for opposition?

It was protected by the Concordat and had moral authority that limited state interference.

What were 'peace workshops' and ‘blues masses’?

Church-based youth and peace gatherings where opposition could discuss reform and pacifism.

How did the SED try to infiltrate the Church?

Through Stasi informers and pressure on church leaders.

What percentage of clergy were Stasi informers by 1989?

About 25%.

What was the slogan used by the Church to describe its position?

“Church in socialism” – cooperation without surrender.

What was the impact of Church involvement in opposition?

Provided organisational structure and protection for dissent, leading to major protests like Leipzig 1989.

How did the Church contribute to the Peaceful Revolution?

Offered meeting spaces for opposition, facilitated communication, and supported non-violence.

How did the Church’s influence change after 1989?

Declined as freedom of speech and association made it less central to political life.

How did the SED view the Church by the late 1980s?

As a tolerated but controlled institution under close surveillance.