Church State Relations under Hitler and Mussolini

Background - initially, the church was in support of both parties. They believed communism was the real enemy to religion, and fascism could combat that. However, actions of both states would soon sour the relationships with both nations

Conflict with the Vatican - the loss of the papal states angered the church, and so they refused to honour Italy’s existence. This wasn’t good for Italy, as over 95% of its population were Catholic. Mussolini decided he neede to end this decades long feud, securing power and popularity

Lateran Treaty- in June 1929, the treaty was signed. This was perhaps the most influential moment of Mussolini’s entire rule, as it created the Vatican State. It boosted his popularity at home and abroad, and resolved decades of conflict. Made Catholicism the religion of Italy, Vatican City created, 30mil payout, Catholics recognise Italy

Deterioration of the relationships - conflict soon arose, when in 1931 Mussolini tried to merge catholic boys groups into his ONB. The pope attacked Italian fascism and its ’pagan worship’. Condemns invasion of Abyssinia in 1936 and race laws in 1938. However, the Vatican still stands

Protestant churches- Nazis form themselves as a replacement for religion. Majority of Germany (2/3) is Protestant, so hitler established Reichskirche to incorporate all various faiths into one. The crucifix was replaced with a swastika, bibles with mein kampf and a sword. A church with their own ideals posed a problem

Pushback - Some churches refused to join, and formed the Confessional Church, who believed Nazi ideology was not in line with church teachings. The church was made illegal in 1937, and several hundred pastors were arrested. The leaders, like Dietrich Bonhoeffer (who has been outspoken against hitler since the early 30s) and Martin Niemöller was sent to concentration camps

Catholic churches - Nazis far less popular with catholics (1/3) and through 1933 there were intermittent attacks on the clergy. In July, Hitler secured the Concordat with said the Catholics could maintain their position if they withdrew from politics and sworn allegiance to Hitler. This knocked out an opposition party to Hitler.

The Euthanasia programme - in 1933, the Nazis has introduced an act to have people with mental or physical disabilities sterilised, which was upgraded to euthanasia in 1939. This was staunchly opposed by members of the Catholic Church, particularly August Von Galen, the lion of Munster.

Pope Pius -