Church opposition

Q

What did Hitler sign with the Catholic Church in 1933?

A

A Concordat

3

Q

What did the 1933 Concordat mean?

A

That Hitler would leave the Catholic Church alone. In return, the Church would stay out of politics.

4

Q

What did Hitler try and unite all Protestant Churches under?

A

One official Reich Church

5

Q

Who led the Reich Church?

A

Ludwig Muller

6

Q

Did all Germans like the Reich Church?

A

No, many preferred their local church

7

Q

How did the Nazis try and use the Reich Church?

A

They used a group called the ‘German Christians’ to try and promote Nazi ideas through the Reich Church

8

Q

Where there more Catholics or Protestants in Germany?

A

Protestants

9

Q

Roughly how many Protestants were there in Germany?

A

45 million

10

Q

Roughly how many Catholics were there in Germany?

A

22 million (approx. half number of Protestants)

11

Q

Why did Hitler feel threatened by the Churches?

A

They were a potential source of opposition to his power AND Christianity emphasised peace

12

Q

What did the Reich Church attempt to ban?

A

The Old Testament - it was considered Jewish

13

Q

Why did the Reich Church attempt to ban the Old Testament?

A

It was considered Jewish

14

Q

What did Martin Niemoller form in 1934?

A

An alternative Protestant Church to the Reich Church, called the Confessional Church

15

Q

What was the name of the church Martin Niemoller formed in 1934?

A

The Confessional Church

16

Q

What did Niemoller begin doing in 1934?

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A

Openly attacking the Nazi regime

17

Q

What happened to Niemoller?

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A

He was arrested and spent 1938-45 in a concentration camp

18

Q

Which camp did Niemoller get put in?

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A

Sachsenhausen - just outside Berlin

19

Q

How many pastors (ministers) of the Confessional Church were imprisoned?

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A

800 - including Niemoller, the founder

20

Q

What did Nazis attempt to stop Catholics using in church?

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A

The crucifix - although this failed

21

Q

What happened to Catholic youth organisations?

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A

They were suppressed - children were expected to join the Hitler Youth instead

22

Q

Which Catholic became a vocal critic of the Nazi regime?

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A

Bishop Galen of Munich

23

Q

What did Bishop Galen do in 1941?

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A

He led a protest against the Nazi policy of killing physically disabled and mentally ill patients

24

Q

What did the Nazis do in response to Bishop Galen’s protest?

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A

Temporarily paused the policy - they did not want to risk a popular uprising during war

25

When did Bishop Galen lead his protest against the killing of physically disabled and mentally ill people?

In 1941

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26

Who publicly criticised the Nazis in 1937?

The Pope (Pope Pius XI)

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27

Who was pope during this time?

Pope Pius XI (11)

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28

As a result of Pope Pius' attack on the Nazis, what happened?

400 Catholic priests were sent to Dachau concentration camp

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29

What was Hitler forced to do during 1937?

Return control of the Church to old Protestant leadership - in return for a promise that it would stay out of politics

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30

What happened to Church attendance during this period?

It increased significantly - especially during WWII

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31

What does the increase in Church attendance show about Hitler's attempts to control it?

It had failed