Controlling religious views Flashcards
Why did the church need to be controlled?
the Nazis wanted loyalty to Hitler and his beliefs.
The churches were potentially a threat to his power and therefore Hitler needed to control the churches influence
What were the issues in regard to Catholicism with the Nazi party?
- 1/3 of Germany’s Christians were Catholic
- Catholics owed allegiance to Pope and not Hitler
- Catholics had their own schools which didn’t teach Nazi values
- usually supported the catholic centre party
How did Hitler try to control the church?
By reaching a concordant with the pope in July 1933
this way he reassured the Catholics and encouraged them to work with the Nazi government.
When was the concordant?
July 1933
What did the concordat agree?
- Hitler agreed to confirm freedom of worship for Catholics and not to interfere with Catholic schools
- Catholic church agreed priests would not interfere with politics and ordered German bishops to swear loyalty to Nazi regime
How did Hitler break the promise of the concordant?
- Catholic priests, opposing Nazis, were harassed and sent to concentration camps
- Catholic schools were brought in line (they had to remove Christian symbols) with state schools or closed
- Catholic youth organisations, such as the Catholic Youth League were banned in 1937
As a result of Hitler breaking the promise of the concordant, what did the pope do in 1937?
He spoke out against Hitler in his statement, “with Burning anxiety”, which criticised Nazi policies.
What were the two protestant churches formed during the 1930s?
The Reich Church
The Confessional Church
When was the Reich church set up, who was it led by and what was it?
1936
led by Ludwig Muller, who Hitler made the Reich Bishop of Germany
Protestant churches which favoured working with the Nazis combined in 1936 to form a single protestant church called the Reich church
What changes were made to the Protestant church with the Reich church introduction?
- Hitler supporting pastors were allowed to continue providing church services
- some swastikas were displayed in churches
- Nazis insisted Jews not be baptised and that Jewish teachings from the Old Testament should be excluded
When was the confessional church set up, who was it led by and what was it?
1934
led by Martin Niemoller
opposed Nazi interference and Nazi policies
How many pastors were part of the Reich church?
2000
How many pastors were part of the confessional church and were sent to concentration camps for speaking out against the Nazis?
6000
800 arrested
How many Catholic priests were sent to concentration camps?
which concentration camp?
400 to the priests’ block at Dachau concentration camp
