Life in Nazi Germany: the church and religion Flashcards
Hitler wanted to reduce the church’s power
1) Most Germans were Christians in the 1930s so the church was very influential
2) The church was closely tied to national matters such as education
3) Some prominent Nazis were anti-Christian and Nazi ideology disagreed with the role the church had traditionally had in society
4) Hitler thought the church should promote Nazi ideology. He also worried that members of the church might publicly oppose the Nazis
5) The Nazis were careful to maintain support from the catholic and protestant churches during its rise to power because they were so popular. However, as Hitler consolidated his totalitarian state, his control over the churches increased.
Persecution of the Catholic church
1) In July 1933, an agreement called the concordat was signed between the pope and the Nazi government. Hitler promised not to interfere with the Catholic church if the church agreed to stay out of German politics.
2) The church was now banned from speaking out against the Nazi party, but Hitler soon broke his side of the deal.
How did the Nazis control the church?
1) They started to restrict the church’s role in education.
2) In 1936 all crucifixes were removed from schools and by 1939 Catholic education had been abolished.
3) The Nazis began arresting priests in 1935 and put them on trial
4) Catholic newspapers were suppressed and the catholic Youth group was banned
What did the Pope do in 1937?
He spoke out against Hitler in a letter to Catholic churches in Germany. The view of the church had changed, but many German Catholics were too scared to speak out against the Nazi party.
Controlling the Protestant church
1) When Hitler became chancellor in 1933, there were 28 independent Protestant churches. These churches were politically divided-some formed a group called the ‘German Christians’ who supported Hitler and were pro anti-Semitism.
2) The Nazi party backed up this version of Christianity and believed everyone should follow its principles. In 1936, all protestant churches merged to form one Reich church.
The Reich church ‘Nazified’ Christianity
1) The cross was now a Swastika
2) Mein Kampf was the Bible
3) Only Nazis could conduct sermons
