Nazi religious policies & attitude to churches Flashcards
What was the relationship like between the Nazis and churches?
Nazi values fundamentally challenge Christianity but churches were powerful and a challenge for Nazis.
How specifically does Christianity contradict Nazism?
Jesus = Jewish - against Nazi Volkisch beliefs
Did the protestants agree with Hitler?
many did - agreed with family values - churches used as nazi bases.
What implementation did H want to make in the protestant church?
wanted prot church to change to Reich Church but ppl resisted so H put Otto Muller as Reich Bishop (nazi).
Opposition in protestant church
1934 - 2 bishops arrested for opposing Reich church.
Martin Niemoller - set up confessional church supported by 7000/17000 pastors
What happened in July 1933 relating to the catholic church?
Catholic church signed Concordat - religious freedom to stay out of politics
What was the alternative to christianity implemented by the Nazi’s?
German Faith movement - Teutonic Paganism - upheld racial belief of blood & descent - rejected christian ethics.
What were Nazi-church relations like by 1935?
still growing opposition but limited persecution allowed churches some independence.
What was implemented by Nazis to undermine the church?
Ministry of Church Affairs - closed church schools, removed crucifixes & banned nativity plays & undermine catholic youth groups.
What happened to some of the opposition? give example
some sent to concetration camps - Niemoller
Church funds were confiscated
What made it difficult for Hitler to take further action?
popularity of priests eg. Bishop Galen attacking euthanasia policy.
Were these Nazi implementations successful?
- only 5% germans joined German Faith Movement.
- some Nazi sympathy - traditional values and disliking communists.
