Religious Policies Flashcards
Why did many Protestants support the Nazis?
Because of their family values and old traditions that they embraced - it led to many Protestant pastors allowing Nazis to use their churches as bases
Why did Hitler end up causing issues between the Nazis and Protestant churches
Because he wanted one single denomination under reich control, however there was many different Protestant churches and in 1933 this was established
Who led the Reich church
Ludwig muller
Who led the opposing confessional church and when was it set up
Martin Niemoller and it was set up in 1934 as a result of the arrest of two Protestant pastors
How many pastors joined the confessional church
7000/17000
What was the concordat and when was it signed
It gave catholics religious freedom and protection in return it would stay out of politics
It was signed in July 1933
What did the Nazis do about the rising opposition of the Catholic Church
> Closed some church schools
replacement of crucifix with swastika
banning of nativities
attack on the catholic youth
arrests of pastors and priests
What was the German faith movement
A nazi made alternative to Christianity
What was the German faith movements values
> belief in Germanic superiority and distain to Jews
replacement of catholic ceremonies because Jesus was a Jew
rejection of Christian ideas of mercy and forgiveness
cult of hitlers superiority
Why was the German faith movement a failure
Only 5% joined
Why couldn’t the Nazis alienate the church during the war
The church applied help to citizens during allied bombings and because many people looked to the church for hope during the war times
What was the Reich church and when was it set up?
An attempt to unite all German Protestants, had the slogan “ The swastika on our breast and the Cross in our hearts.:” Used to turn people against catholic ideologies.
Who was Deitrich Bonhoeffer?
He was a member of the confessional church who was banned from public speaking due to his opposition of the regime, he was eventually captured in 1943 by the Gestapo and murdered
When was Hitler able to fully oppose the church and how did he do it
After great military success during the war, he began the closing of monasteries, and the attacking of church rituals.
How successful was Hitlers religious policies
Unsuccessful as religion survived in Germany due to the morale support it gave the people during the war and especially the bombings.
Only 5% joined the German faith movement
Experienced opposition within both Protestant and Catholic Church
