The Nazis and Christianity Flashcards
Give two reasons why the Nazis were suspicious of the Catholics
1) They owed their first allegiance to the Pope, not Hitler
2) They had their own schools which taught values different from Nazi state schools
What did Hitler sign with the Pope in July 1933?
A Concordat (agreement)
In the Concordat, what did Hitler agree that Catholics could do?
Worship freely and go to Catholic schools without Nazi interference
In the Concordat, what did the Pope agree that the Catholic Church would NOT do?
Interfere in German politics
In the Concordat, what did the Pope agree that Catholic bishops would do?
Swear loyalty to the Nazi regime
Who broke the Concordat and how?
Hitler - the Nazis harassed and arrested Catholic priests, and closed Catholic schools
What happened to the Catholic Youth League by 1936?
It was banned
What happened to the number of young Germans attending church schools between 1933 and 1937?
Reduced - from 65% to 5%
How did the Pope react to the Nazis breaking the Concordat?
Issued a criticism of the Nazis in a statement
Why did the Protestants initially support and work with the Nazis?
The Nazis had eliminated the anti-Christian communists
What name was given to the pro-Nazi Protestant churches that combined in 1936?
The Reich Church
Who was appointed as the Protestant ‘Reich Bishop’ of Germany in 1936?
Ludwig Müller
To show their support for the Nazis, what did some Protestant pastors display in their churches?
The swastika
What place did Jewish people have in the Reich Church?
None - they were not allowed to be baptised into the Church, and Jewish teachings of the Old Testament were excluded from Christian teaching
