What was it like to be a Christian in Nazi Germany?

Question 1

did Hitler support religious freedom

Answer 1

outwardly, he promoted it but in reality he saw christians as a threat

Question 2

were a lot of germans christian in the 1930’s and how influential was the church

Answer 2

most germans were christian and the church was very influential

Question 3

what did the church think of Nazi ideology

Answer 3

they didn’t agree with a lot of views nazi’s had so Hitler was worried of public opposition

Question 4

what did hitler think of the church in regards to their role in the state

Answer 4

he believed they should comply and promote nazi messages in schools

Question 5

when Hitler was consolidating power, what was his actions and position with the church

Answer 5

they were careful to maintain support from the catholic and protestant church because they were so popular

Question 6

once Hitler became Furher how did his control over the churches change

Answer 6

began to increase his control over them

Question 7

2 most important churches

Answer 7

protestant and catholic

Question 8

what was the concordat

Answer 8

Hitler promised to not interfere with the catholic church if the church stayed out of german politics

Question 9

what did the concordat assure about the catholic church

Answer 9

that they were now banned from speaking out against the nazi party

Question 10

did Hitler maintain his side of the deal ( concordat)

Answer 10

NO

Question 11

when was the concordat agreed

Answer 11

1933

Question 12

what did the nazi’s do to start diminuishing catholic influence (4)

Answer 12

• restrict their role from schools
• in 1936 removed all crucifixes
• arresting priests in 1935
• catholic newspapers and youth disbanded

Question 13

what happened to the protestant church

Answer 13

fell under nazi control and was reorganised

Question 14

what happened to protestant churches in 1936

Answer 14

joined to form the Reich church

Question 15

the reich church was an attempt to

Answer 15

increase state control over protestant church and make a national socialist version of christianity

Question 16

how did the rEICH CHURCH ‘nazify’ christianity

Answer 16

• cross symbol was replaced by swastika
• bible replaced with mein kampf
• only nazis could give sermons and non aryan ministers were suspended

Question 17

most common religion in germany in 1933

Answer 17

christianity

Question 18

why did some christians welcome the rise of the nazi’s in the begginning

Answer 18

because of article 24 in the 1920 nazi platform, which was on positive christanity

Question 19

why were catholic churches suspicious of nazis in the beginning and how did Hitler end that

Answer 19

because nationalism wasn’t so deeply embedded, and the catholic church had been a key coalition party for the weimar government during the 1920s

• these thoughts were forgotten when hitlers described christianity as the foundation of german values

Question 20

how did hitler control the church’s influence later on

Answer 20

• catholic schools + youth organisations were suspended
• catholic newspaper was banned

Question 21

were there any limitations to nazi control of religion

Answer 21

the reich church attempted to ban the old testament in religious services as it was considered a jewish book which angered the protestants and they opposed to this and the reich church.

nazi’s also tried to stop people using the crucifix in church but did not succeed

Question 22

how can we see that Hitlers attempt to ‘hide’ the churches did not work

Answer 22

attendance to church during nazi rule increased a lot, showing how is attempted suppression did not work

Question 23

did the church play a big part in opposing hitler

Answer 23

yes pretty big

Question 24

who was Gaten and what did he do

Answer 24

catholic bishop who led a manifestation in 1941 against the nazis because they were killing the mentally disabled

Question 25

was bishop Gaten succesfull in opposing

Answer 25

yes because he had so much support that it forced the nazis to stop killing the mentally ill or disabled as they were too scared to silence him.

Question 26

who was pastor Neimoner and what did he do

Answer 26

a protestant minister that created a new protestant church called confession church

Question 27

who was Patrich bonhoeffer and what did he do

Answer 27

a protestant minister who helped jews escape

Question 28

who was pastor Neimoner and what did he do

Answer 28

a protestant minister who had sympathised with nazi ideas in the past but after 1933 publicly outspoke and became a critic against hitler

Question 29

what happened to neimhoner

Answer 29

captures and put in a concentration camp for 7 years