Summary 8 - Nazi policies towards the Catholic Church

Question 1

Give two reasons why the Catholic Church posed a greater problem to Hitler than the Protestant Church?

Answer 1

• Catholics were part of an international church led by the Pope and so they were less susceptible to Nazi ideology
• In the early 1930s, Catholic voters were some of the least likely to vote Nazi

Question 2

How willing was the Catholic Church to compromise with Hitler?

Answer 2

The Catholic Church was keen to remain a part of the German nation and was willing to compromise with the Nazis.

Question 3

Give some common ground between the Catholic Church and the Nazis?

Answer 3

There was some common ground on anti-semitic and anti-communist views.

Question 4

When did the regime and the Vatican reach an agreement?

Answer 4

An agreement between the regime and the Vatican was reached in July 1933.

Question 5

Give some of the terms of The Concordat (the agreement between the regime and the Vatican)?

Answer 5

• The Vatican recognised the Nazi regime and promised the Catholic Church would not interfere in politics
• The regime promised it would not interfere in the Catholic Church and that it could keep control of its schools and youth organisations.

Question 5

Give two ways in which the Nazis broke the terms of The Concordat?

Answer 5

• Catholic Priests were put under Gestapo surveillance
• A number of leading Catholics were killed in the Night of the Long Knives

Question 6

Did the Nazis stick to the terms of The Concordat?

Answer 6

The Nazis quickly broke the terms of the agreement.

Question 7

Give an example of a Catholic figure who spoke out against the regime?

Answer 7

Bishop Galen

Question 8

Which event led to the Nazis increasing their repression of the Catholic Church?

Answer 8

The Nazi repression of the Catholic Church increased after Pope Pius XI issued an encyclical ‘Burning with Grief’:

Question 9

How did the Nazis repress the Catholic Church after Pope Pius XI issued an encyclical ‘Burning with Grief’?

Answer 9

• Catholic newspapers were heavy censored
• Goebbels launched a campaign against corruption in Catholic organisations and had many closed.
• Many monasteries were closed and their assets seized
• Goebbels publicised sex scandals within the church
• By 1939 all Catholic schools had been forcibly converted to community schools.

Question 10

The power and influence of the Catholic Church had been severely weakened by what year?

Answer 10

1939

Question 11

The Nazis had targeted Catholic influence over which group of people?

Answer 11

The Nazis targeted Catholic influence over young people.

Question 12

Did the actions of the Nazis lead to a decrease in the number of Catholics in Germany?

Answer 12

Many quietly kept their faith in the Catholic Church.

Question 13

Did the Catholic Church ever mount any organised resistance to the regime?

Answer 13

The Catholic Church never mounted any organised resistance to the regime.