Nazi Germany and Its People - Controlling Religion

Question 1

What did the Nazis do to control religion?

Answer 1

The Nazis tried to control religion. They initially worked with both the Catholic and Protestant churches, but after Nazifying church buildings and breaking the concordat they became enemies.

Question 2

What was the role of religion to the Nazis?

Answer 2

The Nazis used religion to promote their own ideology and regime. They even attempted to set up a Nazi church called the ‘Reich Church’.

Question 3

When did the Nazis try to control religion?

Answer 3

The Nazis had to first consolidate their power, before attempting to make significant changes to religious organisations. The attacks on German Catholics and Protestants increased dramatically in the 1930s as the Nazis gained more control over society.

Question 4

Why did the Nazis want to control religion?

Answer 4

• Christianity taught love and tolerance which went against Nazi beliefs. Therefore, religious groups could be predisposed to opposing the Nazi government.
• Religious groups followed the teachings of their religion and their religious leader, eg, Catholics followed the pope, not Hitler.
• Ultimately, Hitler wanted to replace the Church with his Nazi-based religion.

Question 5

How did the Nazis control religion and the Catholic Church?

Answer 5

Initially, the Nazis worked with the Catholic Church. Hitler signed an agreement with the pope, called a concordat, in July 1933. It stated neither side would interfere with the other. However, Hitler broke his promises and attacked the Catholic Church.

Question 6

How did the Nazis deal with religion and the Protestant Church?

Answer 6

Initially, the Protestant church worked with the Nazis. Some members that opposed the Nazis set up the Pastors’ Emergency League in 1933. Those that worked with the Nazis created the Reich Church in 1936, led by Ludwig Müller.

Question 7

How successfully did the Nazis control religion?

Answer 7

The Nazis faced continued opposition from religious groups and were never able to establish total control.

Question 8

What did the Nazis do to control the Catholic church?

Answer 8

Initially, the Nazis worked with the Catholic Church. Hitler signed an agreement with the pope called a concordat in July 1933 which stated that both sides would not interfere with the other. However, Hitler broke his promises and attacked the Church.

Question 9

Why did the Nazi regime want to control the Catholic Church?

Answer 9

• The Catholic Church had 22 million members, or 32% of the German population.
• It was a very powerful and influential institution which controlled a range of organisations, such as youth groups, schools and charities.
• Catholics followed the guidance of the pope as their religious leader. Hitler believed they listened to the pope more than to him.
• Catholics tended to support the Centre Party (ZP).
• Catholics sent their children to Catholic schools and Catholic youth groups.

Question 10

How did the Nazis try to control German Catholics?

Answer 10

• In July 1933, Hitler signed an agreement with the pope, called the concordat.
• In the concordat, it was agreed that Hitler would not interfere with the Catholic Church or its schools.
• In return, the Catholic Church would not interfere with politics and would swear loyalty to the government.

Question 11

How did Hitler break his promises to the Catholic Church in Nazi Germany?

Answer 11

Hitler broke the promises made in the concordat by arresting Catholic priests and closing Catholic schools and youth groups. He also changed the school curriculum to further reflect Nazi ideology.

Question 12

How did Catholics respond to the Nazi attack on the Church?

Answer 12

• About 400 Catholic priests criticised the Nazi government and were imprisoned in Dachau concentration camps.
• Catholic Archbishop Galen spoke out against Nazi policies and the creation of concentration camps. He was arrested by the Gestapo and forced to remain at home for the duration of the Second World War.

Question 13

What was the concordat?

Answer 13

The concordat was an agreement between the pope and Hitler, signed in July 1933. It stated that the Nazi Party and the Catholic Church would not interfere with one another’s policies or spheres.

Question 14

What was the Reich Church?

Answer 14

The Reich Church was a Nazi version of the Protestant Church. It supported the Nazi Party, allowed Nazi flags with the swastika to be hung in their churches and used an altered, Nazified version of the Lord’s Prayer.

Question 15

When was the Reich Church set up?

Answer 15

The Reich Church was set up in 1936.

Question 16

Who was the leader of the Reich Church?

Answer 16

Ludwig Müller was the leader of the Reich Church.

Question 17

Why was the Reich Church set up?

Answer 17

• To unify all of the different Protestant churches into one so they could be controlled more easily by the Nazi government.
• To be able to promote Nazi ideas as they now controlled the Reich Church. For example, they tried to stop use of the Old Testament as they saw it as Jewish.
• To prevent Jews from being baptised into Christianity.

Question 18

What was the reaction of Catholics and Protestants to the Nazi involvement in religion and the Reich Church?

Answer 18

Initially, the Protestants and Catholics within Germany were not opposed to the Nazi regime. However, over time opposition grew and some priests began to openly speak out against the Nazis.

Question 19

What did the Nazis do to control the Protestant Church?

Answer 19

Initially, the Protestant Church worked with the Nazis. Some of those that opposed the Nazis set up the Pastors’ Emergency League in 1933. Those that worked with them created the Reich Church in 1936, led by Ludwig Müller.

Question 20

Why did the Nazis want to control the Protestant Church?

Answer 20

The Protestant Church was the largest in Germany with 40 million members. This was 58% of the population, so it could form a dangerous opposition group. Their Christian beliefs were opposed to many Nazi beliefs.

Question 21

How did the Nazis control the Protestant Church?

Answer 21

The Nazis used the Reich Church to control Protestants, by presenting their religious beliefs in a way that supported the Nazi message.

Question 22

How did Protestants respond to the Nazi attacks on the Protestant Church?

Answer 22

• Some pastors set up the Pastors’ Emergency League (PEL) in 1933.
• A new church called the Confessing Church, or Confessional Church, was set up in 1934.
• Some pastors criticised the Nazi government and approximately 800 were imprisoned in concentration camps.

Question 23

What was the Pastors’ Emergency League?

Answer 23

The Pastors’ Emergency League was set up in 1933 by Protestants who opposed the Nazis.

Question 24

How did Pastors’ Emergency League opposed the Nazis?

Answer 24

• The Pastors’ Emergency League (PEL) was created in 1933 and campaigned against the Nazi government because the Nazis tried to stop Jews converting to Christianity and they wanted to create one national German Christian Church.
• In 1934, it set up the Confessing Church, or Confessional Church, which was against Nazi interference.
• Pastor Martin Niemöller was a key member of PEL. He was sent to a concentration camp in 1937 and the PEL was banned.