2 - nazi religious policies

Question 1

Christianity & Nazism

Answer 1

• major problem for Nazis
• Christianity contradicted Nazi regime (violence, strength & war)
• Jesus was Jewish (not Aryan)
• most Germans were Christian
• those with strong religious beliefs were less likely to support Hitler
• many Christians in Protestant branch agreed over family values & supported Nazis

Question 2

Protestant Church

Answer 2

• Protestants agreed over family values & supported Nazis
• many pastors encouraged congregations to vote for Nazis
• allowed churches to be used as Nazi bases
• Hitler tried to reorganise Protestant Church as Reich Church (easier to control) -> plan was resisted
• Otto Müller appointed as Reich bishop

Question 3

Catholic Church

Answer 3

• signed Concordat (July 1933) -> guaranteed religious freedom (could run itself & appoint clergy)
• parents could request faith schools for their children
• Nazis agreed not to interfere with legal & property rights of the church
• church agreed not to interfere w/ politics

Question 4

opposition from Protestant Church

Answer 4

• some conflict between Nazis & Protestant Church
• 1934 -> 2 Protestant bishops arrested for resisting Reich Church
• pastors set up Confessional Church (independent of the state)
• Pastor Martin Niemöller led it
• 7000 / 17,000 pastors supported

Question 5

Martin Niemöller

Answer 5

leader of the Confessional Church

Question 6

When did the Catholic Church sign the Concordat?

Answer 6

July 1933

Question 7

German Faith Movement

Answer 7

• established by Nazis
• upheld racial belief based on blood & soil (descent & homeland)
• replaced Christian ceremonies
• rejected Christian ethics
• upheld Hitler’s cult of personality

Question 8

cult of personality

Answer 8

using charisma & other personal qualities as a political leader to dominate the state

Question 9

church & state relations

Answer 9

• by 1935, Nazis failed to co-ordinate churches
• suppression would alienate many Germans but limited persecution would allow independence
• Ministry of Church Affairs adopted policies to undermine Church

Question 10

policies of the Ministry of Church Affairs

Answer 10

• closed some church schools
• removed crucifixes
• banned nativity plays & carols
• undermined Catholic Youth groups
• campaigns to harass & discredit clergy (some, eg. Niemöller, sent to concentration camps, others prevented from teaching)
• church funds confiscated
• popularity of some priests (eg. Galen) made it harder for Nazis to take action

Question 11

bishop who attacked the policy of euthanasia, leading to its official suspension

Answer 11

Bishop Galen

Question 12

success of Nazi religious policies

Answer 12

• limited success
• only 5% of Germans joined German Faith Movement
• churches did compromise to preserve organisations
• some sympathy with Nazism due to traditional values & dislike of communism