Germany - 3.2.3 The Reich Church & Opposition

Question 1

Why were the church a potential threat to the Nazis?

Answer 1

The Nazis wanted total loyalty to Hitler however lots of the principles of Christianity opposed Nazi actions. Also, people were probably more loyal to their God than their political leaders

Question 2

What 2 sects was Christianity split into?

Answer 2

Protestant and Catholic Christianity

Question 3

Which sect of christianity was more likely to support the Nazi party?

Answer 3

Protestants

Question 4

What did Hitler want to supplant Christianity with?

Answer 4

A Nazi-based religion

Question 5

What did Hitler use to spread propaganda for religion?

Answer 5

Churches

Question 6

In 1933, how many German Protestants were there?

Answer 6

40 million

Question 7

In 1933, how many German Catholics were there?

Answer 7

20 million

Question 8

What are 4 Nazi beliefs that contradicted with Christian beliefs?

Answer 8

• Hitler as all-powerful leader
• Aryan racial superiority
• War, military discipline and violence important
• Dominance of the strong over the weak

Question 9

What are 4 Christian beliefs that contradicted with Nazi beliefs?

Answer 9

• God as the ultimate authority
• Everyone equal in the eyes of God
• Peace is what everyone should strive for
• The strong should look after the weak

Question 10

Why were the Nazis particularly worried about the Catholic Church? (3)

Answer 10

• Catholics posed a threat to Hitler for many reasons
• Catholic loyalty was split between Hitler and the Pope
• German Catholics would send their children to Catholic youth organisations, challenging the authority of the Nazi Party Youth movement

Question 11

How did Hitler try to work with the Catholic Church?

Answer 11

At first, Hitler tried to work with the Catholic Church. In July 1933, he reached a concordat (agreement) with the Pope that Catholics were free to worship and schools could continue as they were. However, the bishops had to swear loyalty to the Nazis and all clergy had to stay out of politics (no meddling)

Question 12

How did Hitler break the promises he made in his concordat with the Pope? (5)

Answer 12

Hitler broke his promises when he:
- banned Catholic youth organisations
- closed Catholic schools that failed to teach the curriculum that other schools had to teach
- closed some churches and many monasteries
- membership of the Hitler youth was made compulsory
- crucifixes were removed from some schools

Question 13

When did Hitler reach a concordat (agreement) with the Pope?

Answer 13

July 1933

Question 14

What happened in 1937 after Hitler broke his promises to the Pope?

Answer 14

In 1937, the Pope spoke out against hitler in his statement known as ‘With Burning Anxiety’, which criticised Nazi policies. Some priests spoke out against the regime. They were harassed and/or sent to concentration camps.

Question 15

What was the Pope’s statement against hitler called?

Answer 15

‘With Burning Anxiety’

Question 16

Why did many protestants initially support the Nazis?

Answer 16

They feared communism

Question 17

What happened in the summer of 1933? (5)

Answer 17

The different protestant churches within Germany were merged to form the Reich Church, led by Ludwig Muller, which:
- supported Nazi views and policies that excluded Old Testament teachings as they were Jewish
- dismissed any non-Aryan members
- sometimes displayed Nazi symbols and had some members who wore Nazi uniforms and called themselves German Christians
- blurred the lines between God and the State, shown by the Nazi phrase: ‘ The Swastika on our chests and the Cross in our hearts.’
- hitler tried to influence sermons to convey his propaganda messages

Question 18

The Reich Church was founded in 1933 to help to create a new Nazi Church. Ludwig Muller led this effort after being elected to the ‘____________’.

Answer 18

Reichsbischof

Question 19

What was the Confessional Church? (2)

Answer 19

The Confessional Church, led by Martin Niemoller, was set up in 1934. This church
- was in opposition to the Reich Church and many aspects of the Nazi regime
- taught only what was found in the Bible

Question 20

How did the Nazis try to repress the Confessional Church? (3)

Answer 20

• Some churches were closed
• Members were harassed
• Some pastors sent to concentration camps

Question 21

What were the 5 changes under the Reich Church?

Answer 21

• The Reich Church stopped preaching (giving sermons) from the Old Testament. The Old Testament is based on the Hebrew Bible and was associated with the Jews.
• Church ministers who were not of pure Aryan descent were banned from the Reich Church
• The blurring of the lines between God and the State is shown by the Nazi phrase: ‘The Swastika on our chests and the Cross in our hearts.’
• Hitler tried to influence sermons to convey his propaganda messages
• Sometimes displayed Nazi symbols and had some members who wore Nazi uniforms and called themselves German Christians

Question 22

How far were churches under Nazi control? (3)

Answer 22

• There were 6,000 Protestant churches in the Confessional Church, but only 2,000 in the Reich Church
• Many opponents of the Nazis were religious
• Most people who attended churches did little to oppose the Nazis, though its difficult to assess whether this was because they supported the regime or were too frightened to oppose it

Question 23

According to historian James Hawes, in 1939, what did the SS Head Office say?

Answer 23

‘one can declare with certainty that the Lutheran part of the population has a better understanding of the struggle and mission of the SS than the Catholic part’

Question 24

What happened to the german leader of the Catholic Church under the rule of the Nazis?

Answer 24

Cardinal von Galen, the German leader of the Catholic Church lived under house arrest under the end of the Nazi regime

Question 25

Why was the Catholic Church a bigger threat?

Answer 25

They were controlled from the vatican in Rome - outside of Germany

Question 26

How did the Catholic Church show its opposition towards the Nazis? (2)

Answer 26

• The Pope had a message (encyclical) read out at all catholic churches criticising the Nazis
• The Bishop of Munster openly criticised the Nazi T4 Euthanasia programme against the disabled. His campaign was effective and the programme was stopped at least publically

Question 27

How did Hitler have the power to merge the Protestant churches and make the Reich Church? (2)

Answer 27

• The Protestant churches had more members than the Nazi party. However, they were divided and therefore easier to control
• Protestant churches had initially supported Hitler. Many liked his ideas and supported his supposed pro family policies

Question 28

Who led the Reich Church?

Answer 28

Ludwig Muller

Question 29

What institution was set up in 1934 to oppose the Reich Church?

Answer 29

The Confessional Church