How did the Nazis deal with Churches?

Question 1

What word best summarises the Nazis relationship with the Churches?

Answer 1

Complicated

Question 2

What did Hitler sign with the Catholic Church in 1933?

Answer 2

A Concordat

Question 3

What did the 1933 Concordat mean?

Answer 3

That Hitler would leave the Catholic Church alone. In return, the Church would stay out of politics.

Question 4

What did Hitler try and unite all Protestant Churches under?

Answer 4

One official Reich Church

Question 5

Who led the Reich Church?

Answer 5

Ludwig Muller

Question 6

Did all Germans like the Reich Church?

Answer 6

No, many preferred their local church

Question 7

How did the Nazis try and use the Reich Church?

Answer 7

They used a group called the ‘German Christians’ to try and promote Nazi ideas through the Reich Church

Question 8

Where there more Catholics or Protestants in Germany?

Answer 8

Protestants

Question 9

Roughly how many Protestants were there in Germany?

Answer 9

45 million

Question 10

Roughly how many Catholics were there in Germany?

Answer 10

22 million (approx. half number of Protestants)

Question 11

Why did Hitler feel threatened by the Churches?

Answer 11

They were a potential source of opposition to his power AND Christianity emphasised peace

Question 12

What did the Reich Church attempt to ban?

Answer 12

The Old Testament - it was considered Jewish

Question 13

Why did the Reich Church attempt to ban the Old Testament?

Answer 13

It was considered Jewish

Question 14

What did Martin Niemoller form in 1934?

Answer 14

An alternative Protestant Church to the Reich Church, called the Confessional Church

Question 15

What was the name of the church Martin Niemoller formed in 1934?

Answer 15

The Confessional Church

Question 16

What did Niemoller begin doing in 1934?

Answer 16

Openly attacking the Nazi regime

Question 17

What happened to Niemoller?

Answer 17

He was arrested and spent 1938-45 in a concentration camp

Question 18

Which camp did Niemoller get put in?

Answer 18

Sachsenhausen - just outside Berlin

Question 19

How many pastors (ministers) of the Confessional Church were imprisoned?

Answer 19

800 - including Niemoller, the founder

Question 20

What did Nazis attempt to stop Catholics using in church?

Answer 20

The crucifix - although this failed

Question 21

What happened to Catholic youth organisations?

Answer 21

They were suppressed - children were expected to join the Hitler Youth instead

Question 22

Which Catholic became a vocal critic of the Nazi regime?

Answer 22

Bishop Galen of Munich

Question 23

What did Bishop Galen do in 1941?

Answer 23

He led a protest against the Nazi policy of killing physically disabled and mentally ill patients

Question 24

What did the Nazis do in response to Bishop Galen’s protest?

Answer 24

Temporarily paused the policy - they did not want to risk a popular uprising during war

Question 25

When did Bishop Galen lead his protest against the killing of physically disabled and mentally ill people?

Answer 25

In 1941

Question 26

Who publicly criticised the Nazis in 1937?

Answer 26

The Pope (Pope Pius XI)

Question 27

Who was pope during this time?

Answer 27

Pope Pius XI (11)

Question 28

As a result of Pope Pius’ attack on the Nazis, what happened?

Answer 28

400 Catholic priests were sent to Dachau concentration camp

Question 29

What was Hitler forced to do during 1937?

Answer 29

Return control of the Church to old Protestant leadership - in return for a promise that it would stay out of politics

Question 30

What happened to Church attendance during this period?

Answer 30

It increased significantly - especially during WWII

Question 31

What does the increase in Church attendance show about Hitler’s attempts to control it?

Answer 31

It had failed