How did Hitler take control over the Church?

• • 45 million protestants and 22 million catholic churches in Germany 1933.
  • Majority used religion to guide their lives e.g following teaching in the bible.
  • Posed a threat to Hitler and the Nazi Regime who wished to have overall control
  • The core teachings of Christianity went directly against the Nazi Regime.
  • A significant source of opposition to the Nazi Regime. If leading figures in the Church spoke out against the Nazi regime, the could spread worldwide rebellion.
• The Concordat

  • The Catholic Church was concerned to perserve it's independence.
  • July 1933, they signed the Concordat- Nazi would guarantee Catholic Church religious freedom.
  • Wouldn't interfere with Catholic Church property or legal rights.
  • Catholic Church wouldn't interfere in politics.
  • However it's only temporary by the end of 1933, Nazi interference on religious affairs was causing resentment and disillusionment in Catholic Church.
• The Reich Church

  • Set up in 1936 under the leadership of Nazi Bishop
  • Ludwig Muller was established to unify different branches of Protestantism.
  • The Bible was replaced by 'Mein Kampt'
• The German Faith Movement

  • Established an alternative to Christianity the German Faith Movement (set up in 1933), which was non-christian and based on Teutonic paganism
  • This movement was a failure with only 5% of Germans being members.
  • Based on 4 key themes:

  Belief of superiority of German race and opposition to Jewish people.

  Replacement of Church ceremonies such as marriage and baptism with pagan versions.

  Rejection of Christian ethics of mercy and forgiveness.

  Belief in the cult of Hitler's personality.
• Banning of religious materials

  • By 1935, the Nazi leadership had achieved only limited success in controlling the Churches: they failed to coordinate with them and there was now growing opposition within them.
  • In order to destabilise the Churches, the Hanns Kerrl was established.
  • He adopted policies undermining both protestant and Catholic Church by series of Anti religious measures:

  Closure of Church schools.

  Attacks on the Catholic Youth Movement.

  Banning the nativity play and cards in schools

  Arrest more pastors and priests.
• Opposition from the Church

  • Pastor's Emergency League (PEL) were vocal about the opposition of the Nazis.

  1934, around 6000 pastors joined the confessional church.

  • Some Catholic priests spoke out against the nazis but were often arrested and sent to concentration camps (1935-1936, 400 priests imprisoned in Dachau)
  • Marten Niemoller, a protestant pastor, was arrested in 1937 and was sent to a concentration camp (Released in 1945)