churches

• What was the time period of the Nazi dictatorship discussed?

  1933-39
• Why did the Nazis want to control the churches?

  Churches were a potential threat to Nazi power
• What are the key differences between Nazi and Christian beliefs?

  • Nazi: Hitler as leader, Aryan superiority, violence, dominance
  • Christian: God as authority, equality, peace, care for weak
• What concerns did Hitler have about the Catholic Church?

  Catholics were loyal to the pope
• What was the Concordat agreed upon in July 1933?

  Catholics could worship in exchange for political neutrality
• What actions did Hitler take that broke the Concordat promises?

  Harassment of priests and closure of Catholic schools
• What was the pope's statement against Hitler called?

  With Burning Anxiety
• What was Hitler's ultimate goal regarding the churches?

  To replace them with a Nazi-based religion
• What were the two Protestant churches formed in the 1930s?

  1. The Reich Church
  2. The Confessing Church
• Who led the Reich Church?

  Ludwig Müller
• What was the stance of the Confessing Church towards the Nazis?

  It opposed the Nazis
• What was the status of the Christian religion under Nazi rule?

  It was suppressed by Hitler's police state
• What was the initial approach Hitler took towards the churches?

  He tried to control them through reassurance
• What agreement did Hitler sign with the Pope in 1933?

  A concordat allowing Catholic worship
• What happened to the concordat after it was signed?

  Hitler broke its terms soon after
• How many Catholic priests were imprisoned in Dachau concentration camp?

  400 priests
• What was the role of the Catholic Archbishop von Galen?

  He campaigned against euthanasia practices
• Who led the German Christian Movement?

  Ludwig Muller
• What was the National Reich Church?

  A merged Protestant church under Nazi control
• What did the Reich Church attempt to ban?

  The use of the Old Testament
• What was the Confessing Church?

  A challenge to the National Reich Church
• How many ministers were part of the Confessing Church?

  6,000 ministers
• What happened to Martin Niemoller?

  He was arrested and sent to concentration camps
• What was the outcome of Hitler's attempts to control the Protestant Church?

  He had to return control to old leadership
• How did church attendance change under the Nazis?

  Attendance increased, especially during WWII
• What roles did Protestant and Catholic clergy play against the Nazis?

  • Opposed Nazi policies
  • Faced imprisonment and persecution