HOW THE NAZIS CHANGED THE CHURCGES

• Hitler's aim


  To control the church and have the German people be loyal to him before anybody else including God
• Concordat signed in 1933


  Nazis and Catholic Church agreed to keep out of each others' affairs
• Protestant Church reorganised in 1933


  1. Into the National Reich Church with new Nazi bishops

  2. Motto was 'the swastika on our chests and the cross on our hearts'

  3. Bible replaced with Mein Kampf and cross with swastika
• Ministry of Churches set up

  1935
• Nazis' actions


  1. Abolished church schools

  2. Promoted Hitler Youth rather than Church youth clubs
• Protestants who opposed Nazis


  • Pastor Martin Niemoller set up the Pastor's Emergency League in 1933
  • Confessional Church set up in 1934, later banned by Nazis
• Hitler broke promise with Catholic Church


  Began to close down Catholic schools and youth groups
• Pope made statement 'with Burning Anxiety' attacking Nazi system for abuse of human rights


  1937
• Pope's statement


  400 Catholic Priests arrested and sent to concentration camps
• Hitler tried to control the church but was not able to get them rid of them completely