Religion
Catholics
German religion was divided into two main camps. The Lutheran church of the North of Germany and the Catholics in the south.
In regard to the Catholic church, Hitler signed a Concordat with the Vatican which claimed that the Nazis would guarantee the freedoms of the Catholic Church providing they did not interfere in the Nazis political dealings. (A bit of you stay out of my way and I’ll stay out of yours agreement)
However, the Nazis, as expected, didn’t really stay out of the way of the Catholic Church. They:
The fact that 400 Catholic priests were sent to Concentration camps suggests there was further resistance particularly where the Catholic influence was strong, such as in Bavaria.
Protestants
The Nazis had a little more trouble dealing with the protestant churches, though again they were more of thorn in the side than a major source of opposition. Ultimately, he felt as though he would deal with them finally after the war – thankfully, that never eventuated.
In 1933 the Nazis created the Reich Church which was to bring all protestant (Lutheran) churches under their control. Ludwig Muller was to be in charge. Some of their plans/ideas included:
Ultimately, though, most churchgoers were content to stick to their Protestant faith but not to be involved in any resistance to the Nazi regime. Fear was probably a major factor here.
Eventually, Niemoller himself was sent to a concentration camp and over 800 other confessional Church pastor were also sent to concentration camps.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was another significant protestant who challenged the Nazis influence into his religion. In reaction to the encroachment of the Nazis on the church and to their policies about Jews, Bonhoeffer said, “The church must reject this encroachment of the order of the state and of the limitations of its actions”
Bonhoeffer helped Niemoller to set up the Pastor’s emergency League, an organisation devoted to helping pastors of Jewish descent.
Other resisting ministers within Germany would create the Barman Declaration which listed a number of grievances against the Reich Church. It denounced their heresies and pledged sole allegiance to Jesus Christ.
Ultimately though, there were only a few within the church who were willing to react to the desperate situation that they saw the church was in. Many of those that did were sent to concentration camps.
Catholics
German religion was divided into two main camps. The Lutheran church of the North of Germany and the Catholics in the south.
In regard to the Catholic church, Hitler signed a Concordat with the Vatican which claimed that the Nazis would guarantee the freedoms of the Catholic Church providing they did not interfere in the Nazis political dealings. (A bit of you stay out of my way and I’ll stay out of yours agreement)
However, the Nazis, as expected, didn’t really stay out of the way of the Catholic Church. They:
- Introduced Nazi teaching into Catholic schools
- Banned Catholic newspapers
- Tried to ban the crucifix in Catholic churches
- Outlawed Catholic Youth programs
- Sent 400 Catholic priests to concentration camps.
The fact that 400 Catholic priests were sent to Concentration camps suggests there was further resistance particularly where the Catholic influence was strong, such as in Bavaria.
Protestants
The Nazis had a little more trouble dealing with the protestant churches, though again they were more of thorn in the side than a major source of opposition. Ultimately, he felt as though he would deal with them finally after the war – thankfully, that never eventuated.
In 1933 the Nazis created the Reich Church which was to bring all protestant (Lutheran) churches under their control. Ludwig Muller was to be in charge. Some of their plans/ideas included:
- Banning the Old Testament on account of it being a Jewish book
- Excluding Non Aryans from church attendance.
- That Israel be replaced by Germany as God’s chosen nation.
- Barring the hiring of new ministers who did not give unconditional support to the Nazis.
Ultimately, though, most churchgoers were content to stick to their Protestant faith but not to be involved in any resistance to the Nazi regime. Fear was probably a major factor here.
Eventually, Niemoller himself was sent to a concentration camp and over 800 other confessional Church pastor were also sent to concentration camps.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was another significant protestant who challenged the Nazis influence into his religion. In reaction to the encroachment of the Nazis on the church and to their policies about Jews, Bonhoeffer said, “The church must reject this encroachment of the order of the state and of the limitations of its actions”
Bonhoeffer helped Niemoller to set up the Pastor’s emergency League, an organisation devoted to helping pastors of Jewish descent.
Other resisting ministers within Germany would create the Barman Declaration which listed a number of grievances against the Reich Church. It denounced their heresies and pledged sole allegiance to Jesus Christ.
Ultimately though, there were only a few within the church who were willing to react to the desperate situation that they saw the church was in. Many of those that did were sent to concentration camps.