The Nazis & Religion

The Reich Church

The Church in Germany was a threat to the Nazi Party. Lots of the principles of Christianity opposed Nazi actions. Also, people were probably more loyal to their God than their political leaders.

The Church

Christianity was primarily split into Protestant and Catholic Christianity. Protestants were more likely to support the Nazi Party than Catholics for regional and historic reasons.
Ultimately, Hitler wanted to try to supplant Christianity with a Nazi-based religion.
Churches were also a great propaganda tool to spread the Nazi's message.
In 1933, it is estimated that there were 40 million German Protestants and 20 million German Catholic people.

The Reich Church

The Reich Church was founded in 1933 to help to create a new Nazi Church.
Ludwig Müller led this effort after being elected to the 'Reichsbischof'.

Changes under the Reich Church

The Reich Church stopped preaching (giving sermons) from the Old Testament. The Old Testament is based on the Hebrew Bible and was associated with the Jews.
Church ministers who were not of pure Aryan descent were banned from the Reich Church.
The blurring of the lines between God and the State is shown by the Nazi phrase: ‘The Swastika on our chests and the Cross in our hearts’.
Hitler tried to influence sermons to convey his propaganda messages.

Religious Opposition

The Church posed a serious threat to the Nazis because Christian values conflicted with Nazi beliefs. There was a lot of resistance from Christians to Hitler and the Nazi's regime.

Protestants against the Nazis

Not all Protestants followed the Nazis. The Confessional Church was founded in 1934 to oppose the Reich Church.
- Led by Martin Niemöller, the Confessional Church was made up by 6,000 churches.

The Nazis and Catholics

Catholics posed a threat to Hitler for many reasons.
Catholic loyalty was split between Hitler and the Pope.
- German Catholics would send their children to Catholic youth organisations, challenging the authority of the Nazi Party Youth movement.

The Concordat, 1933

In July 1933, Hitler and the Pope signed the Concordat.
- This promised that Catholics were allowed to worship and keep their Catholic schools in return for not intervening (meddling) in Nazi politics.

Hitler's broken promise

But Hitler betrayed the Concordat by closing down Catholic schools, banning Catholic youth groups and sending priests who opposed the Nazis to concentration camps.
- By 1937, the Pope released a statement called ‘With burning anxiety’ to voice his criticism of Hitler and his policies to the world.

1The Weimar Republic 1918-1929

1.1World War One

1.1.1WW1

1.1.2The Weimar Republic

1.1.3Early Challenges to Weimar

1.1.4Reparations & the Ruhr

1.1.5Weimar Recovery

1.1.6Weimar Living Standards

1.1.7Weimar Culture

1.1.8End of Topic Test - WW1 & Weimar

1.1.9Grade 9 - The Weimar Republic

2Hitler's Rise to Power 1919-1933

2.1Early Development of the Nazi Party

2.1.1Hitler & the Beginnings of the Nazi Party

2.1.2End of Topic Test - Start of the Nazi Party

2.2The Munich Putsch & the Lean Years

2.2.1The Munich Putsch

2.2.2The Lean Years, 1923-1929

2.2.3End of Topic Test - Putsch & Lean Years

2.2.4Grade 9 - Hitler's Rise to Power

2.3The Growth of Support for the Nazis

2.3.1The Impact of the Great Depression

2.3.2End of Topic Test - Great Depression

2.4How Hitler Became Chancellor

2.4.1Article 48 & Political Turmoil

2.4.2von Papen & Hindenburg's Pact

2.4.3End of Topic Test - Chancellory

2.4.4Grade 9 - How Hitler Became Chancellor

3Nazi Control & Dictatorship 1933-1939

3.1Creating a Dictatorship, 1933-1934

3.1.1The Rise of Hitler

3.1.2End of Topic Test - Dictatorship

3.2The Police State

3.2.1The Police State

3.2.2Repression & Concentration Camps

3.2.3The Nazis & Religion

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Police State

3.2.5Grade 9 - Dictatorship and Police State

3.3Controlling & Influencing Attitudes

3.3.1Propaganda & Censorship

3.3.2Nazi Art & Culture

3.3.3Church Opposition & Social Conformity

3.3.4Youth Opposition & the July Plot

3.3.5End of Topic Test - Controlling Attitudes

3.3.6Grade 9 - Controlling Attitudes

4Life in Nazi Germany 1933-1939

4.1Life in Nazi Germany

4.1.1Women in Nazi Germany

4.1.2Youths in Nazi Germany

4.1.3Employment & Living Standards

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Life in Nazi Germany

4.2The Persecution of Minorities

4.2.1Nazi Racial Beliefs

4.2.2The Persecution of the Jews

4.2.3The Death Camps

4.2.4End of Topic Test - Persecution

4.2.5Grade 9 - Life in Nazi Germany

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