Church Leaders

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 regions.
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.

Opposition From the Churches

There was resistance from various branches of the church during Hitler's time as Fuhrer. But many of the resistors ended in concentration camps.

Concentration camps

The Nazis sent 800 Protestant pastors, led by Martin Niemöller, to concentration camps.
400 Catholic priests were arrested and sent to Dachau, a concentration camp.

Executions

Dietrich Bonhöffer, a pastor in the Confessional Church, was linked to an attempted assassination of Hitler. He was executed.

Euthanasia

A rare example of successful opposition was the Catholic cardinal, von Galen.
Von Galen made Hitler stop the euthanasia (intentionally ending the life) of the mentally disabled in 1941.

Differences in religions

According to historian James Hawes, in 1939, the SS' Head Office said 'one can declare with certainty that the Lutheran part of the population has a better understanding of the struggle and mission of the SS than the Catholic part'.
Cardinal von Galen, the German leader of the Catholic Church lived under house arrest until the end of the Nazi regime.

1Dictatorship

1.1Hitler & The Nazi Party in 1933

1.1.1The Origins of the Nazi Party

1.1.2Hitler & The Growth of the Party

1.1.3The 1932 Election

1.2Establishing Dictatorship, 1933-1934

1.2.1Establishing Dictatorship

1.2.2Achieving Total Power, July 1933 - August 1934

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Dictatorship

1.2.4Grade 9 - Dictatorship

2Control & Opposition

2.1The Machinery of Terror

2.1.1Police State & Legal System

2.1.2The Gestapo & SS

2.1.3Concentration Camps

2.1.4End of Topic Test - Control & Opposition

2.2Nazi Propaganda

2.2.1The Effectiveness of Nazi Propaganda

2.3Opposition to Nazi Rule

2.3.1The Left

2.3.2Church Leaders

2.3.3Youth Groups

2.3.4Support for Nazi Rule

2.3.5End of Topic Test - Propaganda & Opposition

2.3.6Grade 9 - Propaganda & Opposition

3Changing Lives, 1933-1939

3.1Work & Home

3.1.1Work

3.1.2Home

3.2The Lives of Young People

3.2.1Education

3.2.2Youth Movements

3.3Nazi Racial Policy

3.3.1Racial Policy

3.3.2Persecution of the Jews

3.3.3End of Topic Test 0 Changing Lives

3.3.4Grade 9 - Changing Lives

4Germany in War

4.1The Impact of War

4.1.1Impact of the War Economy on the People

4.1.2Impact of Total War on the People

4.2Growing Opposition from the German People

4.2.1Opposition from the People

4.2.2Opposition from the Army

4.2.3End of Topic Test - Germany in War

4.2.4Grade 9 - Germany in War

5Occupation

5.1Nazi Rule in Eastern and Western Europe

5.1.1The Start of World War 2

5.1.2Western Europe

5.1.3Eastern Europe

5.1.4End of Topic Test - Occupation

5.2The Final Solution

5.2.1Ghettos & Executions

5.2.2Death Camps

5.2.3End of Topic Test - The Final Solution

5.3Responses to Nazi Rule

5.3.1Collaboration

5.3.2Accommodation

5.3.3Resistance

5.3.4End of Topic Test - Responses to Nazi Rule

5.3.5Grade 9 - Occupation

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