The Nazis and religion Today we are going to look at the following questions:

1
The Nazis and religionToday we are going to
look at the following questions

• How religious was Nazi society in 1933?
• What was the Reich Church?
• Which protestant groups protested against the
  Nazis?
• How did the Nazis deal with the Catholic Pope?
• What happened to smaller religious groups?

2
A Christian society

• 33 Catholics
• 66 Protestants
• Big organisations which Hitler was keen to
  control
• They initially saw Hitler as a good force in
  Germany because he promoted old fashioned moral
  values

3
Priests giving the Nazi salute at a Catholic
rally in August 1933.
4
The Reich Church

• Set up in 1936 by Nazis led by Ludwig Muller as
  Reich Bishop.
• One people, one land, one faith.
• Renamed Luther Christians in 1938
• Bible replaced at the altar by Mein Kampf
• A Swastika replaced the cross
• Christian Youth organisations placed under
  leadership of HJ

5
A procession of the Reich church
6
1933 Nazi coin
7
Protestant opposition

• Nazi attempt to control Protestant church FAILED
• Bishops and ministers refused to give in to Nazi
  pressure
• Question Why did the Nazis find it difficult to
  get rid of these ministers?
• Most opposition ministers were eventually
  arrested and sent to concentration camps.

8
Martin Niemoller

• Key figure Martin Niemoller.
• Head of Confessional church.
• A WW1 U-boat hero.
• Arrested in 1937 and put into concentration camp.
  Continued to speak out against human rights
  abuses.

9
Niemollers poem

• First they came for the Jews
• and I did not speak out
• because I was not a Jew
• Then they came for the communists
• and I did not speak out-
• because I was not a communist
• Then they came for the Trade Unionists
• and I did not speak out-
• because I was not a Trade Unionist
• Then they came for me
• and there was no one left
• to speak out for me

10
The Catholic church

• Why was the Catholic church harder to control?
  Who was the head of the church?
• 1933 the Pope signed an agreement with Hitler to
  accept both organisations.
• Nazis quick to break agreement outspoken
  priests arrested and youth groups closed down.

11
Other groups

• Jehovahs Witnesses
• PACIFISTS refused to do military service and
  resisted conscription
• 10,000 imprisoned in concentration camps
• Had to wear purple triangle to show their
  religion.

12
Things to do

• Read about Martin Niemoller on page 87 and answer
  the questions.
• Try the true / false activity on page 88
• Extension have a go at the Enquiry skills
  questions on page 89