Church and State in Nazi Germany

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Church and State in Nazi Germany
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European theology, the Enlightenment, and war

• Karl Barth Something had to be wrong with a
  theological tradition that led to support for
  German war-theology (Placher, 291)
• Enlightenment ideals
• Human history shows progress, is reaching new
  heights (confused Christ and culture)
• Think for yourself, but obey the secular
  authorities

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Christian anti-Judaism

• Supersessionism Contrasts NT and OT
• Sound like Marcion?
• Jews as the other
• Characterizes most of Christian history
• 4th c. destruction of synagogues
• Medieval Crusades and blood libel charges
• Reformation slurs (Luther) spiritual vs.
  carnal
• Enlightenment philosophy denial of revelation
• Abuse of power (pogroms)
• Whole tradition has been re-evaluated since the
  Holocaust

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German Christians in the Third Reich

• Virulent tradition of anti-Judaism
• Nazi appeal to German identity, economic progress
  worked after devastation of WWI
• Nazis not Christian actually quite critical
• Had a neopagan focus
• But, could exploit Christian rhetoric
• Obedience to state
• Anti-Judaism

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Protestants in Germany

• Rely on protection of state for religious freedom
  (Kant, Luther, etc.)
• In return, give obedience to state
• Divided church
• German Christian movement supported Reich
• Confessing Church opposed Reich
• Barmen Declaration
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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Catholics in Germany

• Different church-state relationship
• Yet, we see similar patterns of complicity and
  division among Catholics
• German bishops
• May 1945 Head of German bishops conference
  calls for priests to say mass for Hitler
• Some priests and laity die in camps
• 20 Polish clergy

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Pius XII

• Did not support Reich
• But, people question, why didnt he speak out
  against Reich more?
• 1942 Christmas sermon mentions hundreds of
  thousands killed because of race
• Was informed of killing of Jews
• Same kind of question asked about US govt
• First priority to keep Catholic church going?
• 1998 JPII apologizes for inaction of Catholic
  church during Holocaust