The Nazis and religion Today we are going to look at the following questions: How religious was Nazi society in 1933? How religious was Nazi society in.

The Nazis and religionThe Nazis and religion

Today we are going to look at the following questions:Today we are going to look at the following questions:

How religious was Nazi society in How religious was Nazi society in 1933?1933?

What was the Reich Church?What was the Reich Church? Which protestant groups protested Which protestant groups protested

against the Nazis?against the Nazis? How did the Nazis deal with the How did the Nazis deal with the

Catholic Pope?Catholic Pope? What happened to smaller religious What happened to smaller religious

groups?groups?

A Christian societyA Christian society

33% Catholics33% Catholics 66% Protestants66% Protestants Big organisations which Hitler was Big organisations which Hitler was

keen to controlkeen to control They initially saw Hitler as a good They initially saw Hitler as a good

force in Germany because he force in Germany because he promoted old fashioned moral valuespromoted old fashioned moral values

Priests giving the Nazi salute Priests giving the Nazi salute at at a Catholic rally in August 1933. a Catholic rally in August 1933.

The Reich ChurchThe Reich Church

Set up in 1936 by Nazis – led by Ludwig Set up in 1936 by Nazis – led by Ludwig Muller as Reich Bishop.Muller as Reich Bishop.

‘‘One people, one land, one faith’.One people, one land, one faith’. Renamed Luther Christians in 1938Renamed Luther Christians in 1938 Bible replaced at the altar by Mein Bible replaced at the altar by Mein

KampfKampf A Swastika replaced the crossA Swastika replaced the cross Christian Youth organisations placed Christian Youth organisations placed

under leadership of HJunder leadership of HJ

A procession of the Reich A procession of the Reich churchchurch

1933 Nazi coin1933 Nazi coin

Protestant oppositionProtestant opposition Nazi attempt to control Protestant church Nazi attempt to control Protestant church

FAILEDFAILED

Bishops and ministers refused to give in to Bishops and ministers refused to give in to Nazi pressureNazi pressure

QuestionQuestion :Why did the Nazis find it :Why did the Nazis find it difficult to get rid of these ministers?difficult to get rid of these ministers?

Most opposition ministers were eventually Most opposition ministers were eventually arrested and sent to concentration camps.arrested and sent to concentration camps.

Martin NiemollerMartin Niemoller Key figure = Martin Key figure = Martin

Niemoller.Niemoller. Head of Confessional church. Head of Confessional church.

A WW1 U-boat hero.A WW1 U-boat hero.

Arrested in 1937 and put into Arrested in 1937 and put into concentration camp. concentration camp. Continued to speak out Continued to speak out against human rights abuses.against human rights abuses.

Niemoller’s poemNiemoller’s poemFirst they came for the JewsFirst they came for the Jewsand I did not speak out –and I did not speak out –because I was not a Jewbecause I was not a Jew

Then they came for the communistsThen they came for the communistsand I did not speak out-and I did not speak out-because I was not a communistbecause I was not a communist

Then they came for the Trade UnionistsThen they came for the Trade Unionistsand I did not speak out-and I did not speak out-because I was not a Trade Unionistbecause I was not a Trade Unionist

Then they came for meThen they came for meand there was no one leftand there was no one leftto speak out for meto speak out for me

The Catholic churchThe Catholic church

Why was the Catholic church harder Why was the Catholic church harder to control? Who was the head of the to control? Who was the head of the church?church?

1933 the Pope signed an agreement 1933 the Pope signed an agreement with Hitler to accept both with Hitler to accept both organisations.organisations.

Nazis quick to break agreement – Nazis quick to break agreement – outspoken priests arrested and youth outspoken priests arrested and youth groups closed down.groups closed down.

Other groupsOther groups

Jehovah’s WitnessesJehovah’s Witnesses PACIFISTS – refused to do military PACIFISTS – refused to do military

service and resisted conscriptionservice and resisted conscription 10,000 imprisoned in concentration 10,000 imprisoned in concentration

campscamps Had to wear purple triangle to show Had to wear purple triangle to show

their religion.their religion.

Things to doThings to do

Read about Martin Niemoller on page Read about Martin Niemoller on page 87 and answer the questions.87 and answer the questions.

Try the true / false activity on page Try the true / false activity on page 8888

Extension – have a go at the Enquiry Extension – have a go at the Enquiry skills questions on page 89skills questions on page 89