Nazi Methods of Control & Opposition - THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

Question	Answer
Differences in values and beliefs.	The Nazis were opposed to the beliefs of the Christian Church, as they believed in racial superiority, violence and the dominance of the strong over the weak... Whereas, the Church believed in the opposite; love, forgiveness and respect for all. The Christian God conflicted with Nazi attempts to attain the Nazi ideology, with the 'Fuhrer' as a God-like figure.
Percentage of German people who are Christian.	90%
Nazism as a religion.	GOD = Hitler / the 'Fuhrer' SYMBOL = Swastika DISCIPLES = S.S & the Gestapo BIBLE = Mein Kampf
Hitler was determined to reduce the influence of the Catholic Church.	1. Catholics first allegiance was to the Pope, rather than the Nazis. 2. Catholics consistently supported the Centre Party; a political rival. 3. Catholic parents enrolled their children in the 'Catholic Youth Movement' rather than the 'Hitler Youth' 4. Children in Catholic Schools were not subjected to the level of control and propaganda in state schools
Reasons why Hitler wanted to use the Catholic Church.	1. * 90% of the population was Christian. 2. Provided a strong ally. 3. Mutual dislike of Communism; as this opposes religion.
Reasons why Hitler wanted to destroy the Catholic Church.	1. Christian followers (that is a huge majority!) would turn against the Nazis, if the Church would choose to. 2. Christian values abstain from violence, whereas the Nazis based much of their methods of control on this kind of behaviour. 3. Hitler wished to be worshipped like a God.
The Catholic Church - what happened?	1. In the beginning, Hitler co-operated with the Church, as the Pope was equally keen to oppose Communism. 2. In 1933, Hitler signed the 'Concordat' which detailed an agreement that the Nazis wouldn't interfere with the Catholic Church, and supposedly guaranteed freedom; in return, the Church would stay out of politics. 3. HOWEVER, within a year, Hitler broke this agreement and attacked the Church. This included the removal of Christian symbols (such as the 'Crucifix') in school classrooms, with these schools taken under total Nazi control. All other Youth Groups, aside from the Hitler Youth, were banned.
Christian response.	* Priests who opposed these policies were arrested; at least 400 were imprisoned in Dachau Concentration Camp. * The Pope wished to avoid conflict, but by 1937, had lost his patience trying; voicing his frustrations in a speech, "With Burning Anxiety."
The unintended result.	Hitler's policies did not destroy the Catholic Church, and in many respects had the opposite effect! e.g. The imprisoned priests were viewed as martyrs and applauded in public recognition.
Division in the Protestant Church.	Protestants became divided in their attitude to the Nazi regime.
Reich Church.	Protestant groups in support of the Nazis united to form the Reich Church.
When was the Reich Church established?	1933.
Leader of the Reich Church & the date of this status.	Ludwig Muller. September, 1933.
Name of the most devoted Reich Church members. What was their motto?	German Christians. "The swastika on our chest, and the Cross in our hearts."
Confessional Church.	Many Protestant priests and pastors opposed Hitler and the Reich Church.
Leader of the Confessional Church.	Pastor Martin Niemoller.
Comparison of numbers in followers between the Reich and the Confessional Churches.	Reich Church only had 2,000 followers. Confessional Church had 6,000 followers.
Hitler's response to opposition from the Confessional Church.	Niemoller, alongside other pastors, were sent to Concentration Camps.
The unintended result (again!).	Nazi repression did not destroy Protestant opposition; once again, it created Protestant martyrs!
Martin Niemoller's original response to Nazism, in 1933.	Niemoller welcomed Nazism, believing that Hitler would restore the greatness of Germany and reverse the Treat of Versailles, as he opposed Communism, like the Nazis.
Niemoller's change in views.	When the Reich Church was set up, Niemoller realised that it was more about Nazism than Christianity.
Year that Niemoller established the Confessional Church.	1934.
What prompted Niemoller's arrest in July, 1937, and eventual re-arrest into Dachau Concentration Camp?	Hitler was furious that Niemoller openly, over a course of 3 years, spoke out against the Nazi regime.
Did Niemoller survive his sentence in Dachau?	* 7 years, until he was released by the Allies, in 1945.
Who was Dietrich Bonhoeffer?	A Protestant Church leader who, in 1934, helped Niemoller establish the Confessional Church.
What did Bonhoeffer believe?	He believed that Christianity could not accept Nazi racial views, and that members of the Church should be free to preach against the Nazi regime.
What did Bonhoeffer openly speak out about the most against the Nazi regime?	The Nuremberg Laws of 1935.
What happened to Bonhoeffer in 1937?	The Gestapo banned him from preaching in public.
What was the 'Abwehr'?	A secret German counter-intelligence service, operating to overthrow Hitler from power.
What year did Bonhoeffer join 'Abwehr'?	1937.
What was 'Operation 7'?	A plan to assist a small number of Jews, suffering persecution at the hands of the Nazis, to escape to Switzerland.
When was Bonhoeffer arrested by the Gestapo for plotting to conspire against Hitler?	October, 1942.
What was Bonhoeffer's sentence from 1942?	1. Served two years in solitary confinement. 2. Transferred to a concentration camp.
Did Bonhoeffer survive his sentence in the concentration camp?	No, he was executed by the S.S. in April 1945, shortly before the Allies liberated the camps.

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Nazi Methods of Control & Opposition - THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

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	Created by Chloe Fairbrother over 9 years ago