The Churches and Opposition LOs: To understand the different stances taken towards the Nazis by religious organisations To explain the extent of opposition the Churches presented the Nazis

Protestant Church. Reich Church Problem: About 40 million people were Protestant in Germany (58%). People may look to the Church for guidance or advice. Nazi actions: In 1933 the Reich Church was created by Protestants who supported the Nazis. Their leader, Ludwig Muller became the first Reich Bishop in September 1933. It had the slogan, ‘with the swastika on our chests and the cross on our hearts’. Reich Church pastors had to swear an oath of loyalty to Hitler. In 1936 all church groups were closed and by 1939 all church schools were closed

Protestant Church. Confessional Church Problem: Those who did not agree with the Nazis set up the Confessional Church in 1934. More than 6,000 pastors supported this church (only 2,000 in Reich Church). Key opposition figures: Martin Niemoller, who helped set up the Confessional Church. He had initially supported the Nazis drive to help Germany recover but disagreed strongly with their race policies. In 1936 he wrote a strong protest against Nazi interference with the church and their anti-semitism. He was sent to a concentration camp in 1938 where he stayed until the camp was liberated in 1945. Dietrich Bonhoffer had suggested that Nazism was anti Christian as early as 1933. he taught that you must stand up to corrupt government and he continued to speak out against Nazism (especially the Nuremberg Laws) and helped. Jews escape the country. His college was closed in 1940, he was arrested in 1942 and was executed in a concentration camp in 1945. Significance: The Confessional Church still posed opposition to Hitler and those who were persecuted by the Nazis became martyrs.

Catholic Church Problem: Catholics would present a problem as their main allegiance was to the Pope, not Hitler. Around 32% of the population were Catholic (22 million). Nazi actions: In 1933, Hitler makes an agreement with the Catholic Church that the Nazis would leave the Catholic Church alone if they did not interfere with politics. This was called a concordant. Within a year the Nazis began to remove Christian symbols and schools taken away from Church control. In 1937 the Catholic Youth was made illegal. Opposition continues: Bishop von Galen was the Roman Catholic Bishop of Munster. He openly criticised the Nazi racial policy in his sermons as early as 1934. In 1941 his outrage against Nazi euthanasia policy led to it being halted. He was so popular that the Nazis did not dare remove him, however, people who handed out copies of his sermons were executed. Many priests opposed Nazi policies and at lease 400 were sent to Dachau. By 1937 the Catholic Church had had enough and Pope Pius XI issued a statement known as ‘With Burning Anxiety’. In many respects Hitler’s repression of the Catholic Church only made its support stronger, church leaders were applauded in public and those sent to concentration camps were seen as martyrs.

To revise for exam (Tues) Spartacist revolt Kapp Putsch Stresemann and recovery Hitler becoming dictator 33-34 Why Munich Putsch failed Effects hyperinflation Why Hitler became chancellor and the WSC

We are not going to take it lying down…. Opposition to the Nazis Factfile Who? Why opposed the Nazis? What did they do? What was the Nazis response? Successful?

Videos on opposition https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWClMNLZodU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsN2de8hTJs

Why did so few people go against Hitler? FEAR

“We shall not be sheep” The brave people who refused to follow Hitler Outcome: Creation of an item of remembrance (Video, poem, play, song) to remember those who had the courage to go against Hitler and the Nazis. Working: Alone or in pairs