Religion in Nazi Germany Part 2 Terror and Force: Nazis in Power

What will I learn? The ways in which Hitler controlled the Church The ways that the Nazi Government controlled the Jewish population

I can… Summarise the KU and analysis on religion into my essay plan

Why was Hitler worried about religion?

Religion Hitler believed that control of the churches was important to the maintenance of Nazi authority. Religion posed a real threat to Nazism in that it offered the people an alternative set of beliefs.

Hitler and Religion - Background Born a Catholic. Ended up rejecting religion – thought ideas like forgiveness, resurrection and salvation were weak nonsense. Detested Christianity as it championed the weak, ill and racially inferior.

Catholic Church In 1933, a Concordat or agreement was reached with the Pope of the Catholic Church. This meant that if the Church did not upset the regime – the Church and its members would not be harmed.

Protestant Churches Decided to amalgamate them into a new German church – National Reich Church. Put under the control of the Reich bishop. Taught that Hitler was the new Messiah sent to save the world from the Jews. Only church ministers who supported the Nazis were allowed to continue working.

Protestant Church continued The bible was removed from the altars – in their place appeared a copy of Mein Kampf and a sword to symbolise the new order.

Religion - Analysis Not even the churches were safe from the Nazi control of German society Pastors, priests, clergy arrested and sent to camps – their alternative views too dangerous to Nazi officials

Anti-Semitism Nazis in Power

Harassment Nuremberg Laws 1935 Kristallnacht Nov 1938 Anti Semitism – 3 stages Harassment Nuremberg Laws 1935 Kristallnacht Nov 1938

Anti-Semitism It was not just Jews who were persecuted in Nazi Germany but many races, religions and ways of life. For example: gypsies, Jehovah Witnesses, homosexuals etc.

The Nazis gloried in their racism: Aryan, Nordic, Anglo-Saxon Latins, Celts etc Asian, South American African, Slavs etc Jews and Gypsies

Petty Harassment Low level intimidation and violence. Brown shirts forcing Germans to boycott Jewish shops. Painting or smashing the windows of Jewish shops. Yellow park benches for Jews. Not being allowed to sit down on a bus or tram. “Jews not welcome” signs on shops, beaches or the outskirts of towns.

Yellow park bench marked 'Only for Jews'

The Nuremburg Laws 1935 These were the Nazi racial laws. Institutionalised racism. Jews no longer German citizens so could not vote or be elected. Marriages between Jews and non-Jews were banned and existing marriages dissolved. No German women under 45 allowed to work for a Jew.

Kristallnacht November 1938 In retaliation for the murder of a German diplomat in Paris by a Jew – the Nazi leader Goebbels organised nationwide violence against Jews. 10,000 Jewish shops destroyed. Synagogues burned down. At least 90 Jews murdered and many arrested and beaten. Jewish community fined 1 billion marks for the destruction they had caused!

Analysis There was anti-Semitism in Germany and so some Germans approved of Nazi actions against undesirable minorities like the Jews or Gypsies. However many Germans were appalled at Nazi violence during boycotts, Kristallnacht etc, however they were too frightened to speak out due to the Gestapo, camps etc.

Nazis in Power Terror/ Force Religion KU: A:

Nazis in Power Terror/ Force Anti- Semitism KU: Persecution of Jews and other groups 1. Petty harassment – eg yellow park benches 2. Nuremberg Laws 1935 eg removal of German citizenship 3. Kristallnacht – synagogues burned etc A: There was anti Semitism in Germany so some approved of harrassment of ‘undesirables’ Most Germans were shocked at Kristallnacht but by that point too scared to do anything due to Gestapo, camps etc

Video Clips Kristallnacht