Hitler s Religious Policies. Lydia Cawley and Morgan Romero

Transcription

1 Hitler s Religious Policies Lydia Cawley and Morgan Romero

2 In National Socialism there are no ultimate, universal standards. The Church in Germany is of no mere ephemeral interest. It raises in an acute form an issue which both National Socialism and Bolshevism present to every country. What is to be the foundation of European civilization?" Aims? Did the Nazis aim to eliminate/replace/or compromise with Christianity? What facets of Christianity align with Nazi ideology? What facets of Christianity are incompatible with/threatened Nazi ideology? Compare aims of the USSR/Nazi Regime Hint: see left quote! What were the preexisting religious conditions in both societies? - Nathaniel Micklem, Oxford theologian

3 Hitler s Personal Views What was Hitler s tactic with Churches initially? (think pre/early Chancellorship) Was this tactic was authentic/long-lasting? Why? How does the quote below support this view/contradict Hitler s views? How did his personal views impact his policies? How is this similar to the views of Nietzsche? How is this similar to Soviet Communist views? How did Hitler s private stance on religion differ from his public stance? How does this lend to his persuasive/manipulative maneuvers? We tolerate no one in our ranks who attacks the ideas of Christianity in fact our movement is Christian. -Adolf Hitler, Oct Speech

4 Policies with Catholics What did Nasizm have in common with Catholic ideology? How effective was the Concordat as a diplomatic move? (reference terms in answer) in the short term? in the long term? What hypocritical policies did the regime put in place shortly following the Concordat? How did he use Goebbels/propaganda, and youth groups to his advantage? How were the repressive policies similar to those in the USSR? How did the Church react to these policies? Which characters in the church were opponents of the regime? Which characters were supporters of the regime?

5 We must obey God rather than man. - Niemoller Policies with Protestants How did Hitler consolidate the Protestant Church under Nazi rule? How does this move align with the ideal of What opposition arose to this consolidated Church? How does the quote represent the ideas of the opposition? How did the regime react? Similar or different than reaction to Catholics? Who were the German Christians (Deutsche Christen)? How did this group align themselves with Nazi ideology?

6 Policies with Religious minorities What were the impacts of the Nazi regime on other religious groups? How does this picture represent the alienation of these groups from society? Which groups do you think were the most affected? Why were the Jehovah s Witnesses persecuted?

7 Appeal to German Heritage / Positive Christianity "We Germans are heathens and want no more Jewish religion in our Germany. We no longer believe in the Holy Ghost; we believe in the Holy Blood." -University Nazis in Keil 1935 When did the notion of Positive Christianity arise in Germany? Why did Positive Christianity appeal to the Nazis and their followers? How does the quote on the left support Positive Christianity s ideals? How did the Nazi regime evoke the history of German religion? Hint: think Protestant background, Luther

8 The Jews are enemies of the Nordic race because they produced Christianity, which has been the poison that has destroyed the vitality of the Aryan people." -Erich Ludendorff, German general German Faith Movement What was the German Faith Movement? What ideas from Positive Christianity did the German Faith Movement build on? How successful was the German Faith Movement as an alternative religion? Did it catch on? How does this quote adhere to the ideologies of the German Faith Movement? Of Nazism?

9 Religion in Propaganda How does this quote prop Hitler s cult of personality? In what ways is this similar to USSR propaganda techniques? How did the Nazi regime appeal to religious experts to justify Hitler as the embodiment of new German religion? "The question of the divinity of Christ is ridiculous and inessential. A new answer has arisen as to what Christ and Christianity are: Adolph Hitler." -Hans Kerrl, Minister of Religion in the Third Reich

10 WWII Impact What were the effects of the beginning of WWII on religious policy? Why did policy change? What impact did victories, and then losses, have on religious following and persecution? How does the transition in policy mirror that of the USSR?

11 Evaluation/Results Why did religious policies fluctuate so much under the Nazi regime? To what extent did Hitler adhere to his personal/nazi ideology? Were the religious policies effective in achieving their aims? consider different ways to define aims Do you think effectiveness or lack thereof is due more to Hitler s policies or existing conditions/church complicity? Were the religious policies necessary, especially the more repressive ones? to maintain Hitler s authority? How do the results compare to those of USSR s policies?

12 Bibliography Layton, Geoff. Germany: The Third Reich, London: Hodder & Stoughton, Print. Spicer, Kevin P. Hitler's Priests: Catholic Clergy and National Socialism. DeKalb, Illinois: Northern Illinois University Press, Bergen, Doris. Twisted Cross: The German Christian Movement in the Third Reich. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, Spielvogel. Hitler and Nazi Germany