Nazi Dictatorship: Persecution of the Churches GCSE Edexcel History 2A

Catholics

Nazis glorified strength, violence, recial superiority but Christianity taught otherwise.
1/3 of all German Churches were Catholic.
However, allegiance was to the Pope.
Catholics had their own schools.
Therefore, in July 1933, Hitler reached an agreement (Concordat) with the Pope:
- Hitler agreed to:
  - Confirm freedom of worship for Catholics.
  - To not interfere with German Catholic schools.
- The Church:
  - Agreed that priests would not interfere in politics.
  - Ordered German bishops to swear loyalty to the National Socialist Regime.
- However:
  - Priests were harrassed/arrested and/or sent to concentration camps.
  - Catholic schools were brought in line with state schools or closed.
  - Catholic youth activities like the Catholic Youth League, were banned.
- By 1937, Pope Pius XI realised that the Concordat was useless.

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At first, some Protestants were grateful of protection from anti-Christian communists and even allowed Nazi flags in churches.
Some formed the German Christian movement, with Ludwig Muller as the leader, who was made the Reich bishop of Germany in September 1923.
Many Protestants opposed Nazi policies though, and even spoke out against it.
The most fanous protestor; Pastor Martin Niemoller-1933; he was one of the Protestant pastors to set up the "Pastors' Emergency League" - the PEL, to campaign against the Nazis.
In 1937 Niemoller was sent to a concentration camp with the PEL banned.

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