‘Religious opposition to the Nazis was limited’
The Church supported Hitler. The head of the Catholic Church, the Pope, met with Hitler and
made agreements with him about the future of Catholicism in Germany. The Pope stated
that he would not stand in Nazism’s way, as long as it benefitted himself and the Catholic
Church. As long as Hitler allowed freedom of worship for Catholics and promised to not to
interfere with Catholic schools in Germany, the Pope would not stand against the Nazis.
Many Protestants supported the Nazis for eliminating the threat of non-religious
Communism, with Protestant pastors, including Pastor Martin Niemoller, voting for Hitler.
The Protestant Church formed the new Reich Church, which had a Nazi as its’ figurehead
and taught Nazi ideals.
Some parts of the Church opposed Hitler. Famously, a prominent Protestant pastor, Pastor
Martin Niemoller opposed Hitler. He was a staunch nationalist, who believed that Germany
needed a strong leader to return them to prosperity, so he was critical of the Weimar
Republic. He voted for Hitler and the Nazis in the elections, however, in 1933 he complained
about the appointment of Muller as the Reich Bishop of the Protestant Church. Niemoller
was critical of Hitler, but remained a committed supporter of the Nazi Party. He did not
criticize the Nazis for putting political opponents into concentration camps or the sanctions
on Jews, but he did oppose the Nazi ban on Jews becoming Christians. In 1934, Niemoller
and a group of rebel pastors set up the Pastors’ Emergency League to campaign against Nazi
actions and formed the Confessional Church. He spoke out when members of the Protestant
Church were arrested and in 1937, Niemoller was sent to a concentration camp and the PEL
was banned.
Therefore, I think that religious opposition to Hitler was limited as the Pope and the
Protestant Church did not intervene, rather supported, Hitler’s reign over Germany as a
police state, then totalitarian state. They appear to only care about their own standing
under his leadership, and do not spare a thought for other religious or minority groups in
Germany.
The Church supported Hitler. The head of the Catholic Church, the Pope, met with Hitler and
made agreements with him about the future of Catholicism in Germany. The Pope stated
that he would not stand in Nazism’s way, as long as it benefitted himself and the Catholic
Church. As long as Hitler allowed freedom of worship for Catholics and promised to not to
interfere with Catholic schools in Germany, the Pope would not stand against the Nazis.
Many Protestants supported the Nazis for eliminating the threat of non-religious
Communism, with Protestant pastors, including Pastor Martin Niemoller, voting for Hitler.
The Protestant Church formed the new Reich Church, which had a Nazi as its’ figurehead
and taught Nazi ideals.
Some parts of the Church opposed Hitler. Famously, a prominent Protestant pastor, Pastor
Martin Niemoller opposed Hitler. He was a staunch nationalist, who believed that Germany
needed a strong leader to return them to prosperity, so he was critical of the Weimar
Republic. He voted for Hitler and the Nazis in the elections, however, in 1933 he complained
about the appointment of Muller as the Reich Bishop of the Protestant Church. Niemoller
was critical of Hitler, but remained a committed supporter of the Nazi Party. He did not
criticize the Nazis for putting political opponents into concentration camps or the sanctions
on Jews, but he did oppose the Nazi ban on Jews becoming Christians. In 1934, Niemoller
and a group of rebel pastors set up the Pastors’ Emergency League to campaign against Nazi
actions and formed the Confessional Church. He spoke out when members of the Protestant
Church were arrested and in 1937, Niemoller was sent to a concentration camp and the PEL
was banned.
Therefore, I think that religious opposition to Hitler was limited as the Pope and the
Protestant Church did not intervene, rather supported, Hitler’s reign over Germany as a
police state, then totalitarian state. They appear to only care about their own standing
under his leadership, and do not spare a thought for other religious or minority groups in
Germany.
