Kirchenkampf
Sign in to saveKirchenkampf (, lit. 'church struggle') is a German term which pertains to the situation of the Christian churches in Germany during the Nazi period (1933–1945). Sometimes used ambiguously, the term may refer to one or more of the following different "church struggles": The internal dispute within German Protestantism between the German Christians (Deutsche Christen) and the Confessing Church (Bekennende Kirche) over control of the Protestant churches; The tensions between the Nazi regime and the Protestant church bodies; and The tensions between the Nazi regime and the Catholic Church.
~36 min read
Article
15 sectionsContents
- Background
- Nazi relationship with the Christian Churches
- Catholic Church
- Concordat
- Ongoing "struggle"
- ''Mit brennender Sorge''
- Prelude to World War II
- World War II
- Letter of the bishops
- Protestant churches
- Long-term plans
- See also
- References
- Footnotes
- Bibliography
Kirchenkampf (, lit. 'church struggle') is a German term which pertains to the situation of the Christian churches in Germany during the Nazi period (1933–1945). Sometimes used ambiguously, the term may refer to one or more of the following different "church struggles": The internal dispute within German Protestantism between the German Christians (Deutsche Christen) and the Confessing Church (Bekennende Kirche) over control of the Protestant churches; The tensions between the Nazi regime and the Protestant church bodies; and The tensions between the Nazi regime and the Catholic Church.
When Hitler obtained power in 1933, 95% of Germans were Christian, with 63% being Protestant and 32% being Catholic. Many historians maintain that Hitler's goal in the Kirchenkampf entailed not only ideological struggle, but ultimately the eradication of the churches. Other historians maintain no such plan existed.