The Nazi Party and religion
I can describe Nazi policies towards the Catholic and Protestant Churches in Germany.
The Nazi Party and religion
I can describe Nazi policies towards the Catholic and Protestant Churches in Germany.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Germany was a deeply religious country and the Nazis saw this as a source of opposition, requiring state control.
- In 1933, Hitler signed a Concordat with the Pope - but soon broke his promise not to interfere with the Church.
- Catholic schools and youth groups were dismantled as part of Nazi religious control.
- A new state Church, the Reich Church, was set up to promote Nazi ideas and unify the Protestant Churches.
- Some Church leaders resisted Nazification and, despite arrests and pressure, the Nazis never fully controlled religion.
Keywords
Reich - meaning empire; under the Nazis, it referred to the Third Reich, their name for Hitler’s regime, which they saw as the third great German empire after the Holy Roman Empire and the German Empire
Vatican - the centre of the Roman Catholic Church, based in Vatican City, an independent state in Rome; it is led by the Pope and acts as the Church’s spiritual and diplomatic authority
Concordat - a formal agreement between the Vatican and a government, usually about the rights of the Church within that country
Nazification - the process of bringing institutions and daily life under Nazi control, influencing schools, churches, and local organisations; part of a wider Nazi policy known as Gleichschaltung (coordination)
Common misconception
All religious leaders opposed the Nazis.
In reality, many remained silent or even cooperated, hoping to protect their institutions.
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: The Nazi Party and religion, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: The Nazi Party and religion, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Germany 1890–1945, Democracy and dictatorship unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Why did Hitler want to build a police state after becoming Chancellor in 1933?
Q2.Match each Nazi institution to its primary function.
enforced Nazi racial and political control through terror
arrested enemies without trial, using fear and denunciations
gathered intelligence and monitored dissent
imprisoned and exploited those seen as threats or ‘undesirable’
Q3.Why did many citizens avoid political conversations in Nazi Germany?
Q4.Which of the following groups did the Nazis imprison in concentration camps?
Q5.What was the main purpose of the People’s Court (Volksgerichtshof), created by Hitler in 1934?
Q6.How did the role of judges and the purpose of justice change under Nazi rule?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What was the approximate religious makeup of the German population during the Nazi period?
Q2.Why did Hitler view religion as a potential threat to Nazi control?
Q3.What does the term 'reich' mean in the context of Nazi Germany?
Q4.What message did the Night of the Long Knives send to the Catholic Church?
Q5.Why did Hitler fail to fully control the Protestant Church?
Q6.Match each figure with their role or action during the Nazi period.
denounced Nazi policies in sermons
led the Reich Church, promoted Nazi-friendly Christianity
protested against Nazification of the Protestant Church