Would Hitler been able to carry out the Holocaust without the support of Germany's heavily Christian?

Question

population, and the without the groundwork of antisemitism having been so firmly laid for centuries by both the Catholic and Protestant Churches in Germany?

I mean around the turn of the century, the Catholics in Germany were still propagating the "blood libel" nonsense about the Jews in their official newsletters and documents. This was also about the time that the Catholic church in Germany conducted the first "Don't buy from Jews" campaign. Remember, that was all well BEFORE Hitler.

Answer 1

It disgusts me that one of the respondents here who claims to be a TEACHER of World History would try to distort it here.

I think it is important to acknowledge what Hitler practiced and what he publicly declared hundreds of times and what the people who lived in Europe at the time believed ABOUT HIM THEN. I say this is because to forget means that it could happen again ..and what I mean by that is..that religious fundamentalism can be used to incite people to do uncivilized things in a civilized nation. The Christian majority populace in Europe who gave him massive popular support did so because they believed they were also serving the interests of THEIR faith. If millions can be brainwashed by such things, we need to KNOW HOW it happened! Denial that he used Christianity is so dangerous in my view. Europe, from the mid 1800s until World War 2, had been riding a tidal wave of religious fundamentalism. The following are quotes and statements and links to where one may find evidence from the HUNDREDS of existing transcripts of speeches ( in print and on FILM) that directly refer to his Christian belief.
The Communists..because they were “godless” were condemned and were the political enemies and rivals of the Nazi party. Political posters using religious symbolism to gain support from Christians for the Nazi party demonized the Communists because of their atheism. Now here are some links and quotes and comments PLEASE read them and study this more on your own. An excellent book from a NON JEWISH persepective of how Hitler and the Nazis gained the support of GOOD HEARTED PEOPLE who did not realize the enormity of the atrocities they unwittingly aided until it was too late, is “The Resistance of the White Rose” by Inge Scholl. She wrote a chilling tale from the perspective of one of many youth who were at first enticed by this movement..and then when it became clear that evil had gripped the nation under the guise of good..her family suffered greatly as a result. Their resistance movement is something I hope all read about.

http://www.nobeliefs.com/nazis.htm
Hitler’s beliefs

“I am now as before a Catholic and will always remain so.” --1941, Adolph Hitler to General Gerhart Engel

Secular schools can never be tolerated because such a school has no religious instruction and a general moral instruction without a religious foundation is built on air; consequently, all character training and religion must be derived from faith.... We need believing people." Adolf Hitler, speech given during negotiations leading to the Nazi-Vatican Concordat of 1933, 26 April 1933

He made Christian school prayer mandatory for the 1930's German schoolchildren who grew up to be his SS. He did this in all occupied nations as well, Yugoslavia and Poland EMBRACED this Christian prayer in their schools and saw it as superior to the godless Communist rulers.

And Nazi soldiers wore belt buckles inscribed with "Gott mit uns" (God is with us). (there is a photo of the belt buckle at a page at that site along with many other photographic evidence of Hitler’s personal practices and affiliations)


“The folkish-minded man, in particular, has the sacred duty, each in his own denomination, of making people stop just talking superficially of God's will, and actually fulfill God's will, and not let God's word be desecrated. For God's will gave men their form, their essence and their abilities. Anyone who destroys His work is declaring war on the Lord's creation, the divine will.”-- Adolf Hitler, "Mein Kampf"
“Hence today I believe that I am acting in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator: by defending myself against the Jew, I am fighting for the work of the Lord.”-- Adolf Hitler, "Mein Kampf"
“My feeling as a Christian points me to my Lord and Savior as a fighter." --Adolph Hitler, in a speech delivered at Munich, April 12, 1922
‘Almighty God, bless our arms when the time comes; be just as thou hast always been; judge now whether we be deserving of freedom; Lord, bless our battle!’”-- Adolf Hitler, "Mein Kampf"

"“I may not be a light of the church, a pulpiteer, but deep down I am a pious man, and believe that whoever fights bravely in defense of the natural laws framed by God and never capitulates will never be deserted by the Lawgiver, but will, in the end, receive the blessings of Providence.”-- Adolf Hitler, in a speech delivered on July 5, 1944 < NOTE FOR THOSE WHO INSIST HE GAVE UP CHRISTIAN BELIEF EARLY IN LIFE, THIS PUBLIC SPEECH WAS RECORDED 9 MONTHS BEFORE HE DIED


“We were convinced that the people needs and requires this faith. We have therefore undertaken the fight against the atheistic movement, and that not merely with a few theoretical declarations: we have stamped it out.”--Adolf Hitler, in a speech delivered in Berlin, October 24, 1933.


Relevant To Today: Excerpts From Adolf Hitler's Speeches.
In view of the political climate, we should take notice of Hitler's speeches and how he came to office in Germany in 1933.
Hitler was Catholic and comitted to the Order of Skull and Crossbones during his reign. There were only two denominations in Germany: Lutheran and Roman Catholic. Martin Luther tried to close down Masonic Lodges which were prevalent among the politicians in Germany especially.

In the 1920s, Hitler's German Workers' Party (pre Nazi term) adopted a "Programme" with twenty-five points. In point twenty-four, their intent clearly demonstrates, from the very beginning, their stand in favor of a "positive" Christianity: "We demand liberty for all religious denominations in the State, so far as they are not a danger to it and do not militate against the morality and moral sense of the German race. The Party, as such, stands for positive Christianity, but does not bind itself in the matter of creed to any particular confession.... "
Hitler's speeches and proclamations, even more clearly, reveal his faith and feelings toward a Christianized Germany. Nazism presents an embarrassment to Christianity and demonstrates the danger of faith. The following words from Hitler show his disdain for atheism, and pagan cults, and reveals the strength of his Christian feelings:
"My feelings as a Christian points me to my Lord and Savior as a fighter. It points me to the man who once in loneliness, surrounded only by a few followers, recognized these Jews for what they were and summoned men to fight against them and who, God's truth! was greatest not as a sufferer but as a fighter. In boundless love as a Christian and as a man I read through the passage which tells us how the Lord at last rose in His might and seized the scourge to drive out of the Temple the brood of vipers and adders. How terrific was His fight for the world against the Jewish poison. To-day, after two thousand years, with deepest emotion I recognize more profoundly than ever before in the fact that it was for this that He had to shed His blood upon the Cross. As a Christian I have no duty to allow myself to be cheated, but I have the duty to be a fighter for truth and justice.... "
"And if there is anything which could demonstrate that we are acting rightly it is the distress that daily grows. For as a Christian I have also a duty to my own people.... When I go out in the morning and see these men standing in their queues and look into their pinched faces, then I believe I would be no Christian, but a very devil if I felt no pity for them, if I did not, as did our Lord two thousand years ago, turn against those by whom to-day this poor people is plundered and exploited." Adolf Hitler, in his speech on April 12,1922 [Note, "brood of vipers" appears in Matt. 3:7 & 12:34. John 2:15 depicts Jesus driving out the money changers (adders) from the temple.]
"It will at any rate be my supreme task to see to it that in the newly awakened NSDAP, the adherents of both Confessions can live peacefully together side by side in order that they may take their stand in the common fight against the power which is the mortal foe of any true Christianity." (Adolf Hitler, in an article headed "A New Beginning," Feb.26, 1925)

"Except the Lord built the house they labour in vain.... The truth of that text was proved if one looks at the house of which the foundations were laid in 1918 and which since then has been in building.... THe world will not help, the people must help itself. Its own strength is the source of life. That strength the Almighty has given us to use; that in it and through it we may wage the battle of our life.... The others in the past years have not had the blessing of the Almighty-- of Him Who in the last resort, whatever man may do, holds in His hands the final decision. Lord God, let us never hesitate or play the coward, let us never forget the duty which we have taken upon us.... We are all proud that through God's powerful aid we have become once more true Germans." (Adolf Hitler, in a speech in March 1933) [Note, "Except the Lord built the house, they labour in vain" comes from Psalms 127:1 ]

Excerpt: "The Government, being resolved to undertake the political and moral purification of our public life, are creating and securing the conditions necessary for a really profound revival of religious life.... The National Government regard the two Christian Confessions as the weightiest factors for the maintenance of our nationality. They will respect the agreements concluded between them and the federal States. Their rights are not to be infringed.... It will be the Government's care to maintain honest co-operation between Church and State; the struggle against materialistic views and for a real national community is just as much in the interest of the German nation as in that of the welfare of our Christian faith."
"The Government of the Reich, who regard Christianity as the unshakable foundation of the morals and moral code of the nation, attach the greatest value to friendly relations with the Holy See and are endeavouring to develop them." (Adolf Hitler, in his speech to the Reichstag on March 23, 1933)


"We want honestly to earn the resurrection of our people through our industry, our perseverance, our will. We ask not of the Almighty 'Lord, make us free'!-- we want to be active, to work, to agree together as brothers, to strive in rivalry with one another to bring about the hour when we can come before Him and when we may ask of Him: 'Lord, Thou seest that we have transformed ourselves, the German people is not longer the people of dishonour, of shame, of war within itself, of faintheartedness and little faith: no, Lord, the German people has become strong again in spirit, strong in will, strong in endurance, strong to bear all sacrifices.' 'Lord, we will not let Thee go: bless now our fight for our freedom; the fight we wage for our German people and Fatherland.' (Adolf Hitler, giving prayer in a speech on May Day 1933 ) He was leading a massive crowd in prayer..please note this.


"This is for us a ground for satisfaction, since we desire that the fight in the religious camps should come to an end... all political action in the parties will be forbidden to priests for all time, happy because we now what is wanted by millions who long to see in the priest only the comforter of their souls and not the representative of their political convictions." (Adolf Hitler, in a speech to the men of the SA. at Dormund, July 9, 1933 on the day after the signing of the Concordat). The Bishop who signed this Concordat agreement with the Nazis and who sent Hitler letters of blessing became the next Pope.

"National Socialism has always affirmed that it is determined to take the Christian Churches under the protection of the State.... The decisive factor which can justify the existence alike of Church and State is the maintenance of men's spiritual and bodily health, for it that health were destroyed it would mean the end of the State and also the end of the Church.... It is my sincere hope that thereby for Germany, too, through free agreement there has been produced a final clarification of spheres in the functions of the State and of one Church. (Adolf Hitler, on a wireless on July22, 1933, the evening before the Evangelical Church Election)

"We were convinced that the people needs and requires this faith. We have therefore undertaken the fight against the atheistic movement, and that not merely with a few theoretical declarations: we have stamped it out." (Adolf Hitler, in a speech in Berlin on Oct.24, 1933) [This statement clearly refutes modern Christians who claim Hitler as favoring atheism.]

"I believe that Providence would never have allowed us to see the victory of the Movement if it had the intention after all to destroy us at the end." (Adolf Hitler, in a speech to old members of the Party at Munich on Nov. 8, 1933 )
"The German Church and the People are practically the same body. Therefore there could be no issue between Church and State. The Church, as such, has nothing to do with political affairs. On the other hand, the State has nothing to do with the faith or inner organization of the Church. The election of November 12th would be an expression of church constituency, but not as a Church. (Adolf Hitler, answering C. F. Macfarland about Church & State (in his book, The New Church and the New Germany) )

"While we destroyed the Centre Party, we have not only brought thousands of priests back into the Church, but to millions of respectable people we have restored their faith in their religion and in their priests. The union of the Evangelical Church in a single Church for the whole Reich, the Concordat with the Catholic Church, these are but milestones on the road which leads to the establishment of a useful relation and a useful co operation between the Reich and the two Confessions. (Adolf Hitler, in his New Year Message on Jan. 1, 1934)

"Embued with the desire to secure for the German people the great religious, moral, and cultural values rooted in the two Christian Confessions, we have abolished the political organizations but strengthened the religious institutions." (Adolf Hitler, speaking in the Reichstag on Jan.30, 1934)
"It would have been more to the point, more honest and more Christian, in past decades not to support those who intentionally destroyed healthy life than to rebel against those who have no other wish than to avoid disease. Moreover, a policy of laissez faire in this sphere is not only cruelty to the individual guiltless victims but also to the nation as a whole.... "
"If the Churches were to declare themselves ready to take over the treatment and care of those suffering from hereditary diseases, we should be quite ready to refrain from sterilizing them. (Adolf Hitler, in his speech on ..Jan. 30, 1934)
"We have experienced a miracle, something unique, something the like of which there has hardly been in the history of the world. God first allowed our people to be victorious for four and a half years, then He abased us, laid upon us a period of shamelessness, but now after a struggle of fourteen years he has permitted us to bring that period to a close. It is a miracle which has been wrought upon the German people.... It shows us that the Almighty has not deserted our people, that He received it into favour at the moment when it rediscovered itself. And that our people shall never again lose itself, that must be our vow so long as we shall live and so long as the Lord gives us the strength to carry on the fight." (Adolf Hitler, in a speech to the "Old Guard" of the Party at Munich on March 19, 1934)
"The National Socialist State professes its allegiance to positive Christianity. It will be its honest endeavour to protect both the great Christian Confessions in their rights, to secure them from interference with their doctrines (Lehren), and in their duties to constitute a harmony with the views and the exigencies of the State of to-day. " (Adolf Hitler, on June 26, 1934, to Catholic bishops to assure them that he would take action against the new pagan propaganda)

Adolf Hitler revisited the Great Passion Play at Oberammergau in 1934, as Chancellor of Germany, to the lusty cheers of the crowd.Eight years later, privately ruminating over the experience at his military headquarters, he spoke glowingly of his view of Oberammergau and its play:
One of our most important tasks will be to save future generations from a similar political fate [to that of Britain] and to maintain forever watchful in them a knowledge of the menace of Jewry. For this reason alone it is vital that the Passion Play be continued at Oberammergau; for never has the menace of Jewry been so convincingly portrayed as in this presentation of what happened in the times of the Romans.There one sees in Pontius Pilate a Roman racially and intellectually so superior, that he stands out like a firm, clean rock in the middle of the whole muck and mire of Jewry If nowadays we do not find the same splendid pride of race which distinguished the Grecian and Roman eras, it is because in the fourth century these Jewish-Christians systematically destroyed all the monuments of these ancient civilizations (Hitler: 457; dated 5 July 1942).

I ALSO recognize that it was LARGELY CHRISTIANS who were Hitler's DOWNFALL and I thank God for that! I do not intend to demonize Christianity in this answer..I intend to look at the harsh reality of what happened so that by examining it..people can RECOGNIZE when any leader tries to use ANY religion to incite hatreds and injustice to any group.

Sometimes I see people try to negate Hitler's belief that he was fulfilling a special role as a Christian leader by claiming Hitler "believed in Darwinism" or "believed in evolution".
"Social Darwinism" is not biology but a sociologic construct of philosophy that was inspired by a misunderstanding of biologic theory..it was more or less a fallacy of extension, and was not a branch of science, but a tool of propaganda. To use social Darwinsim as an argument against Biology is really off base since one is based on scientific method, testing, observation and application of knowledge to make accurate predictions, discover new things..and the other is a blend of quasi-philosophical, quasi-religious, quasi-sociological views from more than a generation ago that never gained much popularity but was taken up by the Nazis to support their notions of racial superiority. It was embraced by many Christians across Europe for the same reason Hitler embraced it..to declare an advanced status over the Jews. Christianity was seen as "evolution" FROM primitive Judaic corruption.

To use MISapplications of Darwin's ideas to try to discredit Darwin's discoveries OR the massive amount of knowledge we have gained since that time about evolutionary theory is stretching to the max beyond credulity ..any legitimate criticism. Social Darwinism was not an idea of Darwin's and is not taught in any Biology course.
If you postulate that social Darwinism is a flaw of biology..then you won't be taken seriously by anyone who understands scientific method OR Biology.

Hitler's embracing of Social Darwinism did not negate his strong and open support and practice of the Catholic religion. He was decidedly a BAD Catholic, but if you want to be an honest person and not misrepresent history, you cannot deny that he was indeed, a Catholic Christian.

I have no respect for history revisionism or people who promote it.

Answer 2

It is not an accident that Hitler and the Nazis picked traditional scape goats like the Jews and the Gypsies to gain public support.

Germany at that time was suffering from a serious wounded pride and the people rallied when they heard they were not at fault for their problems but some "other" group of outsiders were.

So no, without traditional Christian anti-semitism Hitler would have never been able to get into power.

Answer 3

Satan is the god of this system [kingdom and governments]and their companion the harlot [false religion].They were taught to hate and dominate to the ruin a race of innocent people,[ as far as subverting the laws of the nation].Hitler was a speed junkie and had a fatal verneral disease,so he was a perfect puppet to attract Satan to him.Are the people that did nothing guilty, in my opinion yes but many honest hearted persons helped the jews to servive.Did the churches become blood guilty? Yes they blessed all the guns and each nation had brothers of the faith that they killed for nationalism and the Jews for their property and to take them off the face of the earth.The Jews of Christs time were blood guilty and that was the false religion leaders, and Christ took that sin from us .So Satan has to blind the reasonong minds of people with the Harlot. So they think it's a righteous act to persucute and dominate fellow humane beings.More death has occured on the earth due to supposedly acting for God than natural acts of nature.God's wars were to protect his clean worship and protect from falling into false worship .It was a lesson to the Pagan nations to stay clear of his people .Thats why the bible says we must follow Gods teachings and act with accurate knowledge.You can't bring back a life you take no matter how sorry you maybe .God tells us that vengence is his and his righteous reasoning will be just.Do I believe that God saw to the demise of Hitler I certainly do .My religion was one of the first groups that was persecuted by Hitler because we did not renounce our faith or do his manacial bidding for his killing fields.I know people that were there and believe that a war can bring prosperity back to a country.They actually advocate an American war so the aconomy will thrive,they would pay with blood for wealthy to grow fatter on the innocent.

Answer 4

The problem was that he brainwashed his people. I was watching a show on him last night. Brainwashed by telling them they were Gods etc. Yes, the Jews were having trouble before Hitler took over but of course after Hitler got people believing what he said it got worse for the Jews. It was really a terrible terrible thing. Not only that but he had degrading the women into being nothing more than bredding machines.

The worse thing to me was that he was able to get people to believe all of his BS.

Oh and I forgot. Hitler claimed himself to be God. They had song that were very much like religious song where the lyrics said he was their Lord. He basically made up his own religion.

Answer 5

Don't forget that during the Eighteenth and Nineteenth century they also drove the Lutherans out of Germany who were the protestants before that, so there, so much for those other religions.

Answer 6

Hitler played into the christianity much like Bush did and when voted in dang near became dictator

after seeing Patriot Act and other secret VALIANT ACT stuff passed, most of our Bill of Rights is nullified

simultaneously we are borrowing 1 million dollars into debt each minute and the value of the dollar is falling faster than one can get a pay raise...10,000 dollars per citizen increase of debt per individual since Bush was elected head of state

Answer 7

Yes.

Hitler was the kind of person who would find a way, it's just that using people's faith against them was the most apparent or 'sure-fire' opportunity at the time.

He could, for example, have created events that would turn his people against the Jews.

Answer 8

Hitler claimed to be Christian. You and i both know that turned out to be wrong. There have been many poeple doing bad things in the name of God. That does not mean that they were really Christians though. True Christians would not kill people like this. Do not be deceived by false converts who the true Christians are.

Answer 9

No

Using anti-jew propaganda to attract the gullible Christian's to his side was Hitler's biggest weapon

..

Answer 10

Why it is said that Hitler was a Jew and a fine Christian too like Christopher Colombus?

Answer 11

hitler did not exterminate the jews.
They died in the camps - mostly of disease.
(anne frank for one)

certainly there were NOT 6 million killed. Auschwitz now says less than 1 million died there. And the huge numbers of survivors (and therefore descendants of survivors) is quite astounding.

yes the christians did attempt to kill anyone they hated - hungarians, poles, jews, gypsies, homosexuals - but they were just following scriptures.