RESISTANCE OUT OF CHRISTIAN FAITH 5|2

It presents this letter in obedience to its divine mission to speak His Word without fear to every man—including to the lords and masters of the nations—and to attest to His Commandment. It trusts that God Himself gives it the wisdom to carry out its mission so clearly and unambiguously that its concern for the Christian conscience and its love for the German nation are equally and unmistak­ ably recognizable.

Be that as it may, we are motivated in our statements, as were our predecessors in office in their letter dated April 11, 1935 (enclosed as appendix), which unfortunately has had no perceptible effect, solely by the one duty of helping the suffering, confused, and threat­ ened members of the Evangelical Church through its words and its advocacy. We are solely concerned that the Reich government should clearly hear and understand through its statements this voice speaking out of con­ cern for the souls entrusted to the Church.

The Lord of the Church says: “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” These words show the great and earnest nature of the service to which the Church is appointed by God. They recall as well the boundaries set to all earthly powers and their striving. They refer, finally, to the danger to which countless people, including members of the Church, threaten to succumb time and time again.

1. Danger of De-Christianization

The Provisional Executive appreciates the import, in 1933 and subsequently, of the protagonists of the National Socialist revolu­ tion being able to declare with emphasis: “With our victory over Bolshevism we have simultaneously overcome the enemy that also fought and threatened to destroy Christianity and the Christian Churches.”

We are experiencing, however, that the fight The Wording of the German “The German Evangelical Church, represented against the Christian Church is as alive and Evangelical Church’s Protest Letter by the clerical members of its Provisional well in the German nation as never before to Reich Chancellor Hitler Executive and the Council assisting them, since 1918. presents its respectful compliments to the We are publishing below the important mem­ Führer and Reich Chancellor. No power in the world, no matter what its orandum by the Provisional Executive of the name, can possibly destroy or shield God’s German Evangelical Church, which­—as our The German Evangelical Church is closely Church against His will; that is the task of readers are aware—was recently forwarded linked to the Führer and his advisors through God. The Church, however, has to attend to Reich Chancellor Hitler through Under­ the intercession it practices publicly and in to the disputed consciences of its members. secretary of State Meißner, in its full wording, silence for the people, state, and government. because it presents the current situation of the For this reason, the Provisional Executive of Through the distress and confusion of the Evangelical Church in Germany and the rela­ the German Evangelical Church in conjunction present struggle against religion, many bap­ tionship of Evangelical Christianity to National with the Council of the German Evangelical tized Christians are threatened by temporal Socialism in a clear and comprehensive form. Church has taken up its responsibility to and eternal damnation. If even those with The spaced passages in the text are our own. express in this letter the concerns and fears high positions in the state and the party The Editors. which many Christians in congregations, publicly attack the Christian faith (see Ley’s brethren councils, and church boards feel with speech, among others), then members of regard to the future of the Evangelical faith the Church already alienated from the Church and the Evangelical Church in Germany, which and its teachings will become increasingly it has considered long and earnestly. entrapped in their lack of faith, while those who are wavering and unsure will be made fully uncertain and driven to apostasy. Indeed, negative Christians who are in contradiction command may be held higher than the com­ there is a serious threat that the Evangelical of National Socialism through their adherence mand of human authority. In the interpretation youth is allowing itself to be prevented from to medieval dogma … The negative Christian of practical political matters, we consider coming to Him who is the sole savior of all fights for the Church, to the detriment of the ourselves the instrument of God.” Hitler: German boys and girls. A responsible Church people, for its dogma and for the preservation “The party neither previously had nor now has executive must oppose this threat to the of priestly lies and thereby for the devil … the intention of leading any struggle against members of the Church. being an S.A. man and belonging to the con­ Christianity in Germany. It has attempted, fessional front is a contradiction in terms … on the contrary, to create a large Evangelical Such an opposition includes the clear question Though we positive Christians do not think Reich Church by consolidating impossible to the Führer and Reich Chancellor as to so poorly of our fellow men, we nevertheless Protestant Regional Churches, without inter­ whether the attempt to de-Christianize the protect ourselves against infiltration by vigi­ fering in confessional issues in the slightest” German people, through further acts of high- lantes, spies, and demoralizing elements …”). [Party conference, 9.11.35].). ranking statesmen or simply through looking Under the guise of positive Christianity, on and taking no action, is to become official key concepts of the Christian faith (faith, love, In actual fact, however, one interference after government policy. eternity, prayer, resurrection) have been another has been imposed on the Church since divested of their revelatory content and rein­ the forced elections of July 1933 to this day. terpreted in purely inner-worldly, psycholog­ 2. “Positive Christianity” ical terms through the words of yet other (N.B. The main interferences: 1. Appointment representatives of the Reich government, even of the State Commissioner in Prussia on We trust that the Reich government will heed in statements by Reich Ecclesiastical Minister 6. 24. 35 and the State Commissioners in the words of the Evangelical Church in order Kerrl (see Göring, among others: “We have Bremen, Hesse, Lippe, Mecklenburg, Saxony. to avoid the escalation of the struggle against declared to the Church that we operate on the 2. Ordinance of general church elections religion in Germany. When the N.S.D.A.P. basis of positive Christianity. Through our zeal by the Reich Act of 7.15.33. 3. Radio speech declared in its manifesto that it operated on of faith, our strength of faith, we have shown by the Führer on 7.22.33 in favor of the the basis of a “positive Christianity,” the entire the Church what faith really means.” Kerrl: German Christians. 4. Ban on publications religious population had to and was intended “This [i.e., the confession to positive Christian­ about church matters through the Reich In­te­ to understand this as meaning that the Chris­ ity] has nothing to do with dogma, but rather ri­or Minister’s unpublished decree of 11.6. and tian faith in accordance with the confessions is independent faith and is that love in the 11.7.34. 5. Appointment of the State Finance and the preaching of the Church was to be form of practical deeds which bids us to say: Department through the Prussian Act of March given freedom and protection, indeed aid and ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what 1935. 6. Appointment of the Arbitration Bureau support, in the Third Reich. they do.’ The essence of National Socialism through the Reich Act of June 1935. 7. The Act is faith, its deed is love, and National Socialist for the Securing of the German Evangelical Later, however, it transpired that significant positive Christianity is brotherly love.”). Church of 9.24.35 and the state church coun­ figures in the state and the party interpreted cils appointed thereupon. Toward individual the term “positive Christianity” as they saw fit. The damage of such statements is all the clergymen: 1. Arrest of the Bishop of Württem­ great­­er in that the Church has never been berg and Bavaria in 1934. 2. Transfer of clergy­ The Reich Minister of Propaganda and Public given the opportunity to refute, with the men to concentration camps, specifically in Enlightenment was soon presenting merely same range of audience, the misinterpreta­ Saxony and Nassau-Hesse. 3. Expulsions of humanitarian acts as positive Christianity, and tions of the Christian faith by high offices. clergymen from their boroughs of office, in in some cases combining this interpretation some cases even from their home provinces, with an attack on the Christian Churches and specifically in Prussia. 4. Arrests of 700 pastors their allegedly insufficient work in the field of 3. Destruction of Ecclesiastical Order in Prussia on the occasion of the pulpit decla­ Christian charity, which the state itself had ration against neo-heathenism ordered by the significantly restricted them from through its The methods of the de-Christianization of the Old Prussian Synod in March 1935. 5. Constant bans in effect since 1933 (see Goebbels’s German people become comprehensible in hindering of confessional services, public speech on the Winter Relief campaign, among their context if one speaking bans for clergymen and laymen, in others: “Were the Churches inspired by true some cases for all of Germany, among others.) Christian spirit, they would never have left it recalls the words of Reich Ideological Training The Evangelical people, to whom the Führer up to the state to help the poor through Leader Rosenberg that one should “not spare ensured the freedom of the Church before the hunger and frost this winter … I believe Christ the enemy, but overcome it intellectually, imposed elections (see Telegram to the Reich himself would discover more of his teachings allow its organization to wither, and render President on 7.12.33), could only be informed in our deeds than in this theological hair- it politically impotent” (Myth, p. 636) in the insufficiently about the progress of the strug­ splitting … The people would perhaps under­ struggle for a German faith. The National So­ gle against the Church. Although the so-called stand better if the Church concerned itself cialists have acted according to this principle. “work of pacification,” which had begun with with true Christianity …”). Soon Reich Ideologi­ the establishment of the Reich Church Minis­ cal Training Leader Rosenberg proclaimed his Officially, any interference in the inner try and the appointment of the church com­ mysticism of the blood positive Christianity, structures and religious life of the Evangelical mittees, has resolved several grievances previ­ and party offices began following his example Church is denied (see Göring’s speeches; ously brought about by statesmen and party by vilifying confessional and revelatory Chris- Kerrl: “If confusions have arisen within the members by means of state toleration, the tianity as negative (see Rosenberg: “We recog­ Evangelical Church over the past two years, Evangelical Christian who looks more closely nize today that the highest central values of they have been caused at the most by individ­ will, however, recognize that this work of the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches uals. Never by the party as such, never by pacification keeps the Church in administra­ are negative Christianity and do not corre­ the state as such.” Goebbels: “If we preach tive and financial dependency on the state, spond to our souls, that they are in the way of the unity of the Protestant Church, that is robs it of the freedom of its preaching and the organic forces of the peoples of the Nor­ because we consider it impossible that 28 order, and forces it to tolerate false doctrine. dic race, must make room for them, must Regional Churches continue to exist at a time be revalued anew in the sense of a Germanic when the whole Reich is becoming unified. It must be a severe shock to him that the pre­ Christianity.” Letter from S.A. Brigade 11 to the We do not wish to exert any dogma. Nor do amble of the act of 9.24.35 introducing the Provisional Executive: “… No positive Christian we interfere in the interpretation of the gospel “pacification” presents an untrue picture of the will be dismissed from the S.A., only those … In the interpretation of the gospel, God’s origin of the unrest in the German Evangelical Church and presents state interventions in sending of religious written material to youths If blood, race, national customs, and honor Church affairs as non-interventions, indeed as obliged to participate in an Agricultural Year gain the rank of eternal values here, the Evan­ services rendered to the Church by the state. is prohibited.”). The fact that Evangelical mem­ gelical Christian is forced by the First Com­ bers of a Labor Service camp were not given mandment to reject this estimation. If the This approach by the state places a hardly permission to attend church service on Good Aryan man is glorified, the Word of God attests bearable burden on the members of Evangeli­ Friday, for example, shows how far this to the sinfulness of all men. cal congregations who stand by the Word “de-Christianization” has progressed (see evi­ of God revealed to us and the confessions dence). The regulations on religious care for If anti-Semitism is forced upon the Christian, of the fathers and who therefore know what children in their Agricultural Year also speak a obliging him to despise Jews as part of the they as Christians owe to their nation and its very clear language. National Socialist ideology, the Christian com­ government. mandment of brotherly love stands together The de-confessionalization of schools is being with him against this principle. intentionally supported by the state. The 4. De-Confessionalization abolition of denominational schools is being It is a particularly severe conflict of the con­ carried out in violation of the Church’s rights science for the members of our Evangelical Under the watchwords “de-confessionaliza­ (see evidence). Parents’ consciences are congregations if they have to combat the in­ tion” and “overcoming confessional division,” hereby being placed under extreme pressure trusion of these anti-Christian ideas into their a movement has begun with the aim of from the party (see evidence). children’s lives, as befits their duty as Christian making it impossible for the Church to work parents. with the public. Lawful syllabi for religious education lessons are being disregarded in many cases. Thus, key The Evangelical Church has had its own youth elements of biblical teachings have already 6. Ethics and Justice organizations taken from it by an agreement been eradicated from religious education les­ concluded between the Reich Youth Leader sons in many places (Old Testament), and We observe with great concern that a morality and the Reich Bishop, who had not been un-Christian material has entered the syllabus alien to Christianity is intruding into our nation authorized to enter this agreement. Yet even (Old German heathenism) (see, among others, and threatening to demoralize it. the support for Evangelical members of the citation of such a decree from the Anhalt state National Socialist youth organizations guaran­ ministry, against which the women’s group of We are well aware that the Führer acknowl­ teed in that agreement is often impeded. From the G.E.C. vainly placed an objection); school edged the ethical importance of the Christian the topmost leaders of the organized youth to church services and school prayers are being denominations for the life of the nation in his the lowest structures of the Evangelical youth, increasingly neglected or restructured in line speech of March 23, 1933. However, the pow­ their Church is repeatedly treated with con­ with a de-Christianization of the extracurricu­ er of the new ethical thinking has so far been tempt and suspicion, and attempts are consis­ lar forms of communal life in schools. stronger than these words. tently made to undermine their faith in the revelation entrusted to the Church (see, The training of theologians at the universities That which is of benefit to the nation is now among others, Obergau decree 8/35 of the is being increasingly entrusted to professors largely regarded as good League of German Girls Obergau, dated and lecturers who have proven to be teachers 12.5.35: “Not only for leaders, but for all girls, of false doctrine; specifically, the destruction (see the lecture by the head of the N.S.D.A.P. I forbid with immediate effect the provision of of the theological faculties in Prussia provides Bureau for Legal Policy, Dr. Barth, at the aid in any form of confessional work [helpers a telling picture in this instance. In the field of Leipzig Jurist Conference of 1936: “If Reich at children’s church services, etc.].” Hitler examinations, the Ministry of Education and Minister Dr. Frank introduced the legal policy Youth posting in Halle-Saale: “Where are the Public Instruction has demanded the rein­ principle: ‘That which benefits the German enemies of our Hitler Youth? The religious statement of false doctrinarians to the exam­ nation is just; that which harms it is unjust,’ fanatic, who still shuffles on his knees with his ination commissions. then it contains points for understanding the longing gaze directed upward, spends his innermost bond between the necessities and time on attending church and prayer … We as This de-confessionalization of public life, the legal conscience of the nation.”). Thus, Hitler Youths have only contempt or ridicule which is more and more forcing back the it could be declared with the knowledge of for those young people who still run to Christian influence and Christian work in department head Derichsweiler that the their laughable Evangelical or Catholic clubs broadcasting, the press, and public lectures, is expression “positive Christianity” is only used to devote themselves to highly superfluous in reality tantamount to de-Christianization. in Article 24 of the party manifesto in the same religious sentimentalism.” Baldur v. Schirach way one keeps the whole truth from a sick on 11.5.35: “Rosenberg’s path is also the path patient (see evidence). of the German youth.”). While the current 5. National Socialist Ideology regime officially supports positive Christianity, Such behavior places considerations of expe­ its new institutions, such as the Agricultural It is demanded of the Evangelical members diency above the veracity called for in God’s Year and the Labor Service, not only offer as of the Nazi organizations that they commit commandments. The manner in which the good as no opportunities to provide pastoral themselves unrestrictedly to the National struggle against the Church is presented (see care for their members; contact between the Socialist ideology (see Ley: “The party makes above), the treatment of the Evangelical press pastor and his young parishioners, for instance a claim of totality upon the soul of the and Evangelical assemblies, the reversal of the through personal visits or even through German people. It cannot and will not tolerate concept of voluntary participation to its oppo­ sending Evangelical parish newsletters and another party or ideology ruling in Germany. site with respect to collections and recruit­ publications, is even made largely impossible We simply believe that the German nation ment to join organizations, etc. (see consider­ (see, among others, Letter from the Govern­ can become eternal only through National able evidence) are particularly clear evidence ment President in Breslau dated 10.22.35: “In Socialism … And that is why we demand to the Evangelical Christian of this disregard response to your letter of October 15 to the the very last German, be he Protestant or for the commandment of truthfulness arising camp leader Miss Schädel regarding the send­ Catholic …”). This ideology is frequently from the spirit of moral ethics according to ing of religious written material, I hereby presented and passed off as a positive national benefit. inform you of what the Reich and Prussian replacement for Christianity, which is to Minister of Science, Education, and Public be overcome. Instruction emphasized in a decree: that the Memorandum from the Provisional Executive elected by the Fraternal Source: Private English translation: Katy Derbyshire Council, and the Council of the German Evangelical Church Design: Braun Engels Gestaltung, Ulm English editing: Ginger A. Diekmann to Adolf Hitler, May 28, 1936. 1st edition 2016 Editing: Ute Stiepani

The Evangelical Church is particularly glad and These include not only the many incidents time to reach the understanding that it was grateful that the number of oaths before court in the struggle against the Church, but also cheated out of its best inheritance by those has shrunk to a fraction of its previous size the denial of justice effected by the appoint­ who took the Lord Jesus Christ from it. under the rule of the new state, in view of ment and the behavior of the ecclesiastical Christ’s demands in the Sermon on the Mount. Arbitration Bureau (N.B. The Reich Act on the Our nation is threatening to break through the arbitration process in matters of the German boundaries set for it by God: it intends to It must all the more deplore it as a victory of Evangelical Church of 6.24.35 robs ecclesiasti­ make itself the measure of all things. That is anti-Christian spirit that the oath has experi­ cal disputes of the justice process and puts mortal pride revolting against God. enced a shocking accumulation as a pledge of in its place the decision of a political instance allegiance and obligation and thus a shocking which, according to the explanations of a In this context, we must inform the Führer and devaluation. leading member of this Arbitration Bureau, Reich Chancellor of our concern that he is has given itself the task of acting in a “politi­ receiving a great deal of veneration in a form As every oath is a declaration or assurance cally constructive” manner. This Arbitration that is due solely to God. given before the eyes of God, even if God’s Bureau has now, however, after one year, not name is not expressly stated, the fact that yet ruled on any of the approximately seventy Only a few years ago, the Führer himself many people are induced to swear one oath matters pending. This renders those involved disapproved of his picture being placed on after another at brief intervals necessarily robs in these matters practically devoid of rights.). Evangelical altars. Now, his opinion is being the oath of its dignity and leads to the des- ever more uninhibitedly made the norm not ecration and misuse of God’s name. Evangel­ The Evangelical conscience, which knows it­ only for political decisions, but also for morals ical parents find it particularly unbearable self to be partly responsible for the nation and and justice in our nation, and he himself is that their young children are induced to make the government, is most severely burdened being clothed in the religious dignity of the oath-like pledges (see Pledge of the Hitler by the fact that there are still concentration national priest, indeed of the mediator be­ Youth: “I pledge to serve the Führer Adolf camps in Germany, which refers to itself as a tween God and the nation Hitler loyally and selflessly in the Hitler Youth. constitutional state, and that the measures of I pledge to work at all times toward the unity the Secret State Police have been withdrawn (see Dr. Goebbels on 4.19.36.: “When the and comradeship of the German youth. from any review by judges. Führer addressed his most recent appeal to I pledge obedience to the Reich Youth Leader the German people on March 28, a deep and all leaders of the Hitler Youth. I pledge by When the honor of Evangelical Christians loyal tremor moved across the entire nation. One our holy flag that I will always try to be worthy to their confession has been attacked, they had the feeling Germany had been trans­ of it. So help me God.”). often do not receive the protection of honor formed into a single church, in which His that other citizens are granted (see evidence). intercessor now stepped up to the high seat Increasing numbers of people are telling their of the Almighty to bear witness … We felt pastors that they do not feel bound by an oath Evangelical Christianity also sees in these as if this clamor of a nation for freedom and that would have threatened their existence if matters the danger that an anti-Christian spirit peace could not echo back from heaven they had refused to take it. could come to dominate our ethical and legal unheard. It was religion in the deepest and way of thinking. most mysterious sense. A nation professed It would be easier for the Evangelical Church itself to God through its speaker and placed to combat this way of thinking, which runs its fate and life trustingly in his hand …” so contrary to the demands of Christianity, 7. God’s Claim Speeches by Göring, among others). among its members, if Christians were permit­ ted to interpret the oath in the natural sense We have attempted to found openly the We ask, however, for freedom for our nation that no oath can cover actions that go against great concern of broad circles of Evangelical to be allowed to take its path to the future God’s commandments. In fact, however, it has Christians that leading forces in the current under the sign of Christ’s cross, so that grand­ happened that earnest Christians who were regime are carrying out a suppression of the sons will not one day curse fathers because, fully prepared to be obedient to their authori­ Evangelical Church, a demoralization of its despite building and leaving behind a state on ties according to God’s will have been re­- faith, an eradication of Evangelical morals; earth, they closed the doors to God’s kingdom mov­ed from their offices because they claimed in short, a de-Christianization of the broadest for them. such an interpretation for themselves (see scope. In this opinion formed on the basis of evidence). This makes it very difficult for civil attentive observations of matters, we cannot What we have said to the Führer in this letter, servants to take an absolutely truthful stance. be pacified by allusions to contradictory state­ we had to say out of responsibility to our ments and facts. office. The Church is in the hand of the Lord. The evaluation of the ballot papers in the last Reichstag election placed many Evangelical We politely request that the Reich government The clerical members of the Provisional Christians in conflicts of conscience because considers the question of whether it can be Executive of the German Evangelical Church: the benefit to the nation was placed above beneficial to our nation in the long run if it truthfulness. Evangelical Christians who stood continues to follow the path taken up to now. signed Müller, Albertz, Böhm, Forck, Fricke. openly by their decision for the sake of truth­ Even now, the constraint upon con­sciences, fulness were ridiculed or even mistreated (see the persecution of Evangelical convictions, the The Council of the German Evangelical evidence). reciprocal spying and sounding out exercise Church: a malign influence. On the basis of the Holy Scripture, the Evan­ signed Asmussen, Lücking, Middendorff, gelical Christians are convinced that God is Even a great matter must eventually lead a Niemöller, von Thadden.” the protector of justice and of those without nation to perdition, if it opposes the will of rights; we therefore consider it a renunciation God as revealed to us. God’s Church will sur­ of God vive, even if millions of Evangelical Christians should have to lose their salvation in the when despotism enters into matters of justice attempt to de-Christianize the German nation. and things happen “that are not just before the The German nation, however, does not have Lord.” the augury that the poison of an anti-Christian spirit will not damage it, even if it takes a long