
After serious debate and discussion over Holocaust documents, it is believed that Hitler’s actions were provoked by Catholic teachings of Christianity. Though all of the events that resulted from his reign of tyranny were heartless, and totally opposite of a Christian profile, there is no denial that the Catholic Church was the driving force behind it all. According to historical records, Hitler promoted acts of pagan cult and atheism against those who did not worship the actual God himself, and Jesus Christ. Through close examination of the formation of the Nazi party, Hitler did exhibit Christian intent and purpose for German soldiers and citizens. Here are a few examples of Adolf Hitler’s earlier life, before his rise to military power:
Hitler leaves the Marine Church in Wilhelmshaven.The link between Adolf Hitler and the Catholic Church• Hitler was baptized by the Catholic Church, and served as an altar boy.
• He held high aspirations and hopes of serving as a religious clergyman within the church. He has also authored several documents which express his interest and passion for religion, as depicted in this excerpt taken from Main Kempf- “I had excellent opportunity to intoxicate myself with the solemn splendor of the brilliant church festivals. As was only natural, the abbot seemed to me, as the village priest had once seemed to my father, the highest and most desirable ideal.” - Adolf Hitler
• The church never looked down upon Hitler’s vicious acts against the Jews, as they felt it was justified for what they believed was their responsibility for the killing of Jesus Christ. There is no mention that Hitler suffered from religious persecution, nor was he rejected by the Catholic Church.
• In an ironic turn of events, Hitler was categorized together with Franco and Mussolini, and was empowered by the Vatican the authority to Veto bishops appointed by the pope in the following countries- Spain, Germany, and Italy. In addition, those who were demoted were also charged with excessive taxes, which were directly paid to the Vatican. Expressing his conceit in acknowledgement from the Catholic Church, Hitler goes on by saying in one of his speeches- “The fact that the Vatican is concluding a treaty with the new Germany means the acknowledgement of the National Socialist state by the Catholic Church. This treaty shows the whole world clearly and unequivocally that the assertion that National Socialism (Nazism) is hostile to religion is a lie.” July 22, 1933, in a Nazi Party address.
• Concrete evidence that suggests Catholic approval of Nazi principles can be found in sermons and public education materials. There is speculation that Hitler held close relationships with Catholic clergymen of importance, as shown in one photographic example of Hitler and Archbishop Cesare Orsenigo of Tolemaide. The photo was taken at a Berlin New Year’s gathering in 1935.
• As Hitler became deeply involved within the inner workings of the Church, he started to introduce Catholic doctrines under martial law. In these sets of newer rules and regulations, her added severe and corporal punishment for confirmed homosexuals within schools and homes.
Holocaust Remnants• Christian based teachings provided the catalytic elements for the onset of Holocaust. Hitler developed an anti-Semitic nature from his Christian upbringings. During his childhood, there was a strong Aryan Christian presence in Germany and Austria, which bore a strong impression that people of Jewish descent were inferior in comparison. For the past few hundred years, Christian leaders (Catholic priests and hierarchy, Protestant ministry) in Germany concluded that Jews bear the responsibility for the untimely death of Jesus. Closely following the example set by Martin Luther, of Protestant background, attesting a shared distaste for all things of Jewish origin. Immersed in the literary works of Martin Luther, which continued well on up until World War II, Hitler’s favorite piece was “On Jews and their Lies”.
Nazi Conversion Campaign for Christianity• Somewhere along the timeline in the 1920’s, the German Workers’ Party (later known as the Nazi) constructed their own constitution titled “Programme”, which consisted of twenty-five point. In the twenty-fourth point, their mission statement to promote Christianity is clearly defined by saying, “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 or creed to any particular confession...”
Forced conversion of Serbs to Catholicism• Within the Nazi regime, a branch was created to form a youth outreach, through which it spread Nazi philosophies to young children and adolescents. By appealing to a human being’s religious self-worth, Hitler has been quoted as saying this in his Mein Kampf, “By helping to raise man above the level of bestial vegetation, faith contributes in reality to the securing and safeguarding of his existence. Take away from present-day mankind its education-based, religious- dogmatic principles—or, practically speaking, ethical-moral principles—by abolishing this religious education, but without replacing it by an equivalent, and the result will be a grave shock to the foundations of their existence.”
• Under Hitler’s direction the Nazis seized control of schools so that religion would be an educational requirement.
• Until 1961, anti-Semitic propaganda that filled educational textbooks and material were removed.
• In order to participate in the Nazi regime, soldiers were required to convert and share the same religion. To show their religious dedication, Nazis donned religious icons and symbols to show their spirituality, such as- belt buckles and military ornaments. Even belt buckles were imprinted with religious ornamentation, reading- “Gott Mit Uns” (God With Us).
Imprinted belt buckle.
• Before performing a mission, soldiers were blessed with the sprinkling of holy water in religious ceremonies presided over by an ordained Catholic priest.
• The formation of a Nazi secret service called “SS Reich” relied on trained spies to expose opposition parties and heresy.
• Under close examination, you’ll be able to recognize Hitler’s intent on building a religiously united Germany. Unfortunately, the violence and forceful nature of Nazism posed conflicting views of Christian faith. The Church attempted to discredit Hitler as a pagan and atheist. Nevertheless, Hitler continued to proclaim his strong sense of religion, and publicly said, “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.” October 24, 1933- Berlin.
In this proclamation he is again telling the world about his vision of creating unity through Christianity. The Holocaust was an extreme measure used to filter out non-Christian believers, that is, those who didn’t accept and worship Jesus. Although historical records show that millions of Jews were killed, omissions have failed to reflect that atheists, as well as Aryan pagans, were also executed for non-Christian practices and beliefs. Using the Bible as leverage, in conjunction with his Christian faith, Hitler persisted in his attacks of anti-Semitism- "Christianity could not content itself with building up its own altar; it was absolutely forced to undertake the destruction of the heathen altars. Only from this fanatical intolerance could its apodictic faith take form; this intolerance is, in fact, its absolute presupposition."- Mein Kampf. According to this, he is saying that desecration of Jewish alters must take place in order to construct Christian foundations.
The following are excerpts taken from popular speeches of Adolf Hitler; they go on to justify his actions and anti-Semitic propaganda:
“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
"With satanic joy in his face, the black-haired Jewish youth lurks in wait for the unsuspecting girl whom he defiles with his blood, thus stealing her from her people." -Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf
Promoting the anti-semintic propaganda through the newspapers and the radio .
"…the fall of man in paradise has always been followed by his expulsion." -Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf. The basis for this speech stems from Chapter 3 of Genesis in the Bible, as Hitler interprets it, that Jews have failed to acknowledge God and should be removed from the face of the Earth just the same as Adam and Eve were cast from the Garden of Eden for their disobedience.
“Only in the steady and constant application of force lies the very first prerequisite for success. This persistence, however, can always and only arise from a definite spiritual conviction. Any violence which does not spring from a firm, spiritual base, will be wavering and uncertain.”
- Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf. Hitler attributes his success as approval from God.
“The anti-Semitism of the new movement [Christian Social movement] was based on religious ideas instead of racial knowledge.” –Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf. This quotation is very unique in that Hitler clarifies his motivation for causing the Holocaust. In this, he says that the movement was not fueled by race or color, but by opposition to those who denied Jesus