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- Title
Evangeliumsverkündigung um jeden Preis - deutsche Freikirchen in der zeit des Nationalsozialismus.
- Authors
Johannes Hartlapp
- Abstract
The Free Churches and small denominations in Germany were largely and unexpectedly overwhelmed by developments at the beginning of the National Socialist dictatorship. Within the one year of 1933, almost all of them had been »gleichgeschaltet« (politically brought into line), thus losing their freedom of action, or they were even banned, like the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Since they had no experience in political discourse, it took longer for them to recognize the dangers of the dictatorship. They developed a strategy of adaptation, with the aim of allowing the state the least possible scope for attack. At the same time, they tried to prevent restrictions and to keep their own freedoms, especially in the proclamation of the gospel. The experiment largely failed. Contrary to their intention, they were exploited by the Nazis to extend the fragmentation of the entire ecclesiastical spectrum in Germany and, by means of their international contacts, to spread Nazi values and propaganda abroad. Such behaviour can be explained by historical experience and the traditional mentality of smaller denominations. They saw themselves as being apolitical. Therefore, after the end of National Socialism, it was very difficult for them to deal with the past and to honour their very few own martyrs.
- Subjects
FREE churches; CATHOLIC Church in Nazi Germany, 1933-1945; HISTORY
- Publication
Kirchliche Zeitgeschichte: Internationale Zeitschrift für Theologie und Geschichtswissenschaft, 2017, Vol 30, Issue 1, p75
- ISSN
0932-9951
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.13109/kize.2017.30.1.75