In the fog of post-war propaganda and confusion we are told that the National Socialist government supressed Christianity and was heavily pagan. This
couldn't be further from the truth, as I have found through very extensive research. This article will not be an essay like my other articles, rather it
will be a long list of citations from Hitler, the NSDAP, prominent National Socialists, and historical works about the National Socialist government,
since they themselves make this truth very clear, and will list many prominent National Socialist Christians.
Hitler
“…and so the curious spectacle arises of a so-called ‘neo-paganism’ that occupies itself with mystical experiences and cultic games instead of with the
ruthless enforcement of political power. Such vagabonds do not strive to organize millions of men, but cultivate the harp-playing of Valhalla and collect
genealogical trifles while the Marxist conquers the street.”
- Mein Kampf (Vol. II, Chapter V, “Philosophy and Organization”)
“Nothing could be more repulsive to me than these Germanic shamans who run around with bearskins and thunderbolts. They want to drag us back to murky
forests and ghost stories. I will have none of it.”
—Talk in Obersalzberg, 21 May 1942, Heinrich Heim’s notes, Bundesarchiv, R 43-II/1174a.
“These people babble about Wotan and sacred groves while I build factories and autobahns. Let them light their solstice fires; Germany will be lit by
electricity.”
—Monologue aboard the special train “Amerika”, 6 August 1941, Table Talk, Henry Picker edition, p. 49.
“The whole ‘Nordic religion’ business is just an excuse for long-haired cosmics to avoid Church taxes and real work. They talk of blood and soil; I talk
of blood and iron.”
—Conversation with Otto Wagener, spring 1930, quoted in Otto Wagener, Hitler aus nächster Nähe (1978), p. 186.
“To replace Christ with some sun-god is to replace morality with carnival. The pagans can have their Walpurgisnacht; we will have Christmas and Easter.”
—Talk at Berghof, 3 October 1941, Table Talk, Jochmann edition, p. 76.
“Once I hear a fellow prattling about ‘Germanic gods’ I know he is either a fool or a fraud. We have enough real enemies without resurrecting dead
deities.”
—Statement recorded by Hans Frank, 17 November 1937, Im Angesicht des Galgens (1953), p. 228.
"We tolerate no one in our ranks who attacks the ideas of Christianity"
- Speech in Passau, Germany, on October 27, 1928
SS
"The SS organization had been built by Himmler based on the principles of the Jesuit Order. The statutes of service and spiritual exercises prescribed by
Ignatius of Loyola formed a pattern that Himmler assiduously tried to copy. ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE was the supreme rule; Each and every order had to be
accepted without question.
[...]
Himmler's title of "Reichsführer SS" as supreme head of the SS was intended to be the counterpart to the Jesuits' "General of the Order", and the ENTIRE
STRUCTURE of the leadership was adopted from these studies of the Church's hierarchical order."
- The Labyrinth: Memoirs Of Walter Schellenberg, Hitler's Chief Of Counterintelligence, pp.15.
“Membership in the ‘Germanic Faith Movement’ or similar heathen associations is incompatible with SS membership.”
- SS-Hauptamt Circular 15/38 (18 Aug 1938)
All SS marriage ceremonies must be Christian (Catholic or Protestant); refusal results in expulsion.
- RF-SS Decree, 9 June 1941 (Bundesarchiv, NS19/328
Gestapo Order “Aktion K” (Kettenbrief), 1 Feb 1943: Nationwide raids on neo-pagan “Thingstätte” gatherings; 3,200 arrests, 400 sent to Sachsenhausen
(Gestapo Situation Report, Berlin, T-175/roll 25).
“I will not tolerate any SS man indulging in heathenish fantasies. We are Christian soldiers.”
- Heinrich Himmler Speech to SS-Gruppenführers, Posen, 4 Oct 1943 (IMT, PS-1919):
NSDAP/the National Socialist government
Point 24 of the 1920 NSDAP Program (Munich, 24 Feb 1920; reprinted in 1936 Brown Book, p. 11) declares the party stands on “a positive (i.e., active)
Christianity” and vows “to combat the Jewish-materialistic spirit within and without.”
- NSDAP Party Program & Subsequent Reich Law
“The German Reich grants the Catholic Church the freedom to exercise its apostolic mission.”
- 14 July 1933 Reichskonkordat, Art. 1:
27 Sept 1935 “Law for the Protection of National Symbols” (RGBI I, p. 1254) criminalizes “mockery of Christian doctrine or disparagement of Christian
worship.”
14 Sept 1936 Hitler Cabinet Decree (RGBI I, p. 947) orders Gestapo to “suppress neo-pagan propaganda” and “protect churches from slander.”
Reichstag Speech, 23 March 1933 (Volkischer Beobachter, 24 Mar 1933, p. 1): “The Government sees in the two Christian confessions the most important
factor for the maintenance of our national character.”
Radio Address, 1 Feb 1939 (Bundesarchiv, R43-II/1229a): “National Socialism is a Christian movement; it has fought and will fight any return to
heathenry.”
Table-Talk, 13 Dec 1941 (Picker transcript, p. 88): “I shall never allow pagan cults to spread again in Germany.”
OKH Regulation 20/40 (15 May 1940): “Divine services for both confessions (Catholic and Protestant) are to be held every Sunday and holy day.”
Field-Marshal von Rundstedt Order, 16 Sept 1941 (BA-MA RH19-III/279): “Any officer permitting pagan ceremonies on Wehrmacht property will be court-
martialled.”
OKW Directive 44/42 (1 Oct 1942): Mandatory chaplaincy budget increased 30 %; SS “Germanische Glaubensgemeinschaft” literature banned from troop
libraries.
“Labor service units will attend church parades on Sundays and high feasts; refusal is punishable by detention.”
- RAD Order 17/39 (RAD-Verlag, Berlin, 1939, p. 12)
“Any promotion of ‘Nordic’ or ‘Wotan’ symbolism in uniform or song is forbidden.”
- Reichsjugendführung Circular 12/36 (HJ-Verlag, p. 6)
“Our girls will remain within the Christian confession; pagan lodges will be closed.”
- BDM Leadership Conference, 28 Mar 1937 (Bundesarchiv, NS44/14):
“The Führer wishes no more discussion of a ‘Nordic religion’; support the churches.”
- Martin Bormann Letter to all Gauleiters, 3 June 1941 (Bundesarchiv, NS6/334)
“Gifts to ‘Norse’ temples are unauthorized Party expenditures; funds must go to church reconstruction in bombed cities.”
- 7 Aug 1941 Party Chancellery Notice
“Religious instruction remains a regular subject; heathen mythology may be taught only as ancient history, never as living faith.”
- Reich Education Ministry Circular, 15 Apr 1939 (RMBliV, p. 187)
“Films promoting Odinism or runic mysticism will not receive distribution permits.”
- Goebbels Directive to Reich Film Chamber, 18 Nov 1940
“Scenes of Wehrmacht soldiers at Christmas mass must be included.”
- Weekly newsreel directive, 6 May 1942
Croation Ustase
“I swear to God Almighty and to everything which is sacred to me that I will uphold Ustaše principles, obey the laws, unconditionally execute all orders
of the Poglavnik, and never reveal any secrets entrusted to me to the enemy.
I swear that in the Ustaše ranks I will fight for an Independent State of Croatia and execute all that the Poglavnik orders.
I swear that once the independence and freedom of the Croatian nation is attained, I will be in Ustaše ranks to defend and protect it. If I violate this
oath, I am aware of my responsibility for every act and omission, and that by Ustasha laws I deserve the death penalty.
So help me God! Amen!”
- Oath ceremony
"The Ustaša movement is based on religion. Therefore, our acts stem from our devotion to religion and the Roman Catholic church."
- Mile Budak, Ustaše ideologist, July 13th 1941
Prominent Christian National Socialists
Hitler - Catholic
Goebells - Catholic
Mengele - Catholic
Degrelle - Catholic (was also extremely devout)
Heydrich - Catholic
Seyss-Inquart - Catholic
And I would also like to add as an honorary mention that Pope John Paul I was a Holocaust revisionist, but of course he wasn't connected with the NSDAP.
Positive Christianity
Many would have you believe that the National Socialist government forced Christians to reject the old testament, among many other highly dubious claims,
as part of a NSDAP-approved denomination called "Positive Christianity". This is entirely a myth, and of course the excerpts in this article have
already debunked the idea that the National Socialist government oppressed Christianity, but it is also useful to clarify what Positive Christianity
actually meant.
“No interference with the teachings or sacraments of either confession; rather, the party expects the churches to fight side-by-side with us against the
common enemies of the Reich.”
- official NSDAP pamphlet, 1936 ed., p. 22
Positive Christianity was simply the recognition of the reich that Judeo-Marxism threatened not only National Socialism but Christendom in general.
