Adolf Hitler and Martin Luther: Anti-Semitism, Nazi propaganda and the German Lutheran Church

De: Thomas S. Mueller

Narrado por: Virtual Voice

This analysis recounts the effect of Nazi propaganda on the German Lutheran Church. Key religious scholars referred to Martin Luther, the founder of the Lutheran Church, as the “spiritual predecessor of Adolf Hitler.” Hitler used this association to frame the anti-Semitic pronunciations of Luther, which propagated a cognitive dissonance and eventual silence among parishioners. The Nazi message of marginalizing and eradicating Jews was embraced by leading German Lutheran leaders and theologians, who formed an Aryan interpretation of biblical texts. Hitler’s recounting of Luther’s suggested Jewish pogroms brought conflict within the church not only through Hitler’s reign, but also following World War II when German Lutherans were forced to reconcile anti-Semitic behavior under the scrutiny of the Allies. Scholars and historians who explore the complexities of human interaction in Nazi Germany will discover fruitful areas of discussion within church history, where past experience remains influential in current behaviors.