Die deutschen Kirchen und die Eroberung Polens
After 1919, the German desire for revision of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles led to disputes with Poland. Hitler however aimed to make Poland a vassal state in the German sphere of influence. But in early 1939 he decided to attack Poland by force. For this purpose, the Hitler-Stalin Pact was...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | German |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht
2002
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| In: |
Kirchliche Zeitgeschichte
Year: 2002, Volume: 15, Issue: 1, Pages: 194-217 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | After 1919, the German desire for revision of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles led to disputes with Poland. Hitler however aimed to make Poland a vassal state in the German sphere of influence. But in early 1939 he decided to attack Poland by force. For this purpose, the Hitler-Stalin Pact was more important for its psychological impact than for its military advantages in avoiding a two-front war. The war caused deep rifts in both the Protestant and Catholic churches between their feelings of patriotic duty and their criticism of Nazi policies and especially its attacks on the churches. The population as a whole had little or no enthusiasm for war. Theologically, the Confessing Church in particular rejected the kind of war theology seen in 1914. But only a few church leaders expressed - and only indirectly - any criticism of the Polish campaign. Apart from the churches in the "liberated" areas, rejoicing over the victory in this "Blitzkrieg" was limited. While the Protestant press dutifully reported on the so-called Polish atrocities, nothing was said about German crimes. Especially on the Catholic side, the silence of the bishops about the fate of their Polish fellow-Catholics was marked. One might argue that this was due to the lack of accurate information, but much more decisive was the unbroken German loyalty, even to this criminal regime. |
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| ISSN: | 2196-808X |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Kirchliche Zeitgeschichte
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