ABSTRACT
The role of Christian churches in Nazi Germany and internationally during the period of National Socialism and the Holocaust is a well-documented case study of the intersections between religion and genocide. The literature includes historical studies of the different churches and individuals during that era and theological literature, which explores and critiques the centuries of anti-Jewish teachings that established the foundation for the antisemitism that was widespread throughout western Christianity. The issues are complex. While Christian behavior was not monolithic during this period, there was also a well-established record of Christian collusion and active participation in this genocide. There are comparatively fewer documented cases of resistance by Christian groups, particularly inside Nazi Germany. While some factors are specific to the history of Nazism and the Holocaust, there are also dynamics that parallel those of other genocides. Despite these historical differences, the study of Christian churches in Europe between 1933 and 1945 can convey the complex roles that religion, religious figures, and institutions, and religiously framed narratives play in genocidal contexts.
