Christianity and fascism

"Thus his [Horst Wessel] death and his grave preach the heroic National Socialist truth that the sacrifice of one is a symbol for the sacrifice of the hundreds of thousands who stand in the movement. Through his song and through his sacrificial death, Horst Wessel had set himself a monument in the midst of history that would be more lasting than stone and ore. Even hundreds of years from now, even when perhaps not one stone in this great city will stand upon another, the German freedom movement of the National Socialists and the memory of its singer will be unforgotten in the memory of the people. Comrades, it is not necessary to lament and complain at this grave, raise the flags high! Horst Wessel, who lies under this stone, is not dead! In the midst of us his spirit remained! Daily and hourly this spirit, which has been faith, loyalty and conviction, marches in our ranks." 𝐀𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐟 𝐇𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐫 In a speech at the tombstone dedication in Berlin on January 22, 1933. @Christianityandfascism2

"The National Socialist State has not closed even one single church, neither prevented church services nor infringed on the conduct of Mass. It has not imposed its views on any confession's church doctrine and faith. In the National Socialist State, man is free to seek absolution in the fashion desired." 𝐀𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐟 𝐇𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐫 In a speech at the Reichstag in Berlin on January 30, 1939. @Christianityandfascism2

"The Easter message of the risen Christ goes out in Germany this year to a people to whom God has spoken through a great turning point. With all... fellow believers we know ourselves one in the joy of the awakening of the deepest forces of our nation to patriotic consciousness, genuine national community and religious renewal." From the Easter message of the Evangelical High Church Council (EOK) of the Church of the Old Prussian Union on April 11, 1933. @Christianityandfascism2

"How could the Germans inwardly - having been redeemed and freed - build anything else than a nation, a Prussian state with its strict conception of service and duty, from the great Elector via Frederick the Great to Stein and Bismarck, a German Empire of Germanic nation from Bismarck to its actual creator Adolf Hitler. Thus we cannot think of Adolf Hitler without Martin Luther. And conversely, Luther's deed would never have acquired its full meaning for Germany without the appearance of Adolf Hitler 400 years later." 𝐒𝐢𝐞𝐠𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐫 Theologian and main representative of German Christians (DC) in Hitler and Luther, 1933. @Christianityandfascism2

"National Socialism, however, which is a thoroughly inward movement, which bears witness to the power of the spirit at every turn, which strives again and again to arouse the noblest instincts of the people, which calls again and again for obedience, reverence, self-surrender, sacrifice, would contradict itself, even tear itself apart, if it promoted anti-Christian activity, even if it tolerated such machinations even in their beginnings." 𝐂𝐚𝐣𝐮𝐬 𝐅𝐚𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐮𝐬 SA man and evangelical theologian in Positive Christianity, 1936. @Christianityandfascism2