The Polish Catholic Church under German occupation [Elektronische Ressource] the Reichsgau Wartheland, 1939-1945

When Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939, it aimed to destroy Polish national consciousness. As a symbol of Polish national identity and the religious faith of approximately two-thirds of Poland's population, the Roman Catholic Church was an obvious target of the Nazi regime's policies of ethnic, racial, and cultural Germanization. Jonathan Huener reveals in The Polish Catholic Church under German Occupation that the persecution of the church was most severe in the Reichsgau Wartheland, a region of Poland annexed to Nazi Germany. Here Catholics witnessed the execution of priests, the incarceration of hundreds of clergymen and nuns in prisons and concentration camps, the closure of churches, the destruction and confiscation of church property, and countless restrictions on public expression of the Catholic faith. Huener also illustrates how some among the Nazi elite viewed this area as a testing ground for anti-church policies to be launched in the Reich after the successful completion of the war. Based on largely untapped sources from state and church archives, punctuated by vivid archival photographs, and marked by nuance and balance, The Polish Catholic Church under German Occupation exposes both the brutalities and the limitations of Nazi church policy. The first English-language investigation of German policy toward the Catholic Church in occupied Poland, this compelling story also offers insight into the varied ways in which Catholics—from Pope Pius XII, to members of the Polish episcopate, to the Polish laity at the parish level—responded to the Nazi regime's repressive measures.

When Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939, it aimed to destroy Polish national consciousness. As a symbol of Polish national identity and the religious faith of approximately two-thirds of Poland's population, the Roman Catholic Church was an obvious target of the Nazi regime's policies of ethnic, racial, and cultural Germanization.

Jonathan Huener reveals in The Polish Catholic Church under German Occupation that the persecution of the church was most severe in the Reichsgau Wartheland, a region of Poland annexed to Nazi Germany. Here Catholics witnessed the execution of priests, the incarceration of hundreds of clergymen and nuns in prisons and concentration camps, the closure of churches, the destruction and confiscation of church property, and countless restrictions on public expression of the Catholic faith. Huener also illustrates how some among the Nazi elite viewed this area as a testing ground for anti-church policies to be launched in the Reich after the successful completion of the war. Based on largely untapped sources from state and church archives, punctuated by vivid archival photographs, and marked by nuance and balance, The Polish Catholic Church under German Occupation exposes both the brutalities and the limitations of Nazi church policy.

The first English-language investigation of German policy toward the Catholic Church in occupied Poland, this compelling story also offers insight into the varied ways in which Catholics—from Pope Pius XII, to members of the Polish episcopate, to the Polish laity at the parish level—responded to the Nazi regime's repressive measures.

When Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939, it aimed todestroy Polish national consciousness. As a symbol of Polishnational identity and the religious faith of approximatelytwo-thirds of Poland's population, the Roman Catholic Church was anobvious target of the Nazi regime's policies of ethnic, racial, andcultural Germanization.

Jonathan Huener reveals in The Polish Catholic Church underGerman Occupation that the persecution of the church was mostsevere in the Reichsgau Wartheland, a region of Poland annexed toNazi Germany. Here Catholics witnessed the execution of priests,the incarceration of hundreds of clergymen and nuns in prisons andconcentration camps, the closure of churches, the destruction andconfiscation of church property, and countless restrictions onpublic expression of the Catholic faith. Huener also illustrateshow some among the Nazi elite viewed this area as a testing groundfor anti-church policies to be launched in the Reich after thesuccessful completion of the war. Based on largely untapped sourcesfrom state and church archives, punctuated by vivid archivalphotographs, and marked by nuance and balance, The PolishCatholic Church under German Occupation exposes both thebrutalities and the limitations of Nazi church policy.

The first English-language investigation of German policy towardthe Catholic Church in occupied Poland, this compelling story alsooffers insight into the varied ways in which Catholics-from PopePius XII, to members of the Polish episcopate, to the Polish laityat the parish level-responded to the Nazi regime's repressivemeasures.

"When Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939, it aimed to destroy Polish national consciousness. As a symbol of Polish national identity and the religious faith of approximately two-thirds of Poland's population, the Roman Catholic church was an obvious target of the Nazi regime's policies of ethnic, racial, and cultural Germanization. Jonathan Huener reveals in The Polish Catholic Church under German Occupation that the persecution of the church was most severe in the Reichsgau Wartheland, a region of Poland annexed to Nazi Germany. Here Catholics witnessed the execution of priests, the incarceration of hundreds of clergymen and nuns in prisons and concentration camps, the closure of churches, the destruction and confiscation of church property, and countless restrictions on public expression of the Catholic faith. Huener also illustrates how some among the Nazi elite viewed this area as a testing ground for anti-church policies to be launched in the Reich after the successful completion of the war. Based on largely untapped sources from state and church archives, punctuated by vivid archival photographs, and marked by nuance and balance, The Polish Catholic Church under German Occupation exposes both the brutalities and the limitations of Nazi church policy. The first English-language investigation of German policy toward the Catholic Church in occupied Poland, this compelling story also offers insight into the varied ways in which Catholics-from Pope Pius XII, to members of the Polish episcopate, to the Polish laity at the parish level-responded to the Nazi regime's repressive measures"-- Provided by publisher "When Nazi Germany invaded Poland in 1939, it aimed to destroy Polish national consciousness. As a symbol of Polish national identity and the religious faith of approximately two-thirds of Poland's population, the Roman Catholic Church was an obvious target of the Nazi regime's policies of ethnic, racial, and cultural Germanization. Jonathan Huener reveals in this book that the persecution of the church was most severe in the Reichsgau Wartheland, a region of Poland annexed to Nazi Germany. Here Catholics witnessed the execution of priests, the incarceration of hundreds of clergymen and nuns in prisons and concentration camps, the closure of churches, the destruction and confiscation of church property, and countless restrictions on public expression of the Catholic faith. Huener also illustrates how some among the Nazi elite viewed this area as a testing ground for anti-church policies to be launched in the Reich after the successful completion of the war. Based on largely untapped sources from state and church archives, punctuated by vivid archival photographs, and marked by nuance and balance, this book exposes both the brutalities and the limitations of Nazi church policy. The first English-language investigation of German policy toward the Catholic Church in occupied Poland, this compelling story also offers insight into the varied ways in which Catholics-from Pope Pius XII, to members of the Polish episcopate, to the Polish laity at the parish level-responded to the Nazi regime's repressive measures"-- Provided by publisher When Germany Invaded Poland In 1939, It Aimed To Destroy Polish National Consciousness. As The Symbol Of Polish National Identity And The Religion Of Approximately Two-thirds Of The Population, The Roman Catholic Church Became An Obvious Target. Jonathan Huener Reveals In The Polish Catholic Church Under German Occupation That The Treatment Of Catholics In The Reichsgau Wartheland Region Of Germany Was More Brutal Than Anywhere Else In German-occupied Europe. Here, Catholics Witnessed The Execution Of Priests, The Incarceration Of Thousands Of Clergymen And Nuns In Prisons And Concentration Camps, The Closure Of Churches, Destruction And Confiscation Of Church Property, And Countless Restrictions On Public Expression Of The Catholic Faith. Huener Illustrates How The Nazi Elite Viewed This Area As A Testing Ground For Anti-church Policies To Be Launched In The Reich After The Successful Completion Of The War. Bolstered By Largely Untapped Sources From Church Archives, The Polish Catholic Church Under German Occupation Exposes Both The Brutalities And Limitations Of Nazi Church Policy As Well As The Response Of The Vatican And Poles To These Policies. In This Gripping Work, Huener Offers Insight Into The Everyday Experiences Of Polish Catholics, From The Highest Ranks Of The Polish Episcopate To The Basic Struggles Of The Laity As They Navigated The Destruction Of Their Nation, Culture, And Faith. Cover Title Page Copyright Contents Acknowledgments List of Abbreviations List of Geographic Terms Guide to Polish Pronunciation Introduction 1. Tannenberg: The Einsatzgruppen and the Polish Clergy, Fall 1939 2. Größte Härte: The Invasion of Poland: Ideology and Execution 3. Hetzkaplan: The Polish Church and the “Agitator Priest” in Nazi Ideology 4. Mustergau: The Reichsgau Wartheland as “Model Gau” 5. Dominselaktion: The “Cathedral Island Action” 6. Deportacja: The Deportation and Incarceration of the Clergy 7. Kult: Restrictions on Public Religious Life 8. Profanacja: Desecration and Plunder 9. Nationalitätenprinzip: National Segregation in Church Life 10. Dreizehn Punkte: From the “Thirteen Points” to the “September Decree” 11. Zerschlagung: The “Action for the Destruction of the Polish Clergy” 12. Dachau: Polish Clergy in the Concentration Camp Dachau 13. Nonnenlager: Women Religious in the Bojanowo Labor Camp 14. Späne: Kirchenpolitik in the Warthegau, 1942–1944 15. Parafia: Parish Life 16. Konspiracja: Resistance and Conspiracy 17. “Et papa tacet”?: Pius XII and the Church in the Warthegau 18. Kurswechsel: A Change in Course Conclusion Bibliography Index Tannenberg : the Einsatzgruppen and the Polish clergy, fall 1939 -- Grösste Härte : the invasion of Poland : ideology and execution -- Hetzkaplan : the Polish church and the "agitator priest" in Nazi ideology -- Mustergau : the Reichsgau Wartheland as "model Gau" -- Dominselaktion : the "Cathedral Island action" -- Deportacja : the deportation and incarceration of the clergy -- Kult : restrictions on public religious life -- Profanacja : desecration and plunder -- Nationalitätenprinzip : national segregation in church life -- Dreizehn Punkte : from the "Thirteen Points" to the "September Decree" -- Zerschlagung : the "Action for the destruction of the Polish clergy" -- Dachau : Polish clergy in the concentration camp Dachau -- Nonnenlager : women religious in the Bojanowo labor camp -- Späne : Kirchenpolitik in the Warthegau, 1942-1944 -- Parafia : parish life -- Konspiracja : resistance and conspiracy -- "Et papa tacet"? : Pius XII and the church in the Warthegau -- Kurswechsel : a change in course