Die Religionsgemeinschaften und der Volksaufstand vom 17. Juni 1953
This essay examines the behaviour and reactions of the various German religious bodies in connection with the June 1953 uprising. Because the German Evangelical Church was the largest such body, with 80% of the population, its social relevance was a significant factor in the controversies which aros...
| Published in: | Kirchliche Zeitgeschichte |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | German |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht
2004
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| In: |
Kirchliche Zeitgeschichte
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| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Parallel Edition: | Non-electronic
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| Summary: | This essay examines the behaviour and reactions of the various German religious bodies in connection with the June 1953 uprising. Because the German Evangelical Church was the largest such body, with 80% of the population, its social relevance was a significant factor in the controversies which arose. But because of the tensions already existing with the state, neither the church leadership nor the majority of the pastors nor their parishioners were prepared to express their solidarity with the promoters of the uprising. Instead they remained passive, expressed their political loyalty or at least their neutrality. Doubtless many of those who participated in the uprising were church members, but they could hardly claim to have the support of their clergy or to be doing so from any Christian motivation. A highly significant meeting had taken place on June 10th between the political rulers and the top representatives of the churches. The joint communique issued after this meeting enabled the SED leaders to get away with vague assurances that a new course was to be followed towards the churches. With this in hand, they secured the support of the main Protestant churches at this very critical time. The other religious groups were also persuaded to adopt a loyal stance or at least an attitude of public abstention. The explanation for this reticence by the churches has to be seen in the severity of the Church Struggle which they had had to endure since the summer of 1952. The church leaders' main concern was to preserve this new accord with the communist rulers which promised an amelioration of their conditions, even if this meant they could not openly support the cause of the uprising. To be sure, the Catholic Church tried in some instances to make use of the political unrest to advance their own demands for improvements. But the smaller communities, such as the free churches or the Jewish community, were not prepared to embark on any noteworthy defiance of the regime on this occasion. |
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| ISSN: | 2196-808X |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Kirchliche Zeitgeschichte
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