This Essay covers the German branch of the Catholic Church and its relationship with the Nazi State during the Second World War. The Essay attempts to accurately portray the general development of the relationship between the two organizations in Germany and it argues that the relationship was antagonistic, but variably so. It draws primarily from the recent study conducted by Dr. Thomas Brodie and the treasure trove of primary sources therein, but also draws from other secondary sources when needed. The significance of the Essay is that it describes the broad historical strokes of the relationship between the two organizations through the various ways in which the Nazi State sporadically but inconsistently attempted to subvert the power of the Catholic church in Germany from 1933-1945, how the Catholic clergy responded to these attempts, and the variable effects this had on the Catholic Laity of Germany at this time.

Doctor Mark Ruff was the most influential Person in the formation of this essay, both because it was written for his class on Nazi Germany and because he acted as a guide for me in my research of the topic.