Religion in Germany: German Democratic Republic (DDR) (1945-91)

The Soviet occupation zone which became East Germany (DDR) included areas of Germany that were heavily Protestant. The Communists did not ban religion outright. There were agreements such as the Concordat with the Catholic Church and the regime was trying to establish its international creditability. The East German Communist regime launched an athiesm campaign, especially directed at children. School children in particular were subjects of this campaign. I have few details at this time, but for many years attempts outside the family to involve children in religion were very dangerous. I'm not sure to what extent Confirmation ceremonies were heald for youths in East Germany. One reader reports, in the former DDR (Communist East Germany) many boys and girls who do not belong to any church also are expressing a desire to have some sort of an inauguration nowadays (Jugendweihe). Hopefully our German readers will provide us some dedails about religion in East Germany, especially aspects that affect children, such as instruction, Sunday school, First Communion, and Confirmation. The DDR was in fact highly successful in its atheism campaign. As East Germany was mostly Protestant, thde impactv has been most heavily felt among the Protestant (mostly Lutheran) Church which was once a primarily Protestant country is today about evenly split between Protestants and Catholics with large numbers of atheists.

Largely Protestant

The Soviet occupation zone which became East Germany (DDR) included areas of Germany that were heavily Protestant.

Communist Policy

The Communists did not ban religion outright. There were internationally binding agreements that had been negotiated by the NAZIs during the 1930s. There was the Concordat with the Catholic Church. There was also an agreement with the German protestantic church organisations. The DDR was trying to establish its international creditability as an independent country which may be part of the reason that they did not formally abrogate those agreements. Thus the DDR did not abolish or split the organisation of the churches (bishops etc). he DDR government probably feared international protest in breaking the treaties.

Atheism Campaign

The East German Communist regime launched an athiesm campaign, especially directed at children. School children in particular were subjects of this campaign. I have few details at this time, but for many years attempts outside the family to involve children in religion were very dangerous. Teaching style and teaching material was atheistic. Their was (as in Russia) no Christmas or Santa Claus (it became "Vaeterchen Frost" - Papa Frost); the Christian holidays like Eastern or Whitsuntide remained holidays, no work, but were used for parades, singing the songs of the workers' union etc, of course with the children and respective influence.

Social Policy

While the DDR didn`t officially ban religion, it adopted social policies that had a devestating impact on religion. DDR policies hindered the free exercise of religion. East Germans who wanted to be profesionally successful didn't attend church. And the children in school, of course, were also observed what the parents wre doing. If a teenager wanted to attend university and persue a professional career, he could not be a Church member or attend Church. (DDR authorities also restricted university attendance from the formerly privlidged classes.)

Confirmation

I'm not sure to what extent Confirmation ceremonies were heald for youths in East Germany.

Jugendweihe

One reader reports, in the former DDR (Communist East Germany) many boys and girls who do not belong to any church also are expressing a desire to have some sort of an inauguration nowadays (Jugendweihe).

Results

The DDR was in fact highly successful in its atheism campaign. As East Germany was mostly Protestant, thde impactv has been most heavily felt among the Protestant (mostly Lutheran) Church which was once a primarily Protestant country is today about evenly split between Protestants and Catholics with large numbers of atheists.

Information Needed

Hopefully our German readers will provide us some dedails about religion in East Germany, especially aspects that affect children, such as instruction, Sunday school, First Communion, and Confirmation.








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Created: 7:38 PM 6/16/2004
Last updated: 7:38 PM 6/16/2004