The Barmen Declaration and the Cross and the Swastika

The Theological Declaration of Barmen 1934 was a document adopted by the Reformed and Lutheran churches that opposed Nazi Germany and the view of the “German Christians” which combined the authority of church and state. Many German Christians openly welcomed Hitler's Nazi party to power, they believed that it was a historic movement of Christ's work on earth through the Aryan people.  The German Christians welcomed the turning point of 1933 as a gift and miracle of God. ¹

The “German Christians” went on to organize churches in Germany under one single, national church under the leadership of one national bishop. On September 27, 1933 a new constitution established a single “Protestant Reich Church”. The Declaration of Barmen was a confession written by the Confessing Christians that opposed this new national church government and Hitler's totalitarian rule.   In two articles, the Barmen Confession affirmed the false doctrine of uniting church and state under one authority...

8.23 We reject the false doctrine, as though the State, over and beyond its special commision, should and could become the single and totalitarian order of human life, thus fulfilling the Church's vocation as well.

8.24 We reject the false doctrine, as though the Church, over and beyond its special commission, should and could appropriate the characteristics, the tasks, and the dignity of the State, thus itself becoming an organ of the State.

This establishes strongly in our confessions one more example of the importance of the separation of church in state and Christians today need to be particularly aware of this important distinctions.

The the book "The Cross and the Swastika", the German Christians declared their belief that Nazism and Christianity were not just compatible, but the manifestation of God's revelation.  To this, Karl Barth added his strong NO!  Below is an exert from the booklet that is available at the Calvin College archive below.   It demonstrates the dangers and heresy of nationalism.  These statements were written from the view point that Nazism was compatible with Christianity, and that German Nationalism was compatible with Christianity.  This reminds us of the dangers of any kind of Nationalism being mixed with Christianity, including United States Nationalism.  

1http://research.calvin.edu/german-propaganda-archive/christuskreuz.htm

The Cross and The Swastika: The symbol of the Cross and the Swastika had the following explanation:  

"The cross of Christ and the swastika do not need to oppose each other, and must not do so, but rather they can and should stand together. One should not dominate the other, but rather each should maintain its own meaning and significance.

The cross of Christ points toward heaven and admonishes us:
Remember that you are Christian people, carried by the eternal love of the heavenly father, free through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, sanctified by the power of God’s spirit.

The swastika, however, points to the world as a divine creation and admonishes us: Remember that you are German, born in German territory to parents of German blood, filled with the German spirit and essence, formed according to German nature.

Both together, however, the cross of Christ and the swastika, admonish us: Remember that you are German Christian people and should become ever more whole German Christian people, and remain so!"

Hanover, Easter 1934. Gerhard Hahn, President of the Provincial Church Council (Landeskirchentag)

The publication is available on this website (third party) from Calvin College research archive:

German Propaganda Archive

Barmen Declaration