Originally, many different tribes inhabited Germany, all following different indigenous

religions. Although no German tribe followed the same religion, Germanic tribes all followed
different pre-Christian religions. Christianity became the common religion as early as the fourth
century AD. It wasnt until Martin Luther created Lutheranism, also known as the Protestant
branch of Christianity, in 1517, that the Christians began to become divided throughout Germany
(Germanic Religion). In 1555, the Peace of Augsburg presented the idea that the tribes should
be united and follow the religion of their ruler. This decree allowed for the legal existence of
Lutheranism and Catholicism in Germany. The South and West became Roman Catholic and the
East and North became protestant. This change in religion not only changed the culture, but also
influenced economic developments. During the 17th century, Berlin began to harbor French
refugees, and by the end of the century about a fifth of the population in Berlin was French.
When the French arrived in Germany, they brought with them many new manufacturing tools as
well as aiding in the advancement of education and fashion (Elkins). While it is unclear exactly
when religion originated in Germany, various indigenous religions were ubiquitous throughout
Germany prior to Christianity.
Religious tension has played a major role in German history and culture. While
Christianity was not the first prominent religion in history, as time went on, Christianity
eventually became the dominant religion in Germany. Following the First World War, Germany
was morally and economically depressed, as a result of the condemnations and economic
restraints placed on Germany from the Allied Powers. To unify the country and gain moral,
Adolf Hitler created propaganda and attempted to convince Germans to make Jews the scapegoat
of the tragedies of World War I. The Holocaust is one of the most devastating and horrifying
examples of religious prosecution to date, an event that tends to overshadow other ways that

religion affected cultural development. Hitler vehemently promoted the Christian religion, and
extinguished the practice of worshipping other religions throughout Germany. Judaism is not
prominent in Germany today, which is indicative of the affect that the Holocaust had on Jewish
individuals in Germany. According to the 2011 German census, 30.8% of the German
population identifies with the Roman Catholic Church, 30.3% with the Evangelical Church, and
38.8% identify as atheists, or not specified (Religion in Germany). Religion in Germany has
influenced the culture through the tragedies of the holocaust; some places in Germany wont
admit that it had ever occurred. Germany as a nation is no longer the same as it had once been
due to the religious persecution.
Considering over 60% of the German population follows the Christian religion, Christian
churches and cathedrals are prominent throughout the country. The churches and cathedrals are
not only examples of the violent religious tensions that stain German history, but also are
important visual examples of German architecture and art. The spectacular Cologne Cathedral,
in Cologne, Germany, was built in 1248 and completed in 1880 (Germanys Grand
Cathedrals). The third tallest Cathedral in the world, it was originally built to accommodate the
Shrine of the Three Holy Kings (Germanys Grand). An important example of gothic
architecture, this grandiose cathedral highlights the importance of the Christian religion to
Germans. In Berlin, the Kaiser-Berlin Memorial Church also exemplifies the importance of
Christianity in Germany throughout the 20th and 21st centuries (Kaiser-Wilhelm-GedachtnisKirche Berlin). Services are still held in the church today, although Allied Forces heavily
bombed the church throughout the Second World War. Despite the brutal air raids, Germans
were able to preserve the church and rebuild the parts that were destroyed, further highlighting
the significance of Christianity in Germany (Germanys Grand).

The German government was heavily involved with religion in Germany, given the
extreme religious tensions between Christianity and Judaism throughout the 20th century. Today,
Germany is not a religious state; it protects against religious discrimination and offers religious
freedom to all citizens (Germany). However, throughout World War II, Hitler instituted
policies throughout his time in power that specifically targeted Judaism. Hitler, who made
himself,Furher, or Germanys supreme ruler, established foreign and domestic goals that aimed
to purify Germany and eradicate the country of any diversity (The Holocaust). Hitler sent
thousands of Jews to concentration camps, where very few survived the horrible conditions.
Hitler executed his political goals by prosecuting people based on their religion. Although
religion and the government are not intertwined in modern day Germany, church and state have
had a complicated relationship in Germanys history.
The role religion has played in Germany is an extremely interesting part of Germanys
culture and history. Despite the magnificent cathedrals and churches, beautiful examples of
German architecture and art, the churches highlight the lack of diversity of religion within
Germany. The majority of the population identifies as Christian, a consequence of the brutal
tragedies that occurred throughout World War II in the Holocaust. The lack of religious diversity
in Germany today is a result of Hitlers goal to create a homogeneous society.

Works Cited
Amondson, B. (n.d.). Germany's Grand Cathedrals. Retrieved March 17, 2015, from
http://gogermany.about.com/od/historyandculture/tp/Germanys-Churches.htm
Elkins, T. (2015, February 23). Religion. Retrieved March 17, 2015, from
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/231186/Germany/58006/Religion
Germanic Religion. (2012, January 1). Retrieved March 17, 2015, from
http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/society/germanic-religion.html
Germany. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17, 2015, from
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/171696.pdf
The Holocaust. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17, 2015, from http://www.history.com/topics/worldwar-ii/the-holocaust
Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedachtnis-Kirche Berlin. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17, 2015, from
http://www.gedaechtniskirche-berlin.de/KWG/dateien/englisch/overview.php
Religion in Germany. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17, 2015, from http://www.germanway.com/history-and-culture/germany/religion-in-germany/