ACTIONS AGAINST THE CHURCH

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A001200540006-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 10, 2009
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: May 19, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2009/04/10: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001200540006-3
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGEN'Y,
INFORMATION REPORT
SUBJECT
PLACE ACQUIRED
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional .Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to ~r receipt'by an unauthorized person is prohibited
bylaw. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
S T/cONTROL m U.S. QFFICIA,LS QNLY
SECURITY INFORMATION
,ti
East Germany
Actions against the Church
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
This is UNEVALUATED
Information
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN . THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
19 May 1953
The following Protestant clergymen knave. been arrested in East Germmlya Pastor
Ge'strioh (fnu), of Brandenburg, tnd Youth Pastor Schumann (fnu) of Z*ickaup
Saxony? who have been sentenced to 12 years and six years imprisonment rem
s:pectively,9 for alleged, "Boykotthetze"$ Student Pastor Hamel (fnu) of Halle;
Paster Winterhaber (fnu)a of Hohenaueap bei Ratheriow'(district secretary of
the loumenical m?veme t) Youth Pastor Reinhold George,of the'Mar:enkir?ohe
..in Fast p pi6fesso'r of theology Abend (fnu), of the University of
Halle; Pastor Althausen and an unnamed student of theology of the Humboldt
Uni'ei?sityg and the synod member '!Coat bbLua r Minister Nusohke l s referee
/for ohurOb matters.
The free moveme;lt of clergymen-:_ between the eastern zone and East Berlin has
been severely restricted since tat*,..;J.enuat 'o Two east-zone pastors who
officiate in East Berlin by nomination af,the church ad6inistration9 under
,rpolioe' supervision, have been unable to obtain entry permits from a magistrate.
3o Great difficulties are created for the Evangelical Church in administrative
matt?f?sD "especially in the collection of church dues. Public collections
formerly could be takers four times a year, butt now only twice A year. This
means a loss of 600,OQ0 to 800,9000 O for the church. The deduction of church
dues from ?' ages also is no longer allowed. It is feared that the church
oolleotions may be donfisoatedg as they. were under the Third 'Reich,, and
diverted to unknown state or party purposes,
4a The youthful oommtunity., is subjected to the greatest pressure. . It's members are
interrogated.individually and harassed, and:a good many arrests have been made.
The main ground of conflict here'appears::to be that these members are unwilling
to let themselves be enrolled in the national army. Theaim of the east-zone
. authories is to eliminate the influence of the church entirely, because they
have re zed that they will. not be. able to misuse it as a state church.
o~r.~.ii 9 C ~:X l ~ 1C ( 4 % cica i.'.l. L '.I P''. I- I.
STATE(V . ARMY X NAVY
FBI
25 YEAR
RE-REVIEW
Approved For Release 2009/04/10: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001200540006-3
RD
25X1,;
 Approved For Release 2009/04/10: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001200540006-3
SECRET/CQNT EDL
U .S. OFFICIALS ONLY
The attack is directed against the Evangelical Churoh;in the first instance
because the Catholic Pihirch. has a much smaller membership than the
Evangelioal is the Nastern tone, It is expected? however, that an attack
on the Catholic Church will commence soon0
SECRET/C ONTROL m tT, S Q OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2009/04/10: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA001200540006-3