ACTIONS AGAINST THE CHURCH

Document Type: 
Collection: 
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
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
May 19, 1953
Content Type: 
REPORT
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP80-00810A001200540006-3.pdf134.65 KB
Body: 
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