Peter Howson - Britain and the German Churches, 1945-1950: The Role of the Religious Affairs Branch in the British Zone

Britain and the German Churches, 19451950

STUDIES IN MODERN BRITISH RELIGIOUS HISTORY

ISSN: 1464-6625

General editors

Stephen Taylor

Arthur Burns

Kenneth Fincham

This series aims to differentiate religious history from the narrow confines of church history, investigating not only the social and cultural history of religion, but also theological, political and institutional themes, while remaining sensitive to the wider historical context; it thus advances an understanding of the importance of religion for the history of modern Britain, covering all periods of British history since the Reformation.

Previously published volumes in this series are listed at the back of this volume.

Britain and the German Churches 19451950

The Role of the Religious Affairs Branch in the British Zone

Peter Howson

THE BOYDELL PRESS

Peter Howson 2021

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The right of Peter Howson to be identified as

the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with

sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

First published 2021

The Boydell Press, Woodbridge

ISBN 978-1-78327-583-0 hardback

ISBN 978-1-80010-082-4 ePub

The Boydell Press is an imprint of Boydell & Brewer Ltd

PO Box 9, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 3DF, UK

and of Boydell & Brewer Inc.

668 Mt Hope Avenue, Rochester, NY 146202731, USA

website: www.boydellandbrewer.com

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available

from the British Library

The publisher has no responsibility for the continued existence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party internet websites referred to in this book, and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate

Cover image: Pastor Martin Niemoller with British troops at Church House Iserlohn, by permission of Trustees of the Royal Army Chaplains Museum.

Cover design: riverdesignbooks.com

Cross references refer to page numbers in the print edition

Dedicated to the memory of those who served as members of the Religious Affairs Branch of the British Element of the Control Commission Germany 194550

Illustrations

Map

1. British Zone of Occupation. PJF Military Collection / xix

Alamy Stock Photo

Chart

1. Organisational Structure of the Religious Affairs Branch as 93 proposed in May 1946

Tables

1. RAChD Establishment for Germany in 1945 by Formation 34

2. RAChD Establishment for Germany in 1945 by 34 Denomination

3. RAChD Establishment for Occupation Army in Germany 36

4. Religious Affairs Branch Staff in March 1948 1034

5. Establishment of Religious Affairs Branch from December 107 1949

6. Archbishops and bishops based in the British Zone with 120 responsibilities in the Russian Zone

7. Statistics for Osnabrck Diocese 136

8. Main Evangelical Churches in the British Zone in 1945 14950

9. Size of the Jewish community believed to be in the British 174 Zone, April 1946

10. Distribution of Jews in the British Zone, 1946 1745

The author and publisher are grateful to all the institutions and individuals listed for permission to reproduce the materials in which they hold copyright. Every effort has been made to trace the copyright holders; apologies are offered for any omission, and the publisher will be pleased to add any necessary acknowledgement in subsequent editions.

Preface