Christian Roots of Nazism

Introduction
The content in this encyclopedia documents the influence that Christianity had on the antisemitic ideology of Nazism. Some examples of Christian influence are in the personal history of the Nazis and Christian antisemitism before Nazism, such as historical antisemitic beliefs (Jewish deicide, ritual murder, host desecration, and the Wandering Jew), the hatred of the Jewish people by the Church Fathers and popes, killings and mass forced conversions of Jews to Christianity, Martin Luther and his quotes from On the Jews and Their Lies in 1543, and other antisemitic persecution in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and other Christian-dominated countries.

Jewish deicide
Multiple biblical verses have influenced antisemitism, including the Jewish deicide charge that Jews as a people hold the responsibility for killing Jesus Christ. This claim led to the slur “Christ-killer” and the persecution of Jewish people, including massacres and forced expulsions of Jews from many countries. The deicide charge was a commonly held position among the Church Fathers, was the official position of the Catholic Church, and was supported in legislation by various popes. As early as the second century, there were claims of Jewish deicide made by Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, and Melito of Sardis.

Church Fathers
The Church Fathers, including Ambrose, Aristides, Augustine, Cyprian, Cyril of Alexandria, Ephrem the Syrian, Eusebius, Gregory of Nyssa, Hippolytus of Rome, Irenaeus, Jerome, John Chrysostom, Justin Martyr, Melito of Sardis, Origen, and Tertullian, have made hateful remarks toward Jewish people, including blaming them for the death of Jesus Christ.

Papacy
During his years as the Pope from 590 to 604, Gregory I described Jews as “preachers of Antichrist” and complained of Jews being stubborn. He considered Judaism Jewish superstition, depravity, and faithlessness and was disgusted with converts who “return to their vomit.” Gregory also opposed Jews having ownership over Christian slaves. Popes Stephen III in the eighth century, Leo VII in the mid-tenth century, and Gregory VII in the 11th century referred to Jews as being the enemies of God or Jesus Christ. Benedict VIII, the Pope from 1012 to 1024, ordered the execution of a number of Jews for alleged blasphemy against Jesus Christ.

The popes of the papacy have made laws restricting Jewish people, which include Jews being prohibited from holding public office, prohibited from the construction of synagogues, prohibited from testifying against Christians, forced to live in ghettos, forced to wear a Jewish badge and hat, expelled from the Papal States, forced to attend conversionist sermons, and forbidding Jews that converted to Christianity from returning to Judaism, even if the conversion was by force.

The Inquisition was an ecclesiastical tribunal that was used to persecute heretics. It was initiated by the Catholic Church, established by Pope Gregory IX in the 13th century, and lasted for centuries. Officials of the Inquisition or inquisitors targeted suspected Jewish converts to Christianity who relapsed to Judaism and Christians who converted to Judaism. They were tortured and punished with death. Pope Julius III allowed Franciscan Cornelio de Montalcino, who converted to Judaism, to be burned at the stake in Rome in 1554, and Pope Paul IV (1555-1599) ordered over 20 Jews who converted to Christianity and were suspected of secretly practicing Judaism to be burned in Ancona.

Killings
During the Crusades, Inquisition, and persecution of Jews during the Black Death, Jews were murdered by Christians. There were many other incidents of Christians murdering Jews, and many have happened after blood libels (false allegations that Jews have killed Christian children for ritual purposes) and accusations of host desecration.

Martin Luther
Martin Luther, a leading Christian in German Christian history, has made antisemitic statements, including advocating for the death of the Jewish people in On the Jews and Their Lies and Martin Luther's Table Talk.