862.404/28
The Consul General at Berlin (Messersmith) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 11.]
Sir: I have the honor to inform the Department that the Berliner Tageblatt of August 29, 1933, carries an item, which reads as follows:
“Cross of Christ and Hakenkreuz:
In Mainbernheim in Bavaria (according to the V.d.Z. agency) on the completion of the repairs to the Evangelical church, a large Hakenkreuz was attached to the church tower that in the future shall decorate the tower. This seems to be the first church in Germany on which in this symbolical manner the Cross of Christ has been united with the Hakenkreuz.”
As the Hakenkreuz is purely a party symbol it is significant of the close union which the party is endeavoring to bring about between Church and State, that on the tower of an Evangelical Church the Cross of Christ should be united with this symbol of the National-Socialist party. In view of the servility with which such examples are followed in Germany at present it is not unlikely that a similar action [Page 301] will take place in connection with other churches unless the Government and the party should find it advisable to stop such a procedure, at least for the present.
I have thought it worth-while to transmit this item to the Department as it is very indicative of the state of mind which prevails in the country.
Respectfully yours,