1 BISHOP BATTY TO ARCHBISHOP LANG, 6 JANUARY 1934

My dear Archbishop,

Pray excuse the delay in sending you a report of my recent visit to Germany. I was anxious that our ambassador should see it before I sent it to you in order that he might correct any inaccuracy.

I am confident that the Pastors who wish to preserve the liberty and faith of the Lutheran Church will win the day.

Yours very sincerely and dutifully

Staunton Fulham

2 REPORT ON A VISIT TO GERMANY, BY BISHOP BATTY, DECEMBER 1933

Since writing this report the Emergency League have shown a desire to get rid of Reichs Bishop Müller owing no doubt to his inability to form a strong 'ministerium'.

S.F.

Report on the situation in the German Church for the use of His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury only.

When I arrived in Berlin I was informed that the enthronement of Reichs Bishop Müller fixed for Sunday, Dec. 3rd had been postponed. This was no doubt due to the controversy which had arisen after the Sports Palast meeting. Some months ago I warned the Council on Foreign Relations that the extreme section of German Christian party was demanding the elimination of the Old Testament and was attacking the Jewish ancestry of Our Lord, their aim being a national religion based on Teutonic mythology. Dr. Krause in a fiery speech at the meeting revealed the policy of this section. Bishop Hossenfelder was present at this meeting but it is stated that he left before Dr. Krause spoke. The Emergency League immediately demanded the resignation of Bishop Hossenfelder. This request was met by the dissolution of the ‘ministerium’, a council of four appointed by the Reichs Bishop to advise him on all matters and the report that reached us in November that Bishop Hossenfelder had resigned was not quite accurate. He ceased to be a member of the ‘ministerium’ on its dissolution as did the other members but he retained the bishopric of Brandenburg and the Presidency of the Prussian Church Union. Since my return to England it is reported that he has resigned these positions. I believe this to be for the good of the German Church.