The WDR has a very good text about Cardinal von Galen online: Clemens August von Galen - a resistance fighter?.

The "Lion of Münster" roared well, if he did roar. He never questioned war and dictatorship as such, unless it concerned church affairs. He never found a word about the persecution of the Jews. While he feared the ideological "destruction of Christianity," the actual destruction of Judaism went unnoticed.

The article is really worth reading because it deals with the critical points about von Galen - it was about the church, the freedoms of the church. Not about democracy or freedom for all. His resistance also did not arise from him alone; he had people who urged him on. And he was a nationalist - beyond the borders, perhaps with the evil Bolsheviks, one could kill without hesitation.

The only part of his resistance that was probably really motivated by personal disgust and feeling, and not to be regarded as an attempt to protect the church, was his clear stance against euthanasia. Therefore, he was still a bit more of a resistor than most church leaders. At least that part of him can be acknowledged.

No Church!

However, the way the Catholic Church now celebrates Cardinal von Galen is embarrassing. As a great symbol of resistance, he really cannot serve - if what he achieved is the best the Catholic Church can show from the Nazi regime, then they should better remain silent in shame. This is in no way proof of the incompatibility of the cross and the swastika. Rather, it is proof that the Catholic Church was at most concerned about its own power, but had little interest in preventing this abominable regime.