Where does Atheism belong on an ideological scale

[afleitch]

There was a religious census in Germany in 1939 and less than 2% identified as atheist. The 'confessional' aspect of German identity that existed prior to 1933 continued; Nazi Party members continued to register as Protestants or Catholics or as 'believers in a higher power' or Gottgläubig (which was very important to the party at that time) Hitler still paid his church taxes.

There's nothing too controversial about that, or their shouldn't be. Given time, I'm sure some syncretic form of 'Christian' inspired official church would have been established. For the people, even if not for the top party brass, but these things are hard to do. Even with full state control.

As with Franco or Salazar, fascist regimes generally reached some rapprochement with churches and exerted 'soft power.' where they could