He was an unwilling, reluctant fighter. During his time as superintendent at Dresden Frauenkirche (1930–1937), Hugo Hahn, later to become the Bishop of the Saxon Regional Lutheran Church, fought to ensure that the “German Christians” (Deutsche Christen) did not bring National Socialist policies into the church with them. As a result, he was relieved of his office and later expelled from Saxony, and dismissed from the Saxon Regional Church.

As a symbol of his work as an unbending Christian, in 2007 a plaque was unveiled in honour of Hugo Hahn. The relief of Hahn by the Brandenburg artist Frank Dornseif hangs by Entrance C to the prayer chamber galleries. Black round steel shows the contours of Hahn’s face; light falling upon it makes his countenance appear in shadow. Expressive and bold, the plaque is a fitting reminder of Hugo Hahn’s courageous outlook.