Resistance to the Nazis

- Hitler liked giving the public the impression that the Nazi party was all powerful
- He claimed that he was returning the government to the previous authoritative
autocratic state, where one leader made all the decisions, like in the days of the
Kaiser
- The Nazi regime was harsh and dictatorial
- Punishments for political crimes included public humiliation and execution
- The Nazis had so many political enemies that concentration camps had to be
built just for the killing of political criminals
- They Nazis gave the persecuted criminals trials, albeit unfair ones, so that no one
could say that they werent given a chance


Who opposed the Nazis?

The groups that opposed the Nazis included:

Religious groups
The Catholic Church
Were one of the few groups that actually could organize effective
campaigns against the Nazis
Silenced after co-operation concordat of 1933 (forced Church to stay
out of politics), which gave the Nazis control over the Churchs
schools for the right to remain safe from Nazi persecution
Changed their minds later and began protesting under Bishop Galen

FACT FILE: Bishop Galen
Criticized Nazi regime between 1930 and 1940
Had strong support from public
Revealed Nazis darker acts (executions and mutilations)
Preached a string of sermons during WWII
Attacked racial ideologies of Nazis
Ideas were very widespread and popular
Were later used as British and White Rose propaganda

The Protestant Church
Held less sway than the Catholic Church, but could still be effective
Were against the euthanasia of mentally disabled (racial purity of
Aryans; ethnic cleansing)
They were against the Aktion T4 program
Mass arrests were held against members of these groups and the
Protestant Church rebellions were stopped by force from the Nazis
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Protestant minister that opposed to Nazi
policies on racism and anti-Semitism. He helped Jews escape from
Germany but was arrested when he was aiding Jews in their escape to
Switzerland. He was eventually executed in the concentration camp in
the last month of WWII.

The Youth Groups
Mostly consisted of working class teenagers
Non-violent informal movement
Used von Galen's sermons as pamphlet material
Were local rather than nationwide. The anti-Nazi youth groups were often
scattered around Germany and mostly kept to a particular region

The Edelweiss Pirates
They were an informal movement that was mostly unorganized
The pirates went camping on weekends, singing songs like Hitler
Youth but changed the lyrics to mock Germany
Taunted Hitler Youth boys when they saw them and even attacked
them at times.
The Pirates included boys and girls unlike Hitler Youth
They were freer in their attitudes towards sex which was frowned
upon by Hitler Youth
The Pirates caused activities which worried many authorities in Nazi
Germany
The Gestapo tried to put an end to their activity through mass
arrests, breaking up over 28 groups containing over 700 adolescents.
The Nazis were often hesitant in putting the youth into concentration
camps them as they needed them as future workers and soldiers
They sometimes arrested them or even just ignored them
Activity escalated in 1944
Helped shelter army deserters + escaped prisoners
Stole armaments and took part in an attack on the Gestapo,
chief was killed
Nazi rounded up the ringleaders: twelve were publicly hanged
November 1944

Students in Munich University
Hans Scholl, Sophie Scholl and Christopher Probst
Non-violent
Arrested by Gestapo for hanging anti-Nazi leaflets, displaying posters
and writing graffiti
Tortured and hung

Swing kids
Middle class
Inspired by the music of Britain and USA, especially Jazz
Swing clubs were opened where people danced to music that was
banned-- hence the name
Went swing-dancing rather than engaging in approved Hitler-youth
pastimes


Why was there little opposition?
Openly - relatively little opposition
None of the groups had strong political views
They werent political opponents of the Nazis
Resented and resisted Nazi control over their lives.
Privately - discontent towards oppressive and dictatorial regime
None of the groups had strong political views
They werent political opponents of the Nazis
Resented and resisted Nazi control over their lives.

Reasons:
Open Admiration - there was an open admiration for Hitler and the Nazi Party
1. Economic Recovery by Hitler
Public work schemes, rearmament, better education, revocation of the Treaty of
Versailles
Nazis brought discipline back
Success in foreign policy-- Olympics was hosted in Berlin
The majority of the populace were SATISFIED
2. There was discipline in Germany
3. Foreign policy and international achievements

Economic Fears - about unemployment and business
1. Loss of jobs - for opposing the establishment
2. Expected to contribute to Nazi Party funds
3. Keeping your head down
4. SS and SD: they would spy and listen to conversations

German workers feared losing their jobs if they did oppose to the establishment.
Businesses that did not contribute to Nazi party funds risked losing Nazi business.
'Keeping your head down' became the norm in Germany. The SS and the special security
service SD would often spy on the public by listening to their conversations about the new
regime.



Propaganda - media screening and smear campaigns

1. Information on screening: positive progress reports
Germans received little news about the Nazi Partys darker actions
2. Authoritative portrayal of Hitler and the Nazi Party
Portrayal of the Nazi Party being benevolent and disciplined and it was important to
maintain the strong and authoritative image of Hitler
3. Censorship

Bomb Plot
General Ludwig Beck's resignation after Germany conquered/defeated
Austria
Led conspiracy with armed forces
Unsuccessful in assassinating Hitler in March 1943
Hitler's leadership thought to fail-- 'doomed' Germany
Defeat was simply a matter of time, Russian success at Stalingrad
Allies would agree to conditional surrender once Hitler killed


Operation Valykrie
Kill Hitler, and take control of Berlin using army
20 July 1944: Colonel Claus von Staffenburg, a senior officer in army, left
leather bag under Hitler's table in headquarters (East Berlin)
Bomb exploded when Hitler went into room; 4 people killed
Hitler suffered minor injuries
Movements of the conspirators after explosion too slow; did not capture
essential services such as telephone and radio




Hitler had measures taken:
No one knew his movements in advance: car, train, plane depending on
situation
Locked himself away in Chancellery in Berlin or mountain home
Getting near Hitler difficult; security around him tight when in public
Did not allow anyone near him to carry weapon

1. Surrounded by Red Army towards the end of April 1945
2. Was determined to avoid capture
3. Shot himself
4. Left orders to be carried upstairs and have his corpse set on fire after being
doused with petrol




A lot of people didnt like the Nazis and many wanted to kill Hitler. End.




A lot of people didnt like them so they tried to go against them. People wanted to
kill Hitler. End.

^LOL YES