5.2 Opposition to the Nazis Flashcards
How successful was military opposition?
While there were a number of plots, they ultimately failed to seriously challenge the totalitarian state
What did Ludwig Beck do to oppose the Nazis?
Spoke out against Hiter’s plans to attack Czechoslovakia stating ‘what is this dog doing to our beautiful Germany?’
When was the July Bomb Plot?
1944
Who led the 1944 July Bomb Plot?
Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg
What happened during the 1944 July Bomb Plot?
It was detonated in Hitler’s conference room.
It killed four people
It injured Hitler
What happened as a result of the 1944 July Bomb Plot?
- Beck and Stauffenburg was shot.
- Dr Carl Goerdeler was hanged
- Himmler was put in charge of rounding up the plotters and 7,000 people were arrested and 6,000 executed
What resistance did Hans Oster participate in?
In 1938, he advised Britain to stand firm against Germany and remained in contact with resistance groups
What did Admiral Canaris do to participate in resistance?
- Tolerated many resistance groups
- Used his power to allow Jews to escape the country through the Abwehr (military intelligence division)
What was the Kreisau Circle?
A group of middle and upper class resistors that met through 1942-43 to discuss opposition to Nazism
Who did the Kreisau Circle include?
German nobility, lawyers, and politicians
What happened to the Kreisau Circle?
The Gestapo found out about the group and broke it up
Who was the ‘Lion of Munster’?
Bishop Clemens von Galen
Why was Bishop Clemens von Galen called the Lion of Munster?
- Campaigned for the end of ‘mercy killings’
- Actively resisted the Nazis in his sermons
Why did the Nazis not kill Bishop von Galen?
They knew that punishing him would result in uproar in Munich and maybe even revolution
What did the Nazis do in response to Bishop von Galen’s sermons?
Temporarily halt the killings
Who was known as the ‘only effective protestor in the Third Reich’?
Bishop Clemens von Galen
Who led resistance in the anti-Nazi Confessional Church?
Deitrich Bonhoeffer
How did Bonhoeffer resist the Nazis?
- Criticised Nazi Germany claiming it to be hostile to Christianity
What happened to Bonhoeffer?
He was arrested in 1943 and executed
How did the Communist Party resist the Nazis?
- Set up underground cells in factories, sports clubs, and bars.
- Distributed anti-Nazi pamphlets
Why was Communist resistance less effective?
They failed to unite with the Social Democrats which could have helped their cause
Which type of opposition was the most visible?
A - Military
B - Middle/Upper class
C - Youth
D - Religious
C - Youth
What did the youth opposition want?
Greater freedoms to form their own views, dress the way they wanted, and to listen to non-Nazi approved music
Who was the White Rose group formed by?
Hans and Sophie Scholl in 1941
What did the White Rose group do to resist the Nazis?
Published hundreds of anti-Nazi leaflets and reached out to many young people across Germany
What happened to Hans and Sophie Scholl?
They were arrested and, in 1943, executed.
What was the Swing Youth?
A group of middle class Germans who wanted to listen to swing music
What happened to the Swing Youth?
Some leading members were arrested and served short sentences in concentration camps
Who was the Edelweiss Pirates?
- A militaristic group
- The group consisted of 14-18 year olds
What did the Edelweiss Pirates do to resist?
They dressed ‘abnormally’ and listened to American jazz
They attacked Hitler Youth patrols
They smashed government offices
They gave shelter to army deserters and escaped prisoners
Stole food and supplies
Derailed train carsfull of ammunition
What happened to the Edelweiss Pirates?
- They survived until the end of the war
- Barthel Schink (a member) was executed in 1944
- Punishment of members was often severe and public
How did ordinary Germans resist the Nazis?
- An unmotivated workforce meant that production was low
- Jokes were told that criticised the Nazis including one that Hitler jumps off of the Berlin radio tower
- It did not do much to threaten the regime
