Limited Resistance and Opposition Knowledge Flashcards
Role of the Church
Were the different churches united?
The Churches were deeply divided, and confused about what to do about the Nazi regime
Role of the Church
Did the chruches look after their own interests?
Both the Protestant and Roman Catholic Churches tended to look after their own interests and so came to terms with the regime
Role of the Church
What was the concordant?
The Concordant between the state and the Vatican (20 July 1933) ensured that the opposition from the Roman Catholic Church was neutered.
Role of the Church
How many Germans identified as Christian?
95% of Germans identified as Christian at this time, so the opposition could have been considerable
Role of the Left
What happened with the underground groups and their connection?
Political opposition by Communists and Social Democrat underground groups remained bitterly divided and completely unable to cooperate, there was a lack of organisation, leadership and the ability to maintain secrecy
Role of the Left
What happened to their leaders?
Leaders had been exiled, imprisoned and/or murdered.
Fear and Intimidation
Were the German citizens willing?
Willingness of most ordinary Germans to do what they were told in order to avoid arrest and punishment
Fear and Intimidation
Who did the Nazis have at their disposal?
The Nazis had at their disposal the entire police and security services and also the SS-Gestapo so that people knew that resistance would be severely punished and therefore kept silent.
Fear and Intimidation
What happened to the courts?
The courts were also thoroughly Nazified and the establishment of the People’s Court (April 1934) ensured that ‘treasonable offences’ were dealt with harshly.
Popularity & Appeal of the Nazis
Were people willing to continue on with their life?
Most people were willing to put up with the Nazi government and ideology so long as life continued with as little disruption as possible.
Appeal of the Nazis
What did the Nazis have control over?
The Nazis now took complete control of the press, radio, cinema and all cultural output and were thereby able to prevent opposition views from being heard and to ensure the complete dominance of Nazi propaganda.
Appeal of the Nazis
How did propaganda have an impact on Germans opinions?
Nazi propaganda had an impact in persuading people to support the regime but, more important, as unemployment fell and living standards improved so more people felt better off and were minded to support rather than oppose the regime.
Appeal of the Nazis
Did people welcome Hitler’s promises?
Many people also welcomed Hitler’s promises to restore national prestige and his foreign policy success 1933-39 seemed to many, proof that Hitler was able to fufil these promises.
Appeal of the Nazis
Was there any sympathy from the public towards some of the policies?
There was broad sympathy for many of the Nazis’ other policies especially where these concerned nationalism and ethnicity. Although people did not like the idea of violence against Jews, there was no vigorous opposition to policies that discriminated against the Jews.
Appeal of the Nazis
How was consent expressed?
Consent therefore was expressed not simply because of fear. The Nazis economic policies were popular because they seemed to bring about recovery. People felt much better off especially in the period from 1933-37.
