Nazi Germany 1933-39: Why was there limited Opposition?

Question 1

What were the methods of opposition to the Nazis?

Answer 1

• Non conformity
• Active protest
• Passive protests
• Not becoming a member
• Not informing Gestapo
• Coups
• Listening to foreign broadcasts

Question 2

Summarise Church opposition to Nazis

Answer 2

• Confessional protestant church successfully resisted Nazism
• Catholics cooperated at first but criticised euthanasia and sterilisation
• Focused on self preservation rather than opposition
• Were an obstacle to totalitarianism

Question 3

How did Nazis respond to opposition from church?

Answer 3

Hundreds of priests imprisoned and killed

Question 4

Give an example of church opposition

Answer 4

Bonhoeffer criticised Nazism as incompatible with Christianity, contacting others such as Beck. Executed April 1945

Question 5

Summarise youth opposition to Nazism

Answer 5

Alternative and opposition youth groups developed (Swing, Edelweiss). White Rose group from 1941 in Munich. Distributed leaflets.

Question 6

How did Nazis respond to youth opposition?

Answer 6

Hans and Sophie Scholl of White Rose Group were arrested, executed

Question 7

Give an example of youth opposition to Nazis

Answer 7

Sophie Scholl distributed anti nazi leaflets in 1943. She was killed along with other members.

Question 8

When did the White Rose Group establish in Munich?

Answer 8

1941

Question 9

Summarise opposition from the Army

Answer 9

• Aristocratic officers were suspicious of Nazism
• Beck had planned to arrest Hitler but couldn’t as Hitler was too successful
• The military intelligence organisation was absorbed into SS to clamp down on opposition in 1944

Question 10

Give an example of army opposition to Hitler

Answer 10

Von Stauffenberg was horrified by SS barbarities in USSR. In 1944 took bombs to Hitler HQ but didn’t use them as Himmler and Goring weren’t present. Hitler was wounded and 5,000 executed

Question 11

Summarise government and civil service opposition

Answer 11

Very limited. Schacht deplored anti-semitic violence. Some efforts were made but came to nothing

Question 12

Summarise Judicial opposition

Answer 12

Very limited. Some tried to uphold justice, but SS intervention made this difficult

Question 13

Summarise worker opposition

Answer 13

Workers had numerical strength but no organisation. They had reason to support government.

Question 14

Summarise political opposition

Answer 14

All political parties were banned in 1933. SPD in exile organised some groups such as Hanover Socialist Front. KPD formed underground cells but 2/3 were arrested.

Question 15

What was a group formed by the SPD in exile?

Answer 15

Hanover Socialist Front