Nazi Opposition, Control and Consent Flashcards
1
Q
Why was opposition difficult to coordinate
- Gleichschaltung
- Fear
- Successes
- Restoration of..
A
Why was opposition difficult to coordinate
- Gleichschaltung (always in a Nazi program)
- Fear of SS and Gestapo
- Perceived economic and foreign policy success
- Restoration of order, social benefits and tradition
2
Q
Youth Opposition
- White Rose Group (42-43)
- Swing Youth (39-41)
- Edelweiss Pirates (30’s-44)
A
Youth Opposition
- University students and professors demonstrating and distributing anti Nazi leaflets
- Middle class non-conforming teens, listened to Jazz, resisted control by Hitler Youth
- Working class teens, youth group which attacked Hitler Youth, eventually began sabotage later
3
Q
Conservative Elites Opposition
- Kreisau Circle (40-44)
- Freiburg Circle (Throughout)
- Army Bomb Plot (44)
A
Conservative Elites Opposition
- Theoretical opposition led by upper class and von Moltke
- Nationalist academics from uni of Freiburg, unwilling to damage war effort to bring down Hitler
- Leading army members attempt to assassinate Hitler
4
Q
Church Opposition
- Protestants
- Catholics
A
Church Opposition
- Confessional church set up in 34, refused to be part of Reich church
- Pope published “With burning grief” in 37 about breakage of concordat, clergy harassment and idolatry of state and race; protested against crucifix removal from schools in 37, and euthanasia in 41
5
Q
Left Wing Opposition
- SPD (33-34)
- KPD (33-35)
- Rote Kapelle
- Workers
A
Left Wing Opposition
- Ineffective with newspaper, suppressed by Gestapo
- 30k members circulated newspaper effectively
- Soviet sympathisers who carried out sabotage until wiped out
- Workers were unpolitical, dealt with effectively by Gestapo, disorganised; Georg Elser bomb nearly killed Hitler
6
Q
Opposition in the war
- Pre 1942
- Post 1942
- Punishments
- Threat of uprising
A
Opposition in the war
- Pre 1942, resistance was limited due to success of war
- Post 1942, non compliance grew due to shortages and suffering
- Punishments became more severe due to lack of order; generally disliked by public
- Threat of uprising was never serious throughout
7
Q
Likely to support Nazis
- Rural peasants
- Middle class
- Protestants
- Middle/Upper class women
- Youth
A
Likely to support Nazis
- Rural peasants liked autarky and centrally planned agriculture
- Middle class lost faith in democracy, job opportunities, abolished unions
- Protestants had roughly 2/3 Nazi support, youth programs merged (Nationalism/Conservatism)
- Middle/Upper class women liked traditional gender roles
- Youth idolised policies and were influenced by education
8
Q
Unlikely to support Nazis
- Working class
- Lower class women
- Catholics
- Urban
- Elderly
- Middle aged
A
Unlikely to support Nazis
- Working class partially won over by employment but wages were low and food was poor
- Lower class women had few jobs
- Catholics were generally indifferent, turned later in war
- Urban were more progressive and socialist
- Elderly annoyed at loss of pensions
- Middle aged less trusting and more cautious
9
Q
Why people supported the Nazis
- Community
- Strength
- Successes
A
Why people supported the Nazis
- National community/ purpose
- Militarism and strength
- Perceived economic and foreign policy success
10
Q
Reasons for continued war support
- Patriotism
- Propaganda
- Hope
- Morale
- Rations
A
Reasons for continued war support
- Germans were willing to make sacrifices for the good of their nation
- Goebbels stressed the barbaric nature of the red army
- Belief in Wunderwaffe projects like V1/V2 rockets
- Allied bombing unified country against enemy
- Rations were distributed effectively and given extra a christmas
11
Q
Reasons for lower war support
- Conservative elites
- Workers
- Church
- Cynicism
A
Reasons for lower war support
- Conservative elites discontent grew past 1943
- Worker dissatisfaction grew, women didn’t comply with work requirements
- Church attendance rose
- Cynicism grew, less likely to believe propaganda
12
Q
The Gestapo
- Agents and informers
- What they did
- Legal
- Block Wardens
A
The Gestapo
- 40,000 agents in 1939, 150,000 informers by end
- Found political dissidents, recruited informers, arrested and interrogated subjects
- Agents could not be prosecuted
- Block Wardens were party officials who acted as eyes and ears of NSDAP
13
Q
The SS
- Leader
- Role over time
- Police
- What they did
- Wings
- Men in 1939
A
The SS
- Led by Himmler
- Started as elite bodyguard but replaced SA as main paramilitary wing of NSDAP
- Took control of police by 1936
- Carried out racial policies, ran concentration camps
- Military (Waffen SS) and General wing
- 250,000 men in 1939
14
Q
How Nazi control was based on fear
- Look
- Fear
- Gestapo
- Atmosphere
A
How Nazi control was based on fear
- Limited force present, but made to look more well known
- Control was based more on fear of SS and Gestapo, as opposed to force implemented by them
- 30,000 gestapo officers could not cover country, relied on informant network to create fear not to speak out
- Atmosphere of fear created, stifling any resistance before it can be a threat
15
Q
Aims of Propaganda
- Inculate key policies
- Promote loyalty, conformity and unity
- Celebrate successes
- Cultivate Hitler myth
A
Aims of Propaganda
- Anti Semitism, Anti Communism, Anti Versailles
- Winter Help, Volksgemeinschaft, Rallies
- Rearmament, Sport, Regaining territory, jobs
- Fuhrerprinzip
