Opposition

Question 1

Catholic opposition

Answer 1

• Von Galen, a catholic bishop, criticised the regime
• however, he was too popular to be punished
• the Pope publicly criticised the Nazi government in 1937 for breaking the concordat, harassing priests and the idolatry of the German state and race
• key Nazi policies such as forced sterilisation were spoken out against by the Catholic Church

Question 2

Protestant opposition

Answer 2

• confessional church broke away from Nazi church
• Niemoller and Bonhoeffer, members of the confessional church, were arrested for criticising the regime
• Bonhoeffer taught training ministers how to resist Nazism and condemn the Nuremberg laws

Question 3

Everyday opposition from the people

Answer 3

• denunciation (public condemnation) was relied upon heavily
• 50-80% of investigations were as a result of denunciations
• many of these denunciations were based upon grudges or jealousies as opposed to political accusations
• another important means of opposition was humour, e.g. making jokes about Hitler

Question 4

Political opposition

Answer 4

SPD and KPD went underground after being banned

• they used leaflets to spread their messages and encourage opposition to the Nazi regime
• the Dusseldorf Gestapo reported in 1937 that this propaganda seemed to be having some effect

Kreisau Circle - small group of monarchist conservatives formed in 1933 who opposed Hitler