Opposition and dissent in Nazi Germany Flashcards
Why was there little army opposition early on?
The Night of the Long Knives persuaded many army leaders that Hitler could be trusted and therefore diffused opposition.
Give 3 examples of groups who actively resisted the Nazis:
- Communists e.g. the Red Orchestra
- Students e.g. the White Rose
- Conservative elites e.g. Kreisau Circle and 1944 Bomb Plot
Give 3 examples if groups who expressed anti-Nazi dissent:
- Youth (Edelweiss Pirates / Swing Youth)
- Christians (Bonhoeffer, Bishop Galen, Martin Niemoller)
- Workers (strikes, poor work discipline)
What evidence is there that the Nazis repressed the Communists?
The Nazis imprisoned over half the Communuist Party members in 1933. By 1935, the Gestapo has infiltrated the remains of the party. As a result, active communist resistance to the Nazi regime was limited.
How did the Red Orchestra resist the Nazis?
Their spy network successfully permeated the Nazi government and military. It transmitted vital info back to Moscow until 1942 when they were discovered and killed.
Who were the key people in the White Rose group?
Hans and Sophie Scholl
How did the White Rose resist the Nazis?
They printed anti-Nazi leaflets between 1942-3 and distributed them around Munich and central Germany. They were found, tortured and executed.
When did Germany’s conservative elites begin to resist?
Following the military disasters during the winter months of 1942-43. They sought to replace Hitler with someone who would help them win the war.
What was the name of the group made up of conservative elites who emerged in 1942?
The Kreisau circle - group of officers, aristocrats, academics and churchmen who met to discuss plans for a new Germany after Hitler. Strongly influenced by Christian values and they were politically conservative.
What were the consequences of the failed 1944 bomb plot?
5,000 supporters of the resistance were killed, including Stauffenburg (who placed the bomb in Hitler’s briefing room), Beck, Treckscow and Rommel.
How did Swing Youth groups show their opposition?
Young, mainly middle class boys and girls played and danced to Swing music (dance-bands of Britain and USA). The Nazis hated this music as it had origins in the African-American community and they saw the dancing as ‘un-German.’
What did the Edelweiss Pirates do to rebel against the Nazis?
They met u[ and organised their own hikes and camps - alternatives to the rigid Hitler Youth. Boys and girls mixed freely and some groups admitted Jews.
What are examples of the Edelweiss Pirates getting involved in active resistance?
- In Cologne in 1944, 12 members were hanged for killing a Gestapo officer.
- Some groups sheltered concentration camp escapees and beat up Hitler Youth members.
Name three Protestant pastors who spoke out against the Nazis:
- Bishop Galen - criticised the Nazi euthanasia policy
- Martin Niemoller - sent to a concentration camp
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer - helped Jews emigrate, worked in the Kreisau circle - he was murdered in a concentration camp in 1945.
Why was the Church so reluctant to oppose the Nazi regime?
They distrusted the left and saw communism as a greater evil than the Nazis.
