Opposition to the Nazi party Flashcards
How was there opposition to the Nazi Party in the Churches?
-Confessional church more concerned with protecting itself than destabilising the Nazi regime
-The Catholic church initially co-operated, then became more critical e.g. euthanasia programme
-The Church did represent an obstacle to the totalitarian regime
What was a result of opposition in the Churches?
-Imprisonment of priests
-Pastor Dietrich Bonhoffer criticised Nazism->he tried to get help for resistance abroad->executed April 1945
What opposition did the Nazi Party face from the Youth?
-Swing youth and edelweiss pirates.
-White rose group from 1941-43 ->leaflets dropped at universities about Euthanasia Programme and atrocities on the eastern front
What was a result of opposition to the Nazi Party in the Youth?
-Leaders of the White Rose killed
-many executed
What opposition to the Nazi Party was in the army?
-aristocratic leaders were suspicious of Hitler and the Nazis
-Initially cooperated but became increasingly alarmed by extreme foreign policy.
-several officers involved in assassination attempts
-opposition in the German Military intelligence organisation->1935 headed by Admiral Canaris who tolerated resistance activities and helped Jews escape Germany
-1944 this was absorbed into SS and the opposition was shut down
What individual members in the army opposed the Nazi Party?
-General Ludwig Beck - opposed Hitler’s invasion of Czechoslovakia-> was involved in the July Bomb plot-> shot 1944
-Colonel Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg->attempted to assassinate Hitler 1944 - only injured
-General Hans Oster->advised the British government to stand against Hitler->he sent Britain some of Germany’s military plans->died in a concentration camp
What opposition to the Nazi Party in the government and the Civil Service?
-initially some opposition in government - June 1954 Von Papen speech pleaded for greater freedom.
-Aug 1935 Schat spoke out against anti-semitic violence. Some government officials maintained contact with opponents
What was a result of opposition in the government and the Civil Service?
-Julius Leber->leader of the SPD Arrested 1933->sent to a concentration camp until 1937->Joined the Kreisau Circle->betrayed by a German spy and hanged in 1945
What opposition to the Nazi Party was in the Judiciary?
-some judges tried to keep proper standards of justice despite growing intervention of SS and special courts
What was a result of opposition in the Judiciary?
-Judges were ‘co-ordinated’ and obliged to join the Nazi Lawyers’ Association and make oaths of loyalty to Hitler
What opposition to the Nazi Party was there in the workers?
-1933-35->400 workers strikes
-some workers maintained links with illegal political parties
What was a result of opposition in the workers?
-May 1933->the German Labour Front (DAF) was announced as the new nationwide labour organisation to replace the unions->no legal organisations that could be used for opposition
What opposition was there in opposition parties?
-Left wing parties continued some illegal activities
-The SPD in exile was based in Prague and organised underground groups who distributed leaflets and propaganda campaigns e.g. Berlin Red Patrol
What was a result in opposition in oppositional parties?
-July 1935 all political parties were banned
-KPD formed underground cells->2/3rds of their members were arrested
What opposition to the Nazi Party was there in the traditional elites?
-Discussion to replace Hitler e.g. the Kreisau circle->this group of officers came together in 1933 to oppose Hitler->1943 they drew up a plan for a new Germany called the Basic Principles for a New Order
