Opposition to the Nazi Party

Question 1

Name some of the alternative youth groups that opposed the Nazis.

Answer 1

• The Edelweiss Pirates
• The Swing Youth
• The White Rose

Question 2

Give an overview of the Edelweiss Pirates and how they rebelled against the Nazis.

Answer 2

• Rooted in the working class
• Mainly composed of rebellious young people who wanted to escape the Nazi way of life
• Some sub-groups were highly political and formed links with the KPD and attacked Nazi patrols

Question 3

Once the Gestapo started arresting members of the Edelweiss Pirates, how were they punished?

Answer 3

They were either sent for corrective education, sent to labour camps, or hanged.

Question 4

Give an overview of the Swing Youth and how they rebelled against the Nazis.

Answer 4

• Group of apolitical jazz and swing lovers
• Mainly composed of upper-middle class youths
• Many were members of the Hitler Youth, but rejected the ideology
• It was rebellious to listen to jazz music due to its origins in black culture, which was offensive to the Nazi ideology

Question 5

Give an overview of The White Rose and how they rebelled against the Nazis.

Answer 5

• A group of non-violent students from Munich University
• Distributed anti-Nazi leaflets
• Their last leaflet, ‘The Manifesto of the Students of Munich,’ was so potent that it was used by the British as propaganda
• The six core members were captured and executed in February 1943