Opposition to the Nazis Flashcards
OPPOSITION: secret trade unions
the KPD continued to encourage workers to oppose the Nazis. The workers would deliberately stay off work or damage machinery in order to undermine Nazi buildings.
OPPOSITION: amongst the young
many young people didn’t like the Nazis and objected to their social policies.
OPPOSITION: secret army
General Ludwig Beck was Chief of Staff of the German Army. In 1938, he attempted to get fellow officers to arrest Hitler. He even sent a message to the British, saying the German Army wouldn’t fight if Britain attacked Germany. Beck led plots to kill Hitler in 1943 and 1944.
OPPOSITION: secret political parties
the SPD in 1933 printed an opposition newspaper, 3,000 copies were made. The organisers were arrested and sent to concentration camps. SPD leaders then set up SOPADE – the SPD abroad – to campaign against the Nazis.
OPPOSITION: amongst the Churches
Because Hitler and the Nazis tried to control religion in Germany (by closing religious schools), many religious leaders opposed them, both openly and in secret.
How did Hitler try to control religion in Germany
Catholic bishops had to swear allegiance to the Nazi Regime; Catholic schools and Catholic youth groups were closed.
Protestant pastors were told to join the German Christian Church, which accepted Nazi interference in the running of Protestant churches. Nazis called it the Reich church. Many pastors conformed but some Christian leaders resisted.
The Confessing Church
In 1934, the PEL set up the Confessing Church. This meant there were two Protestant Churches in Germany. The Reich Church – accepted Nazi interference within the church. The Confessing Church – opposed Nazi interference
What was the role of Pastor Martin Niemöller and what were his views
However, he opposed Nazi interference in the running of the Protestant Church in Germany. He was a founder of the PEL in 1933 and the Confessing Church in 1934.
Niemöller also opposed the Nazi ban on Jews becoming Christians – although he didn’t oppose other restrictions on Jews which the Nazis imposed in the 1930s.
Youth opposition: The Edelweiss Pirates
The Pirates consisted of teens – boys and girls, who resented the military discipline of the Nazi youth groups and the general lack of freedom in Nazi Germany. They often changed their looks to stress their own freedom to choose.
In the cities, they hung on the streets where they couldn’t be distinguished from the public by the Gestapo. If they came across any Hitler youth, they would attack them. To break away from adults and Nazi restrictions, the Pirates went on hikes in the countryside. They made jokes about mocking the Nazis.
Youth opposition: The Swing Youth
Mainly teens from wealthy, middle-class families, located in big towns. They admired American culture. Because they were from wealthier families, the Swing Youth often owned record players and played records illegally imported from America. They would listen to music, drink and eventually began to organise illegal dances and were attended to by 6000 young people. They listened to jazz music which the Nazis opposed.
Opposition of Edelweiss Pirates and the Swing youth to the Nazis was limited
Their actions were limited. Apart from anti-Nazi graffiti and jokes, the Pirates and Swing Youth didn’t do much. It was only when WW2 began that they physically attacked against the government.
Their numbers were limited. By 1939, the Pirates were numbered to 2,000. Hitler youth was 8 million.
