Political extremism under Nazi Germany (2) Flashcards
How did the Nazis prevent opposition + dissent politically?
- By August 1933 = banned all opposition parties - unable to oppose the Nazis in the Reichstag (one-party state).
- Party members (esp. SPD/KPD) fled the country or in concentration camps w/o trial as political prisoners.
Why was opposition so difficult for many groups?
- People saw protests as impossible and dangerous, risking discovery and punishment.
- Believed that politics weren’t for everyday people.
- Had to overcome the feeling they were disloyal to Germany by conspiring against the Govt.
- Many army members broke their personal oath of loyalty to the Nazis + Hitler.
Hindenburg’s opposition to Hitler - any impact?
- Few people who openly opposed Hitler, in the early days of his chancellorship.
- Hindeburg wrote to him on 4th April 1933 urging to reconsider the proposed law to dismiss non-Aryans (Jews) civil servants - stated many fought in WW1.
- Hitler wrote back - remained stubborn. Hindenburg’s death on 7th April meant there was nobody else to challenge Hitler.
How did people express opposition + dissent?
Anti-Nazi Campaigns
- Early 1930s, the KPD, SPD and trade unions printed pamphlets and other anti-Nazi Literature.
- In 1933, the SPD group Red Shock Troop published a newspaper almost every ten days and built up a membership of around 3000. Yet, in December, their leaders were arrested and sent to concentration camp.
- Decreased after 1938, it became so easy to trace groups by their publications - risked punishment.
The effect of Operation Barborossa in June 1941 on anti-Nazi campaigns
- Communist groups revived.
- The Uhring groups leafleted factories and put up posters urging workers to sabotage.
How did people express opposition + dissent?
Sabotage from workers
- Lightning strikes (lasted a few hours).
- Sabotaged production by working slowly, damaging machinery or reporting in sick when they weren’t.
- Could have led to arrest if reported or too organised or successful (the Anti-Facist Workers’ Group 1944).
- Once Germany was at war, several resistance groups (some helped by the Allies) became violent by blowing up bridges or railway lines.
How did people express opposition + dissent?
Disobedience - Swing types
- Mostly wealthy, upper or middle class youth joined clubs to listen to jazz music and dressed in clothes like the Weimar period.
- Banned in 1940 - called it degenerate music - but the clubs went underground.
- Nazis made occasional arrests, but often left alone - refused to conform but no active anti-Nazi sentiments..
How did people express opposition + dissent?
Disobedience - Edelweiss Pirates
- A working-class movement, were actively anti-Nazi, although to varying degrees.
Activities:
- Wore their own uniform in protest of the Hitler Youth.
- Ranged from peaceful activities like singing anti-Nazi songs to beating up HY members.
- Wrote anti-Nazi slogans on walls and posted any leaflets dropped by Allies through letterboxes.
- Actively helped Allied airmen evade capture - in 1944, 13 were caught in Colonge for helping the enemy and were hanged.
- Over 700 were arrested during the period.
How did people express opposition + dissent?
Disobedience - White Rose Group
- Student-led group at the University of Munich.
- Operated in secret, distributing anti-Nazi material, while urging passive, non-violent resistance to the Nazis.
- But eventually caught and executed in 1934.
How did people express opposition + dissent?
Disobedience - supporting the enemies
- Widespread method to help those whom the Nazis wanted to arrest (politically or racially).
- By themselves or part of a more organised escape line (the Protestant Church ran one).
- Difficult to estimate how many people had escaped by way. However, it was in the thousands.
How did people express opposition + dissent?
Disobedience - inside the organisation
- Some worked within the Nazi organisation.
- Hans von Dohnanyi worked in the justice system + worked with his brother in law Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a Protestant pastor, to help escapees.
- Both arrested and sent to concentration camps in 1943.
How did people express opposition + dissent?
Attempts to assassinate Hitler
- Between 1921-1944 = 15 known attempts - 7 after 1939 by army members or groups led by a army members.
- Despite swearing an oath of loyalty to him, Hitler had his own military groups (SS).
- Disapproved of the extreme Nazi beliefs and actions (extermination of Jews/’undesirables’).
- After D-Day, more soldiers lost more faith in Hitler.
- All were likely caught, executed or sent to concentration camps.
The July Plot of 1944
- Most serious assassination plot - German army attempted a govt take over to negotiate ending the war with the Allies.
- On the 20th July, Lieutenant von Stauffenberg left a bomb in his briefcase in a conference room with Hitler. Believed reports Hitler died but he survived with only minor injuries. Fromme, despite being a protestor himself, arrested the chief plotters to prove his loyalty (either shot or suicide).
- An investigation led to the imprisonment and execution of about 200 people’s involvement (wrongly or rightly) - including Fromme.
How did people express opposition + dissent?
How did Hitler deal with religion in the Regime?
- Hitler, for political reasons, had to associate Nazism with Christianity to gain the support of Church hierarchies. Although, privately he wanted to replace Christianity with a new assertive, Aryan faith (German Faith Movement).
- Controlled the Protestant Churches = traditionally nationalist and had supported extremist parties during Weimar.
- Hitler set up a Concordat with the Vatican, promising to leave the Catholic Church alone if it didn’t interfere with politics.
- Developed a Nazi-influenced ‘People’s Church’ (supported by the Protestant Movement) with introducing a Reichbishop (Muller) in July 1933.
What was the reaction of the People’s Church?
- Sept 1933: 100 pastors broke away to form the Confessional Church (preserve Protestantism from political control and indoctrination).
- Increased public outcry = forced pastors to take an oath of loyalty to Hitler + arrested and killed members.
