Resistance Flashcards
What does Bartov believe?
Many army generals shared Hitler’s ideology
What military terms of ToV did Hitler break?
He reintroduced conscription, and created a rearmament program
Why were some of the army content with the regime?
LW leaders would have dissolved it
Hitler helped Germany expand- eg Sudetenten land 1938, Austria 1938
SA destroyed in 1934
Why did some of the army feel it was their duty to protect Hitler?
They made an oath to Hitler by name August 1934
Soldiers served a country rather than a political party, not politicised
What effects did NOLK have on the army?
NOLK caused some unease- Von Schliecher had been a general. Hans Ostler was one of them who changed him mind after NOLK
Many impressed by Hitler’s efficiently and were happy the SA were destroyed
What did the SS do to the army?
Fear over the growth of the SS
1933- 50,000
1939- 250,000
What did the army class change to in Nazi Germany?
Before- 70-80% aristocracy
During- 35%
Why did Blomberg, Beck and Fritsch becoming alienated by the regime?
Alarmed that Hitler’s foreign policy would lead to a premature war with the West which Germany would lose
What did Collier and Pedly believe?
The army, of all the institutions in the state, had the knowledge and means to Destroy the regime, but simply lacked the resolve to attempt this
Who was General Beck?
The army’s chief of staff, when told about Hitler’s plans to invade Czechoslovakia, he opposed the idea and tried to get all the chief’s of staff to resign- none other than him did.
Organised a protest march on Berlin but called it off after Hitler took Sudetenland
What was the army purge in 1938?
Both Blomberg and Fritsche were seen to be very hesitant in obeying Hitler’s orders so in 1938, Hitler removed Blomberg ( for having an ex-prostitute wife) and Fritsch (forced too stand down after allegations involving a rent boy)
12 other generals were removed from their post at the start of February
Who was General Hans Ostler?
An army general, became alienated after NOLK
In 1938 passed on intelligence to Britain and France about Hitler’s plans to invade Czechoslovakia in the belief they would declare war
What was the Czech crisis?
1938- over Hitler’s plans to invade CS
Army generals, including Ostler drew up plans for a coup in the instance that Hitler committed an overt step towards war
Intelligence passed on to Britain
Fell apart- some soldiers worried about their oath to Hitler and allies gave Sudetenland to Germany without a war
What was the dutch war scare?
Canaris ensured fake intelligence reached MI6 that detailed Germany’s plans to invade Holland, so that they could bomb Britain
Was hoped that Britain would become more alert to Hitlers activities- successful as Chamberlin sent a large British force to France in 1939.
Why might the Dutch war scare not be classed as resistance?
Canaris only wanted to stop a war, not overthrow Hitler
Why was army resistance not successful?
Oath to Hitler Britain and France did not declare war Army purge Officer class had been changed Beck resigned Army was content- ToV Hitler was successfully expanding Germany
What did Fullbrook believe?
At first the army shared common aims with the Nazis- only began to break down when the regime became more radical in the late 1930s
What did Housden believe?
Most significant resistance came from the establishment sections of German society, eg the army corps
What resistance did the SPD take part in?
Voted against the enabling act
Leadership went into exile after they were forced to disband
Established a socialist action newspaper- leaders arrested in 1935
What action did the SPD take in 1938?
The exiled leadership decided resistance campaign activities were too dangerous, encouraged information gathering and whispering campaigns instead
Who was George Elser?
A socialist who attempted to blow up Hitler in 1939
Did not kill Hitler, who left early but killed 8 others