Resistance and Opposition Historiography

Question 1

Noakes and Pridham

Answer 1

The churches remained the only institutions with an alternative ideology to Nazism and retained some support from the people; there were a major obstacle to the Nazis attempt to take complete control.

Question 2

A. Wilt

Answer 2

Resistance was meagre and acceptance of Nazism was overwhelming. Many conveniently separated their spiritual life from political life and the response from the churches was timid.

Question 3

JRC Wright

Answer 3

Churches showed that they would not tolerate Nazi aggression passively but it was as a self-defence mechanism and not direct political opposition.

Question 4

Nikolaus Wachsmann

Answer 4

Takes the view that Hitler’s police apparatus commanded extensive weapons of repression. Fear of the Gestapo was widespread. The Gestapo drew extensively on support from outside its ranks. It used information from paid informers, as well as the general public.

Question 5

K. Mallmann & G. Paul

Answer 5

Takes the view that the National Socialist rulers could live with insubordination, superficial conformity and insidious criticism as long as the consensus in political fundamental principles appeared secure and dissatisfaction, nonconformity and partial opposition did not coalesce and organise effectively.

Question 6

Robert Gellately

Answer 6

Takes the view that it was a characteristic feature of Nazi Germany that the regime found no difficulty in obtaining the collaboration of ordinary citizens. Most people seemed prepared to live with the idea of a surveillance society, to put aside the opportunity to develop the freedom we usually associate with liberal democracies, in return for crime-free streets, a return to prosperity, and what they regarded as good government.

Question 7

Ian Kershaw

Answer 7

Takes the view that resistance and opposition to Hitler acted without the active mass support of the population. Large proportions of the population did not even passively support the resistance but, rather, condemned it. Resistance was fragmented, atomised and isolated from any possibility of mass support. Opposition - real and potential - was crushed through the unprecedented level of repression by the Nazi state.

Question 8

R. Geary

Answer 8

In general, church hierarchies tried to avoid conflict with the Nazi regime without being seen to endorse its policies.