Support for the Nazi Regime Flashcards
For what reasons did there continue to be conformity and acceptance of the Nazi Part throughout the 1930s?
- Censorship and propaganda, criticism of the Nazis were banned, and it was ensured that good messages about the Nazi party were spread, Hitler remained popular.
- Nazis were successful, Hitler reduced unemployment in the 1930s, and achieved several successes in foreign politics.
Why is it difficult to know how much opposition there was to Hitler?
- organized oppositions Eg. other political parties or trade unions, were banned.
- Unofficial opposition was risky. Criticism of Hitler was reported to the Gestapo by informers and those reported would be punished.
Why did the Churches oppose Hitler?
-Because he tried to control religion by:
shutting down religious schools, making catholic bishops swear allegiance to the Nazi Regime.
-Protestant leaders were told to join the German Christian Church, which accepted Nazi interference in the protestant religion. Some leaders refused to join.
What was the Pastors Emergency League (PEL)?
Set up by a group of Pastors, including Martin Neimoller in 1933, to campaign against Nazi actions.
The two key aspects of Nazi treatment of the Protestant Church they opposed were:
-The joining of regional churches into one National Christian Church.
-Nazi Attempts to stop Jews from becoming Christian and to ban the Jewish Old testament from Christian Teachings.
What was the Confessing Church?
- A second protestant church in Germany, the first being Reich Church, which accepted Nazi interference. Set up by Martin Niemoller and others pastors.
- It was made up of 6000 protestant churches and pastors.
- it was repressed by the nazis
- 800 of those pastors were arrested and sent to concentration camps.
What was Catholic opposition to the Church?
- Some Catholic priests spoke out against Nazi ideas and politics.
- 400 Catholic priests were imprisoned in the priest block at Dachau concentration Camp.
What was Nazi opposition like amongst ordinary Christians?
-Very few spoke out, not brave or foolish enough to oppose the nazis openly.
-Big attendances to church services in defiance of the Nazis.
-A few publically applauded leaders who opposed the Nazis.
Example of a kind of resistance against the Nazis.
Which of Niemoller’s attitudes were pro-Nazi?
- Niemoller voted for the Nazis in the 1924 and 1933 elections, felt the Weimer republic needed a strong leader.
- Didn’t oppose Nazi restrictions on Jews.
- Requested to be let out of prison to fight for Hitler in the Second World war.
Which of Niemoller’s attitudes were against Nazis?
- He disliked Nazi interference in the Protestant Church.
- He opposed the Nazi restrictions of Jews becoming Christian.
- He set up the Confessional Church in 1934.
Which of Niemoller’s attitudes were very against the Nazis?
- He was arrested many times for speaking out against Hitler between 1934 and 1937.
- He was sent to Sachsenhausen concentration camp in 1938, he moved to Dachau concentration camp where he stayed until 1945 when the war ended.
What were the Edelweiss Pirates, How did they oppose the Nazis?
- it was made up of rebellious teenage boys who copied the American style of clothing.
- They formed in the late 1930’s a consequence of Nazis enforcing the Hitler youth membership.
- The Edelweiss flower was used as their symbol.
- Based in working-class districts of large cities.
- Read and listened to banned music and literature and wrote anti-Nazi graffiti.
- Taunted Hitler Youth.
- Went on hikes and camping expeditions to get away from Nazi restrictions.
- By 1939 they had 2000 memebers. Membership of Hitler Youth was eight million.
- nazis did not feel threatened by their activities.
What was the Swing Youth?
A group of Youths, usually wealthy middle-class families, chose not to conform to the Nazi ideas.
- Were into American culture (Clothe, music, films.)
- Gathered to drink, smoke and dance.
- organized illegal dances attended by thousands.
How effective was the Youth opposition up to 1939?
It was limited to: -Writing anti-Nazi graffiti. -Telling anti-Nazi jokes. -Attacking the Hitler youth. -Listening to banned music. -Wearing American-style clothes. The motives of the youth groups were cultural rather than political and their numbers were limited, and the Hitler youth greatly outnumbered them, so they had very little impact on the Nazis.
