RESISTANCE TO NAZI RULE

Points to considerPoints to consider

Jan. 1933 - Possible opponents - Jan. 1933 - Possible opponents - Internal and External.Internal and External.

After August 1934 – no legal way to After August 1934 – no legal way to remove Hitler.remove Hitler.

Assassination attempts during war.Assassination attempts during war. Third Reich eventually overthrown Third Reich eventually overthrown

from outside. from outside.

In January 1933 there were several internal and external

form of opposition to the Nazis

Religion

Army

Traditional Elite

Trade Unions

Schools/ Education

Media

Jews

SA / Ernst Rohm

Communists

Methods used to deal with these forms of opposition

Religion

Communists

Banned from 1933

Concordat/ New Church/ Oath of elegance

Army

Works with Army. SA gains support.

Traditional Elite

Awarding of contracts

Trade Unions

Abolished in 1933.

Schools/ Education

1934 – Education Changed

Media

Controlled from the centre

Jews

Anti-semitism

SA/ Ernst Rohm

June 1934 – Night of the Long Knives

After August 1934 there was no legal way to remove Hitler. However opposition did not cease to exist. It only meant that opposition had to

operate under the surface and consequently opposition found it difficult to organise.

WHY WAS OPPOSITION SO INEFFECTIVE?

Respect for Legality

Underestimation

Opposition had little in common

Victims such as Jews were popular

After 1934 it was both difficult and illegal to resist the Nazi regime, however there was still

opposition. Support for Hitler was strong and the initial

polices were popular with larger society sectors

Propaganda and repression reduced opposition

Resistance during the 1930’s was not a major issue. It was disorganized and uncoordinated.

The army and church did give some structure to opposition.

Some people suggest the 300,000 people who left Germany and the 1.3 million sent to

Concentration camps indicated a degree of opposition

GROUP DETAIL HISTORIANS

Church Catholic Church – opposition to policies of euthanasia and

sterilization.Protestant Confessional Church – refused to be

Nazified

Workers No legal weapon of opposition. Many workers grateful for employment.

However strikes existed and many workers loyal to old

political parties

Army Officers remained suspicious of Hitler and Nazism. Several officers tried to assinate Hitler.

Government and civil service

There were some critics among government, who

wanted more freedom. They wanted a new form of

government.

Overy- “No – go” areas Mason –

absentee workers, sabotage

Judiciary Some tried to maintain proper standards of justice.

Opposition Parties All opposition banned in July 1933, and hit by a wave of

arrests.

Traditional Elites Discuss of eliminating Hitler

Youth Other groups of opposition existed.

Peukert- Cologne and Hamburg – widespread

opposition amongst the young.

WHO RESISTED

TYPE OF RESISTANCE

PROBLEMS FACED

HOW THEY DEALT WITH

THEM

General Hans Oster (1887-

1945)

Worked with Britain

Knight of the Long Knives

Concentration Camp

Pastor: Dietrich

Bonhoffer (1906-45)

Criticised Nazis as

incaptabical with

Christianity

He had contacts

with Generals

Executed in April 1945

Actor: Joachim Gottschalk

Famous German

married to a Jew

Was Criticised

Killed 8 year old child and

committed suicide

Teacher Active role in resistance

Caught by a spy and condemned