2. Today’s lesson – Opposition to the Nazis
We are developing our knowledge and understanding of
the different groups who opposed the Nazis.
By the end of today’s lesson I should be able to:
1) Describe the actions of groups that opposed Nazi rule in
Germany.
2) Explain how successful these groups were.
Today’s lesson involves:
Note taking
National 5 Question
3. Opposition to the Nazis
Although the Nazis had
complete control of Germany
between 1933-1945 after
Hitler used the enabling act to
become fuhrer, some people
were involved in actions to
oppose and resist Hitler’s
totalitarian government.
Many groups tried to oppose
the Nazis, however all failed in
their plans to topple Hitler.
4. Task 1
Copy the following mind-map in a new double page in your jotter.
Opposition to the
Nazis
Churches
Youth Groups
Military Groups
Socialists/Communists
5. Youth Group(s)
Edelweiss Pirates
The Edelweiss Pirates were a youth group that refused to join
the Hitler Youth. They attached Nazi officials and hid deserters
from the army.
In 1944, many leaders of these groups including 16 year old
Barthel Schink were hanged after a Gestapo chief was killed.
Swing Kids
The Swing Kids were young people who opposed the regime by
listening to banned American music such as Jazz.
White Rose Group
During WW2, students in the White Rose Group including
brother and sister Hans & Sophie Scholl distributed anti-Nazi
leaflets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtOKRsF6Rr0
6. Churches
The churches gave Hitler a large problem – he wanted
to control their actions but were worried Germans
would be angry if they did.
Catholic Church
Instead he tried to reach deals (Concordat with the
Catholic Church) or to introduce his own Nazi church
(Reich Church).
In terms of the Concordat - the Nazis agreed to leave
the Catholic Church alone if they stayed out of politics.
However the Nazis broke the agreement, arresting
many priests and removing crucifixes from Catholic
class rooms.
In 1937, Pope Pius XI issued a document titled ‘Burning
Grief’ which was a public attack on Nazism.
7. Churches
Confessional Church
The confessional church was set up to stop efforts to
Nazify the Protestant Church. One of its founders,
Martin Neimoller, had initially supported Hitler but
later opposed his actions.
Niemoller and others were later sent to concentration
camps such as Dachau.
Another key figure was Dietrich Bonhoeffer who was a
member of the confessional church who trained
pastors to speak out against the Nazis. He was banned
from preaching and later died in the Flossenburg
concentration camp
8.
9. Churches
Jehovah’s Witnesses
Jehovah’s Witnesses refused to
perform the Nazi salute and
stopped their children joining
Hitler Youth. They also refused to
be conscripted into the army.
Many witnesses were arrested
(up to 10,000) or fired from their
jobs.
10. Socialists and Communists
Social Democratic Party (SDP)
Non- Nazi political parties were
banned in Germany after 1933 but
some still worked against Hitler.
The Social Democrats were the
former part of Ebert and organized
underground groups in Germany
where they were involved in
activities such as distributing
leaflets and propaganda.
11. Socialists and Communists
Communist Party
The Communist Party of Germany also
worked against Nazi rule. This
included acts of sabotage or spying
(giving information to the USSR). They
also distributed various anti-Nazi
materials.
Many members were arrested and
killed or sent to concentration camps.
12. Socialists and Communists
Communist Party
George Elser was a worker and
communist who famously tried to
assassinate Hitler.
Elser refused to give the Nazi salute or
vote in their rigged referenda.
In November 1939, Elser planted a
bomb designed to kill Hitler during a
speech but Hitler left the hall early.
13. The Military
Many senior military figures began to worry
about Hitler’s power, especially as his foreign
policies seemed likely to cause a war.
A crisis in Czechslovakia brought these issues to
a head. Many Generals opposed such a conflict
especially the Army’s Chief of Staff – General
Ludwig Beck. Hitler forced him to resign as he
criticized the Government.
Beck then worked with a group of senior military
figures to create a coup to remove Hitler from
power but this never happened.
14. The Military
Abwehr
There is also evidence that Abwehr – Germany’s
military intelligence organization was involved in
anti-Nazi activities. This group was led by
Admiral Wilhelm Canaris who was opposed to
Hitler’s persecution of religious groups.
This group is believed to have given secrets to
UK and US Spies.
Canaris also helped Jews to leave Germany by
giving them fake papers claiming they were
Abwehr agents. He was executed in 1945.
15. National 5 Questions
1) Describe the different ways the Nazis were opposed between 1933-
1945? – 4 marks
2) To what extent did the Churches provide the main source of
opposition to the Nazi Government between 1933-1945? – 9
Marks.
