IGCSE REVISION - GERMANY: OPPOSITION TO THE NAZIS

1. DEPTH STUDY
REVISION GERMANY
OPPOSITION
TO THE NAZIS
10

2. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY – MR. D
INTRODUCTION
• The Nazis had a tight grip on Germany, but some opposition
remained.

3. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY – MR. D
OPPOSITION WAS WEAK UNDER THE
NAZIS
• Most people who disagreed with the Nazis were afraid of the SS and
the Gestapo.
• They were also afraid their friends and neighbours would inform on
them if they criticise the regime.
• Thousands of those who did voice opposition were sent to
concentration camps.
• Opposition within the party was crushed on the Night of the Long
Knives.
• Anti-Nazi activity had to be carried out in secret – which made it
difficult for different groups to work together.
• Nazi propaganda persuaded people that they are better off under
Hitler.

4. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY – MR. D
THE NAZIS OVERCAME MOST RESISTANCE
• Once in power, the Nazis banned communist groups and sent many
communists to concentration camps.
• Some opposition came from religious groups, especially after church
land was confiscated.
• Jehovah’s Witnesses were persecuted for not supporting the regime,
with many members sent to the concentration camps.
• Some opponents of the Reich Church joined together as the
Confessing Church.

5. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY – MR. D
THE NAZIS OVERCAME MOST RESISTANCE cont.
• Hundreds of clergy were arrested, including Martin Niemoller, one of
the Confessing Church’s founders.
• Catholic dissent was more widespread after 1937, when Pope Pius XI
sent out a letter protesting at German nationalism and racism, which
was read out in Catholic churches.
• Catholic protesters had some success in reducing Nazi interference
with the Church.

6. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY – MR. D
NOT ALL PEOPLE SUPPORTED THE NAZIS
• The Edelweiss Pirates were groups of rebellious young people who
were difficult to control. They didn’t like being told what to do, and
used the slogan “Everlasting war on Hitler Youth”.
• Some Edelweiss Pirates even sided with the Allies during the war and
several were executed.
• Other groups, like the Swing Kids who liked banned jazz music, were
more a nuisance than a serious threat.
• In Munich in 1943, a group of students called the White Rose were
arrested for using passive resistance methods like distributing anti-
Nazis leaflets.
• Several, including Sophie and Hans Scholl were executed.

7. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY – MR. D
RESISTANCE IN THE ARMY GREW
• As the war started to go badly, some believed Hitler was leading
Germany to defeat.
• There had been plots against Hitler from army officers before the
war, but these became more serious after the German defeats at El
Alamein and Stalingrad in 1942.
• One of the most famous was a plot by Claus von Stauffenberg to kill
Hitler.
• He put a bomb in a meeting room, but Hitler survived and most of
the plotters were executed in 1944.