Opposition to the Nazi Regime
Was there opposition to the Nazi regime?
There was some opposition to the
Nazi regime, but it was very limited because of the impact of the Nazi , , and
Who opposed the Nazi government?
There were various groups that opposed the
Nazi regime. These included , the
youth, soldiers, priests, and other political groups.
Why did people oppose the Nazi government?
Each group opposed the
Nazi regime for different reasons. For example, the churches opposed the Nazis and their policies because of their religious beliefs.
How did people oppose the Nazi government?
There were 2 main ways in which people could oppose the
Nazi government.
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Passive opposition involved simply not following the rules imposed by the Nazis. For example, young people who opposed the Nazis listened and danced to banned music. Members of secret groups might call in sick and not work.
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Active opposition involved trying to disrupt or bring down the Nazi regime. This included violent acts such as attempts. This type of opposition was less common.
How did the trade unions oppose the Nazi regime?
Although all had been made illegal, the Communist Party secretly encouraged workers to oppose the
Nazi government by faking sickness or disrupting by committing acts of , for example breaking machines.
How did the young oppose the Nazi regime?
The
youth opposition groups such as the Edelweiss Pirates or the
Swing Youth behaved in ways that went against
Nazi ideas. The Swing Youth listened to illegal American
music, wore American-style clothing, drank alcohol and smoked.
How did the army oppose the Nazi regime?
Some army officers opposed the
Nazi regime. In 1938, a group led by General Ludwig Beck, chief of staff of the German Army, planned to Hitler. The plan was called off but they tried again in 1943 and 1944.
How did the churches oppose the Nazi regime?
The
Nazis tried to control the churches in Germany but there was some opposition. About 6,000 pastors joined the Confessing Church, which opposed the Nazis. Some priests also spoke out against them.
Why was opposition to the Nazi regime limited?
Opposition was limited because the
Nazi regime could easily arrest anyone who stood against it and send them to , as happened to around 800 pastors.
Was there opposition to the Nazis during the Second World War?
Opposition to the Nazis increased as the Second World War began to have a greater impact on the lives of ordinary Germans. Opposition groups included: