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 police state, propaganda, and censorship.

Who opposed the Nazi government?

There were various groups that opposed the Nazi regime. These included trade unions, 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.

• ❖ 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 trade union groups might call in sick and not work.
• ❖ Active opposition involved trying to disrupt or bring down the Nazi regime. This included violent acts such as assassination attempts. This type of opposition was less common.

How did the trade unions oppose the Nazi regime?

Although all independent trade unions had been made illegal, the Communist Party secretly encouraged workers to oppose the Nazi government by faking sickness or disrupting production by committing acts of sabotage, 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 assassinate 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 Protestant pastors joined the Confessing Church, which opposed the Nazis. Some Catholic 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 concentration camps, as happened to around 800 Protestant 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:

• ❖ The Kreisau Circle.
• ❖ The Swing Youth.
• ❖ The Edelweiss Pirates.
• ❖ The White Rose Group.