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How significant was opposition to Nazi rule up to 1945? - Coggle Diagram
How significant was opposition to Nazi rule up to 1945?
Opposition up to 1939
Communist and Socialist Resistance
There was a number of underground networks of both Socialists and Communists (especially after the SDP and KPD were outlawed), such as the Red Orchestra
Socilaists in exile, under SOPADE, spread Anti-Nazi material throughout Germany
Both Communist and Socialist groups were small, and posed minimal threat at the time
Some Communists were involved in attempted plots to assassinate Hitler
Protestant Church
The main Protestant opposition was lead by Martin Niemoller and Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Niemoller was imprisoned but survived the war, while Bonhoeffer was executed via Hanging in 1945
Formation of 'Confessional Church' was a mainstay of opposition, although it only contained about 3000 Pastors (or about 1/6 the total in Germany)
It was more focussed on Church Autonomy however, rather than broader moral/politicals issues
Military
Up until 1938, veiled 'oppoation' from Army Elites was all Hitler faced
The Army C-in-C Werner von Fritsch and General von Blomberg (Hitler's War Minister) were particularly critical of Hitler's war plans outlined at the Hossbach Conference (5 November 1937). In 1938, Hitler dismissed both.
The departure of these two lead to the resignation or dismissal of 16 Generals (including Chief of Staff Ludwig Beck), while 44 more were transferred.
Other opposition
Some civil defiance and 'civil disobendience' occurred in response to Nazi control, and it was not always political. It can be considered as 'low level' opposition. Examples included:
Reading banned literature, listening to band music, watching foreign broadcast and general 'grumbling'
Protecting Jews and other 'enemies of the state'
Refusing to join Nazi organisations or contribute to Nazi Campaigns
Supporting non-Nazi Churches and Organisations
Some individuals refused to carry out orders, such as Judges who refused to administer 'Nazi' justice
Nazi Response/Actions
During this time, even mild protest could receive harsh punishments. Paired with the work of the Gesapo and Secret Police, individual opposition became almost impossible.
Repression of individuals took various forms, including; Mild Censorship, Intimidation, Loss of Job/Status, arbitrary arrest and imprisonment, confinement in a Concentration Camp and even execution
Between 1933-1939, ~225,000 Germans were convicted of Political Crimes, with a further 162,000 placed in 'protective custody' in prison without a trial.
1.3 million Germans were sent to concentration camps and 300,000 Germans fled Germany between 1933-1939.
Around 800 Protestant Pastors were incarcerated in March 1937, with hundreds of Catholic Clerics also being sent to Concentration Camps
Opposition during wartime
Church
The Nazi's took less action during WWII against the Church in order to both use Religious belief to sustain people's hope and moral, and to maintain many leaders' support of the War effort
Dietrich Bonhoeffer became involved in the German counter-intelligence service (Abwehr), woking with a secret group to try overthrow Hitler. He helped devise 'Operation 7', allowing a small number of Jews to escape Germany. He also made contact with the British Government, asking for peace if Hitler was overthrown
His actions resulted in his imprionment and eventual execution in Flossenburg Concentration Camp
In 1941, Catholic Bishop August von Galen condemned the Nazi's Euthanasia policy, putting significant pressure on the Regime
Priests and Churchmen helped rescue Jews and joined resistance groups such as the Kreisau Circle.
Youth
Hitler Youth became less and less popular as the war years continued, fuelled by constant military activities and uninspired leadership)
'Swing' clubs were established in major cities , where youngsters could reject Nazi values and dress In British or American style clothes while listening to Jazz
A number of groups, such as the Edelweiss Pirates attacked Hitler Youth patrols. Others, such as the 'Navajos' sheltered deserters and escaped prisoners. One youth group was even responsible for killing the head of the Cologne Gestapo, but those responsible were found and executed
Opposition also developed in Universities, most notably the White Rose Movement in Munich.
Army
Opposition from the army escalated significantly during the war, with a number of officers being part of the Kreisau Circle. Even the Abwehr was rife with Resistance activities, until it was absorbed into the SS in 1944.
General Beck and his officers conintued to plot with other officers, organising several assassination attempts against Hitler between Jun 1940 - Jun 1944.
This culminated in the July Bomb Plot of 1944, which almost succeeded in killing Hitler
Nazi Response/Actions
From 1940, priests were placed in a special barracks at Dachau. Of the 2720 inmates, 95% were Catholic; 1034 died there
The failing to the July Bomb Plot resulted in the execution of 5000 army officers, ingluding Ludwig Beck and Hans Oster
A number of individuals involved in youth groups were executed for their actions, such as Hans Scholl (leader of the White Rose movement). Others, such as 17-year-old Hasso Schützendorf, were severely beaten and sent to concentration camps just for minor non-conformity