How far was opposition a threat to Hitler?

Learning objective – to be able to assess the impact and the extent of the opposition to Hitler from the army, youth and the church. I can describe some of the ways how the army, the youth and the church opposed Hitler. Grade - 5 I can explain why and how the army, the youth and the church opposed Hitler. Grade - 3 I can explain and evaluate the extent and impact of the opposition to Hitler from the army, youth and the church. Grade -1

Starter – suggest ways how the army could show their opposition to Hitler and his policies?

Why did the army oppose Hitler? Many upper class army officers were scornful of Hitler’s lower origins. Many officers supported a Kaiser rather than a dictator. Many officers were horrified by Hitler’s racial policies. Many officers disagreed with Hitler’s desire for expansion and war. Many officers felt the actions of the SS went against their code of honour in the war. Many officers felt by 1943 that Hitler had to be removed when the tide of war turned.

To what extent was there opposition to Hitler within the army before the war? The first sign of protest from the army came in 1937 when Hitler announced his plans for expansion in the Hossbach Memorandum and his conviction that Britain and France would not intervene. Colonel-General Ludwig Beck, chief of the general staff, warned that army would be divided over this plan and he was forced to resign. Beck warned Britain and France of Hitler’s intentions but was ignored. Beck remained a respected figure in the army and became a focal point for army officers who had reservations about Hitler’s plans.

How far did opposition to Hitler become more intense in 1943? With defeats mounting up for Germany in 1943, plots were made to kill Hitler led by General Henning von Tresclow. March, 1943 saw two known attempts to kill Hitler with a bomb placed on Hitler’s plane – this failed to detonate – as well as an assassination attempt planned at an exhibition – where Hitler failed to turn up. There was initial difficulty in recruiting high-ranking officers in planning to remove Hitler. However, with tide of the war turning, serious questions were being asked by more army officers of Hitler’s leadership.

How far did youth opposition to Hitler grow with the swing movement? Youth opposition towards the Nazi Party began to intensify when the Hitler Youth became compulsory to join in 1936. During the war, ‘swing’ groups emerged in the major German towns and cities which encouraged the rejection of Nazi values through enjoying jazz music at secret nightclubs and drinking alcohol. They even made anti-Nazi jokes by greeting each other with the salute ‘Swing Heil!’ mocking the ‘Heil Hitler’ salute. These were rebellious rather than violent groups with specific aims, although they were pursued by the Gestapo who saw them as a irritant.

How far did youth opposition to Hitler intensify with the Edelweiss Pirates? The Edelweiss Pirates were a more violent youth group which emerged from dissatisfied youths wanting a more confrontational approach to opposing the Nazis. They were not a coherent organisation but more a loosely connected group from a variety of towns and cities in western Germany. Their main form of opposition was daubing anti-Nazi slogans, sheltering deserters and beating up Nazi officials. In 1944, some members of the Edelweiss Pirates in Cologne were involved in the killing of the Gestapo chief. 13 were hanged. After this point, the Edelweiss Pirates provided little opposition.

Who opposed the Nazis in the Church? Martin Niemöller Dietrich Bonhöffer Paul Schneider Cardinal Galen The Pope

How did Martin Niemöller oppose the Nazis? Martin Niemöller was a First World War hero and became the most prominent critic of the Nazis from the Church. He was a Protestant Minister who opposed the Nazis and refused to swear an oath to Hitler and join the ‘Reich Church’ – set up to bring the Protestants under one umbrella calling themselves ‘German Christians’ and swearing loyalty to Hitler. 6,000 ministers refused to swear an oath of loyalty to Hitler and Martin Niemöller led the formation of the alternative non-Nazi, Confessional Church. He was arrested and imprisoned in a concentration camp in 1937.

How did Dietrich Bonhöffer oppose the Nazis? Dietrich Bonhöffer trained young men to be ministers and pointed out that Nazism was anti-Christian. He preached that one could not separate politics and religion and one must stand up to corruption and dishonesty. His college was closed down in 1940 and he remained an outspoken critic of the Nazis where he was arrested in 1943 and executed in 1945.

How did Paul Schneider oppose the Nazis? Paul Schneider was a pastor who opposed the Nazis and protested against the Nazis but arguing the Church must not compromise with them. He was arrested in 1937 and imprisoned in Buchenwald but smuggled letters and showed defiance but refusing to do the Hitler salute.

How did Cardinal Galen oppose the Nazis? Cardinal Galen revealed that the Nazis were secretly conducting a euthanasia campaign in a series of sermons delivered to churches in 1941. This gained huge publicity but the Nazis feared that killing such a high priest would make him into a martyr. Although the executed three Catholic priests who were caught distributing Galen’s sermons to German soldiers.

How did the Pope oppose the Nazis? The Pope signed a Concordat with Hitler in 1933, agreeing that Hitler would leave the Catholic Church alone in return for the Pope staying out of politics. However, in 1937 the Pope's message 'With Burning Concern' attacked Hitler as 'a mad prophet with repulsive arrogance' and was read in every Catholic church. The Pope becoming more horrified with the growing Nazi threat. But this remained the limit of opposition from the Catholic Church.

Complete the tasks from the worksheet

Plenary – My Brain Subheading – My Brain Draw an outline of your brain. Fill your drawn brain with all the things you have learnt in this lesson. This can be in the form of key words, drawings, bullet points, lists – anything you like so long as it summarises your learning and that others can understand it.