RESISTANCE TO NAZI RULE

Points to consider Jan Possible opponents - Internal and External. Jan Possible opponents - Internal and External. After August 1934 – no legal way to remove Hitler. After August 1934 – no legal way to remove Hitler. Assassination attempts during war. Assassination attempts during war. Third Reich eventually overthrown from outside. Third Reich eventually overthrown from outside.

In January 1933 there were several internal and external form of opposition to the Nazis Religion Army Traditional Elite Trade Unions Schools/ Education Media Jews SA / Ernst Rohm Communists

Methods used to deal with these forms of opposition Religion Communists Banned from 1933 Concordat/ New Church/ Oath of elegance Army Works with Army. SA gains support. Traditional Elite Awarding of contracts Trade Unions Abolished in Schools/ Education 1934 – Education Changed Media Controlled from the centre Jews Anti-semitism SA/ Ernst Rohm June 1934 – Night of the Long Knives After August 1934 there was no legal way to remove Hitler. However opposition did not cease to exist. It only meant that opposition had to operate under the surface and consequently opposition found it difficult to organise.

WHY WAS OPPOSITION SO INEFFECTIVE? Respect for Legality Underestimation Opposition had little in common Victims such as Jews were popular

After 1934 it was both difficult and illegal to resist the Nazi regime, however there was still opposition. Support for Hitler was strong and the initial polices were popular with larger society sectors Propaganda and repression reduced opposition Resistance during the 1930’s was not a major issue. It was disorganized and uncoordinated. The army and church did give some structure to opposition. Some people suggest the 300,000 people who left Germany and the 1.3 million sent to Concentration camps indicated a degree of opposition

GROUPDETAILHISTORIANS Church Catholic Church – opposition to policies of euthanasia and sterilization. Protestant Confessional Church – refused to be Nazified Workers No legal weapon of opposition. Many workers grateful for employment. However strikes existed and many workers loyal to old political parties Army Officers remained suspicious of Hitler and Nazism. Several officers tried to assinate Hitler. Government and civil service There were some critics among government, who wanted more freedom. They wanted a new form of government. Overy- “No – go” areas Mason – absentee workers, sabotage Judiciary Some tried to maintain proper standards of justice. Opposition Parties All opposition banned in July 1933, and hit by a wave of arrests. Traditional Elites Discuss of eliminating Hitler Youth Other groups of opposition existed. Peukert- Cologne and Hamburg – widespread opposition amongst the young. WHO RESISTED TYPE OF RESISTANCE PROBLEMS FACED HOW THEY DEALT WITH THEM General Hans Oster ( ) Worked with Britain Knight of the Long Knives Concentration Camp Pastor: Dietrich Bonhoffer ( ) Criticised Nazis as incaptabical with Christianity He had contacts with Generals Executed in April 1945 Actor: Joachim Gottschalk Famous German married to a Jew Was Criticised Killed 8 year old child and committed suicide TeacherActive role in resistance Caught by a spy and condemned