Opposition, resistance and conformity

How many people were sent to concentration camps between 1933-39

1.3 million

What did this suggest

There was widespread opposition to the regime

How many people was estimated to have left Germany between 1933-39

300,000

What was there in Germany

Some opposition

Although there was some opposition to the Nazis 1933-39, why did it not threaten the regime

The opposition was never co-ordinated or enough in numbers to threaten the regime

The extent of support for the Nazi regime

Many Germans gained much from hitlers successes after 1933 and consequently supported him

3 reasons why Germans supported Hitler and the Nazi regime

• There were economic successes which began to erase the Depression

• Germanys international standing grew, seeming to remove the shame of the treaty of Versailles. The Saar was returned in 1935, army was built up after 1935 and in 1936 Rhineland was demilitarised

• Some Germans were happy to see the communists, socialists and the SA leaders removed

What was happening in 1935 and 1936

1935

Saar (coalfields) were returned

Army was built back up

1936

Rhineland was remilitarised

2 types of opposition to the Nazis

Opposition from the churches

Opposition from the young

2 forms of opposition from the churches

Opposition from Catholic Churches

Opposition from Protestants

Describe opposition from Catholic Church

Many catholic priests opposed Nazi policies and were arrested. At least 400 were sent to dachau concentration camp. This had an opposite effect to what the Nazis wanted. Priests who went to concentration camps were seen as martyrs and Catholic Churches were packed every Sunday

What happened to many catholic priests

They opposed Nazi policies and were arrested

How many catholic priests were sent to dachau concentration camp

400

Did the Nazis succeed with sending catholic priests to concentration camps

In many ways no, as they were celebrated as martyrs and Catholic popularity remained very high

Describe opposition from Protestant church

Many Protestant pastors opposed Hitler and the Reich church. They were led by pastor niemoller, who set up the “Pastors emergency league” and the “confessional church”. Niemoller and many other pastors were arrested and sent to concentration camps. Nazi repression did not destroy Protestant opposition, just creating martyrs

Who led the Protestant opposition

Pastor Niemöller

two things that Niemoller set up

Pastors emergency league

Confessional church

What was the confessional church

Protestant church set up by pastor Niemoller in opposition to the Reich church

What did Nazi repression do to Protestant opposition

Failed to destroy it

What did many young people do

Join the Hitler youth

What was the Hitler youth

Organisation set up for the young to convert them to Nazi ideas

What did not all young poeple do

Not all young people accepted Nazi ideas and some set up other groups

2 youth groups opposing Nazi regime

The Edelweiss Pirates

The swing youth

Who were the Edelweiss pirates

A loosely organised youth group who rebelled against Nazi ideas, forming in 1934

2 different names for the edelweiss pirates

In cologne they were called the Navajos, and Essen had the roving dudes

What did the edelweiss pirates do

• listen to forbidden swing music and daubed walls with anti Nazi graffiti

• Wore clothes considered outlandish by Nazis, such as checker shirt and dark short trousers

• Created no go areas for Hitler Youth in their cities

How were the edelweiss recognised

By their badges, such as the skull and crossbones

Membership of the edelweiss pirates

By 1939 they had a membership of 2000

Who were the swing youth

Young people who loved swing music and challenged Nazi views about the young

Where were the swing youth usually from

The middle classes

What did the swing youth do

• loved swing music and jazz, which was hated by Nazis who classes it as non German

• Rebelled against the order and discipline of Nazis

• Took part in activites which were frowned upon