Opposition and Resistance to Nazis, 1939-45

Flashcards about the opposition and resistance to the Nazi party during WWII.

Swing Movement

A youth opposition group characterized by cultural resistance, rejecting Nazi ideals through music and imagery associated with American dance bands.

Edelweiss Pirates

A collection of youth movements in western Germany that opposed Nazi regimentation, valuing freedom, anti-authority, and non-conformity.

White Rose

A youth opposition group led by Hans and Sophie Scholl at the University of Munich, distributing pamphlets to encourage resistance against the Nazi regime.

Reich Church

An umbrella organization of Protestant churches created by the Nazis to coordinate religion under state control.

Confessional Church

A Protestant church movement established in 1934 that resisted Nazi efforts to control and indoctrinate the church.

Pastor Martin Niemoller

A co-founder of the Confessional Church who was arrested in 1937 for criticizing Nazi ideology.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

A religious dissident who developed into political resistance and contacted conservative resistance elements.

Ludwig Muller

Elected Reich Bishop in July 1933 in an attempt to coordinate the Protestant churches.

Concordat (1933)

An agreement between the Vatican and the Nazi government in July 1933, where the Church recognized the regime and pledged not to interfere with politics in exchange for state non-interference in the Church.

Pope Pius XI

The Pope who issued the encyclical With Burning Grief in 1937, an outspoken attack on Nazi beliefs and methods.

Clemens von Galen

The Bishop of Munster who criticized euthanasia in 1941 and was known as the only effective protester in the 3rd Reich.

KPD

The Communist Party of Germany, which experienced Nazi repression and initially adopted a wait-and-see approach.

Rote Kapelle (Red Orchestra)

A Communist spy network that infiltrated the German government and military, transmitting vital information to Moscow.

Kreisau Circle

A group of aristocrats and officers who met to plan for a New Germany after Hitler.

Beck-Goerdler Group

Associated with Operation Valkyrie, a failed attempt to assassinate Hitler and overthrow the regime.

Operation Valkyrie

A plot in July 1944 led by Stauffenberg, Tresckow, and Beck to assassinate Hitler and seize control of Germany.

Stauffenberg

Military officer who placed a bomb in attempt to assassinate Hitler.

The Edelweiss Pirates defied restrictions on ___ by going on hiking + camping trips.

movement

True or Fall: The response of the Christian Churches to Hitler was to pose a real threat to the Nazi regime.

False

True or False: The churches concentrated on protecting their own positions, + as institutions did not pose a threat to the regime.

True

True or False: The Nazis + the Church shared common outlooks such as cultural traditions, family life, fear of communism.

True

True or False: When the Second World War started to go badly for the Germans some of the opposition to the Nazis turned to open resistance as they tried to overthrow the regime.

True

True or False: The Edelweiss Pirates were not a specific movement but rather an association of several youth movements that had developed in western Germany in response to the Nazi regimentation of youths.

True

Who was the leader of the Nazi party?

Hitler

Who was the American President during WW2?

Franklin D, Roosevelt

What years did WW2 take place in?

1939-1945

Where was the White Rose movement based out of?

Munich

The churches’ opposition was issue driven rather than rooted in a _ morality

politically active anti-Nazi

What kind of agreement was signed between The Vatican and the government?

Concordat

Many small communist cells continued to be formed by in many large German cities.

William Knockel

What occurred in July 1944 led by Stauffenberg, Tresckow + Beck?

Operation Valkyrie

Who led the White Rose Movement?

Hans + Sophie Scholl

Who was elected Reich Bishop in July 1933?

Ludwig Muller

Who was the Pope who issued the encyclical With Burning Grief in 1937?

Pope Pius XI

Who criticized euthanasia in 1941 and was known as the only effective protester in the 3rd Reich?

Clemens von Galen

What was the Communist Party of Germany known as?

KPD

When was the Confessional Church established?

1934

What was the name of youth opposition groups characterized by cultural resistance?

Swing Movement

What kind of resistance did the Swing Movement engage in?

cultural

What kind of resistance did the Edelweiss Pirates engage in?

Anti-authority

What was the goal of the White Rose movement?

strive for the renewal of the mortally wounded German spirit

Hitler wanted to replace Christianity with a new assertive, _ faith.

Aryan

Who was a co-founder of the Confessional Church who was arrested in 1937 for criticizing Nazi ideology?

Pastor Martin Niemoller

What did the army swear in Autust 1934?

Oath of allegiance to Hitler

Who led Operation Flash?

Major General Henning von Tresckow

The Communist cells were compromised by what party pact?

Nazi-Soviet

The churches’ overall response to National Socialism was __ +__?

timid, half-hearted

According to Housden what kind of driven opposition was there?

issue

According to Peukert, any opposition was to be , +_?

decentralised, disorientated, historically ineffectual

Complete the quote: ’As in Italy, I will make peace with the church. Why not! It won't stop me eradicating ___ from Germany root and branch. You're either Christian or German. You can’t be both.’

Christianity

Which group transmitted vital information back to Moscow during Nazi power?

Rote Kapelle

What did the army's failure to act lead to?

Compromised association with the Nazis

In which German city did the Edelweiss Pirates become proactively resistant?

Cologne

What type of music did the Swing Movement embrace?

Jazz

What types of topics did the White Rose Movement speak out about?

Euthanasia