Opposition, Resistance and Conformity

Context: David Lloyd George, an ex-Prime Minister of Britain, made a speech highlighting Adolf Hitler's influence in Germany.
Key Points:
- Acknowledgement of Hitler's transformative impact on the German populace's social and economic outlook.
- Noted popularity among the youth and trust amongst older generations.
- Described the admiration for Hitler not merely as popularity, but as the worship of a national hero who rescued the country from despair.

Definitions:
- Resistance: Refers to the refusal of support or speaking against a regime or government.
- Opposition: Involves actively working against a regime with the aim to dismantle or change it.
Examples of Resistance:
- Disagreement with Nazi policies, including:
- Banning of political parties and trade unions.
- Persecution of Jews.
- Most Germans, however, did not engage in active opposition against the Nazis.
Challenges in opposition:
- Political parties and trade unions were banned, hindering organized opposition.
- Criticism could lead to severe consequences as reports were made to the Gestapo by informers.
- Despite risks, instances of resistance were noted, highlighting the remarkable courage of those who spoke out.

Nazi Control over Religion:
- Efforts to control religious practices in Germany, leading to:
- Catholic bishops swearing allegiance to the Nazi regime.
- Closure of Catholic schools and youth groups.
- Protestant pastors being pressured to join the German Christian Church under Nazi direction (the Reich Church).
- Although many pastors conformed, some actively resisted.

Establishment: Established in 1933 by Protestant pastors, including Martin Niemöller.
Opposition Focus:
- Resistance to the consolidation of regional churches into one national German Christian Church.
- Opposition to prohibitions preventing Jews from becoming Christians and banning the Jewish Old Testament in Christian teachings.

Creation: Formed in 1934 as a result of PEL’s initiatives.
Church Division:
- Resulted in two distinct Protestant Churches:
- Reich Church: Accepted Nazi interference.
- Confessing Church: Opposed Nazi control.
- Membership:
- Approximately 2,000 Protestant pastors remained in the Reich Church.
- About 6,000 joined the Confessing Church, showing resistance to Nazi policies.
- Consequences for Opponents:
- Approximately 800 pastors who spoke against Nazis were arrested and sent to concentration camps.

Actions Taken:
- Some Catholic priests vocally opposed Nazi ideologies and policies.
- Resulted in the imprisonment of around 400 Catholic priests in the Priests' Block at Dachau concentration camp.

General Observations:
- Although many Church leaders voiced dissent against the Nazis, the opposition remained limited in scope (see Interpretation 1).
- Ordinary Christian opposition was generally subdued.
- Church services experienced high attendance levels, showing a form of resistance, despite risks.
- Instances of public support for church leaders who opposed the Nazis were rare.

Thesis: The Church's actions were focused more on preserving traditional practices rather than vigorously denouncing Nazi inhumanity and barbarism.

Background:
- Former German U-Boat commander during WWI; trained to become a pastor in 1920.
- Initially supported the Nazis, believing in the need for a strong leader, and voted for them in the 1924 and 1933 elections.
- Opposed Nazi interference in Protestant Church administration after 1933.
Involvement with PEL and Confessing Church:
- Played a crucial role in founding both organizations.
- Opposed the ban on Jews from converting to Christianity, though initially accepted other restrictions.
Shift in Perspective:
- Discovered active surveillance by the Gestapo in 1934 and shifted towards more outspoken opposition against Nazi policies.
- Faced multiple arrests between 1934-1937, demonstrating increasing defiance.
Arrest and Imprisonment:
- Arrested in 1937, charged with treasonous statements opposed to the Nazi regime, convicted in 1938, and imprisoned in Sachsenhausen concentration camp.
- Despite imprisonment, Niemöller harbored conflicted feelings about the Nazis and, in 1939, sought to be released to serve in the German military under Hitler.
- Later transferred to Dachau concentration camp until liberation in 1945.

A Parable Used by Niemöller:
- Message: A warning about the dangers of silence and complicity in the face of evil.
- "First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist.
  Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a Trade Unionist.
  Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
  Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me."

Activity 1: Create a two-column table:
- Column 1: Ways Christian Churches in Germany resisted or opposed Hitler and the Nazis.
- Column 2: Ways in which they did not resist.
Activity 2: Create a two-column table for Martin Niemöller showing his opposition and support for the Nazis.
Activity 3: Use the two tables to evaluate the statement from Interpretation 1 regarding the limits of religious opposition to the Nazis, discussing the extent of agreement or disagreement.