Section D: opposition, resistance and conformity

Cards (30)

  • What was the largest party in the Reichstag during the Nazis' rise to power?
    The Nazis
  • Did the Nazis ever win an overall majority in the Reichstag?
    No, they never won an overall majority
  • How did most Germans respond to the Nazi regime?
    They either supported or conformed with it
  • What does resistance mean in the context of the Nazi regime?
    Refusing to support or speak out
  • What distinguishes opposition from resistance against the Nazi regime?
    Opposition actively worked to remove the regime
  • Why was opposition to the Nazi regime difficult?
    Political parties and trade unions were banned
  • What organization spied on the German people during the Nazi regime?
    The Gestapo
  • What was a significant fear that suppressed opposition to the Nazis?
    Fear of concentration camps
  • Where was most opposition to the Nazi regime located?
    • Secret trade union sabotage
    • Youth groups like the Edelweiss Pirates
    • Secret political opposition like SOPADE
    • Socialist supporters from abroad
    • Opposition within the Catholic Church
    • Protestant Pastors Emergency League
    • Opposition from army generals led by Ludwig Beck
  • Why did the Protestant Pastors Emergency League oppose the Reich church?
    It aimed to control regional churches and ban Jewish teachings
  • What did the PEL establish in 1934?
    The Confessing Church
  • How many pastors joined the Confessing Church?
    About 6,000 pastors
  • How many pastors remained in the pro-Nazi Reich church?
    About 2,000 pastors
  • What happened to about 800 pastors who criticized Nazi policies?
    They were sent to concentration camps
  • How many Catholic priests were sent to Dachau concentration camp?
    400 Catholic priests
  • Who criticized the T4 programme in 1939?
    Bishop Galen
  • Who was the most famous religious opponent of the Nazi regime?
    Pastor Martin Niemoller
  • What happened to Pastor Martin Niemoller in 1938?
    He was arrested and sent to Sachsenhausen
  • What was compulsory for youth by 1939?
    Attendance at Hitler Youth meetings
  • What did many youngsters dislike about the Hitler Youth?
    The increasing restriction of freedom of choice
  • What youth groups emerged as alternatives to the Hitler Youth?
    • Edelweiss Pirates
    • Swing Youth
  • Where did the Edelweiss Pirates emerge?
    In working class districts of German cities
  • What were some characteristics of the Edelweiss Pirates?
    They resisted military discipline and wore American-style clothing
  • What was the main location for the Swing Youth groups?
    Big Northern German cities
  • What inspired the Swing Youth's opposition?
    Banned American music and illegal dances
  • How many attendees could illegal dances attract for the Swing Youth?
    Up to 6,000 attendees
  • How was the opposition of the Swing Youth characterized?
    It was cultural rather than political
  • How many Edelweiss Pirates were estimated to exist in 1939?
    About 2,000 Edelweiss Pirates
  • How many members were there in the Hitler Youth by 1939?
    About 8 million members
  • What are the differences between the Edelweiss Pirates and the Hitler Youth?
    Edelweiss Pirates:
    • Resisted military discipline
    • Engaged in cultural opposition
    • Smaller group (2,000 members)

    Hitler Youth:
    • Enforced military discipline
    • Supported Nazi ideology
    • Large group (8 million members)