Resistance

• Reich Church

  • Founded in 1933
  • Made up of about 2000 Protestant churches
  • Supported the Nazis
  • Led by Ludwig Müller
  • Some members wore Nazi uniform and called themselves German Christians
• Confessional Church


  • Founded in 1934
  • Made up of about 6000 Protestant churches
  • Opposed the Nazis
  • Led by Martin Niemöller
  • Repressed by the Nazis
• 6000 Protestant pastors joined Niemöller's Confessional Church as a protest against Nazi policy, only 2000 remained in the German Christian Church
• About 800 pastors were arrested and sent to concentration camps
• 400 Catholic priests spoke out and were arrested and imprisoned in the Priests Block at Dachau concentration camp
• Niemöller: 'Preached a sermon to remind church leaders of the importance of speaking out against Nazi policies'
• Niemöller's changing attitude to Hitler

  • Pro-Nazi in 1924 and 1933 elections
  • Opposed Nazi interference in the Protestant Church
  • Set up the Confessional Church in 1934
  • Arrested many times for speaking out against the Nazis and Hitler between 1934 and 1937
  • Sent to a concentration camp in 1938 where he stayed until 1945
• Edelweiss Pirates


  • Formed in the late 1930s
  • Mainly boys who copied American style of clothing
  • Sang anti-Nazi songs
  • Went on hikes and camping expeditions to get away from Nazi restrictions
  • Taunted the Hitler Youth
  • Had 2000 members by 1939
• Swing Youth

  • Another group of young people similar to the Edelweiss Pirates
  • Chose not to conform to Nazi ideas
  • Liked wearing American clothes, listening to American music and watching American films
  • Gathered to drink alcohol, smoke and dance
  • Organised illegal dances attended by thousands
  • Largely made up of children from wealthy families
• Youth opposition up to 1939 was limited to writing anti-Nazi graffiti, telling anti-Nazi jokes, attacking the Hitler Youth, listening to banned music, and wearing American style clothing
• The motives of the youth opposition groups were cultural rather than political and their numbers were limited