Opposition to the Nazis

‘It was easier to just go along with the Nazis – there was no point trying to fight them’

Lesson starter:

Do you agree with the above statement? Write down your ideas.

We are learning to…• IdentifyIdentify the ways in which ordinary

Germans opposed the Nazis• Examine the reasons why more

Germans didn’t oppose the Nazis• Analyse the extent to which the

churches cooperated with the Nazis

I can…• Complete an N5 question Complete an N5 question using using

my learned knowledge from this my learned knowledge from this sectionsection

Vocabulary

ResistanceA person or group fighting against

forced laws or rule

How could a single person or small group resist the Nazis?

• THINK about your ideas and write them down (2minutes)

• PAIR with a partner and discuss your answers (2 minutes)

• SHARE answers with the rest of the class

On one hand…On one hand…• Many people claimed

they didn’t know the extent of the Nazis regime

• Others were too scared to resist due to the fear of the police state

• There were also some people who liked living under a Nazi government…

Some Positives of Nazi Rule1. Due to forcing ‘undesirables’ out of jobs,

unemployment fell dramatically (0% by 1939)

2. The German economy seemed to be doing very well under the Nazis, a far cry from the 1920s

3. Hitler went against the Treaty of Versailles: The army was expanded and conscription reintroduced, so people felt safer

4. Free Holiday camps and other rewards were introduced in the ‘strength through joy’ programme

5. Large scale building projects took place, such as the autobahn or motorway

“First they came for the Communists…”

“First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists, but I was neither, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me.”

On the other hand…On the other hand…

• There were many groups who tried to oppose the Nazis;

• Edelweiss Pirates• White Rose• Swing Kids(mainly young people, mainly small

scale resistance)

Edelweiss Pirates• Age 14-18• Formed gangs as

they refused to join Hitler Youth

• Attacked Hitler Youth camps

• Sheltered army deserters and concentration camp prisoners

The White RoseThe White Rose

• Formed by Students at the University of Munich

• Distributed leaflets speaking out against the Nazi regime

• Anti-Nazi graffiti• They believed the young

people could overthrow Hitler

• Leaders: Leaders: Hans and Sophie Scholl

The Swing KidsThe Swing Kids

• Mainly male teenagers• Listened to ‘un-German’

swing music, blues or jazz• They also wore the latest

American or British fashions they accepted Jewish children into their groups

Individual resistance

The Frank Family

Oskar Schindler

Sobibor concentration camp

The The ChurchesChurches

Background…Background…

• In the 1930s nearly all Germans were religious (33% Catholic, 66% Christian)

• Hitler wasn’t a great fan of religion but knew he would face major problems if he tried to control religion

• Many people have criticised the churches for cooperating with the Nazis…

German Christian Church (protestant church)

• The Nazi party joined all the protestant churches together in the new German Christian ChurchGerman Christian Church

• A Reich Bishop was appointed by the Nazis

• Mein Kampf was their bible• The Swastika replaced the

cross• In 1933 all Christian youth

organisations were merged into the Hitler Youth

Protestant Church• Any pastors or

clergy who spoke out against the Nazis were arrested and send to camps

• Martin Niemöller

• ‘First they came…’

The Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church• On 8 July 1933 The

Catholic Church and Hitler signed an agreement or agreement or concordat concordat that neither side would criticise the other

• Issues over things like ‘euthanasia’

• Eventually the Nazis broke their side of the agreement

• Catholic press was censored, Catholic schools shut down Pope Pius XII

By 1937 the Pope issued a message that spoke

out against Hitler calling him a ‘mad prophet’ that was leading Germany to

disaster

Jehovah’s Witnesses

• Persecuted by The Nazi regime

• They were Pacifists – would not join the army

• They also refused to idolise Hitler

• 5000 died in camps

Task: N5 How Fully Task: N5 How Fully QuestionQuestion

Source A is from a history textbook, Nazi Rule 1933-45

The Nazis were able to stay in power for twelve years due to a combination of factors. They created a police state where the SS. Gestapo and informers created an atmosphere of fear and terror. They controlled the churches to the extent that many clergy were silenced into cooperation. Most opposition groups like the White Rose were small scale and youth led. Many historians have studied whether people liked living in Nazi Germany or whether people were terrified into cooperation. It is open to interpretation.

1. Assess how fully Source A describes the reasons for the Nazis staying in power in Germany after 1933. 6marks