Opposition to the Nazi Regime | History for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Did More People Support Than Oppose the Nazis? - Summary

• From 1933 to 1945, the Nazi Party enjoyed substantial support and conformity from the German populace. By controlling information distribution, the Nazis effectively communicated their ideology. The police were used to instill fear and suppress dissent, while Nazi judges ensured court trials had predetermined outcomes. Political opponents were frequently sent to concentration camps.
• Despite the dangers, resistance emerged from all sectors of society, including within Hitler’s armed forces. Most opposition was private, as openly challenging the Nazi regime was extremely perilous.
• Both Catholic and Protestant church members resisted Nazi attempts to dominate Christianity. Many pastors and priests were sent to concentration camps for speaking out. A faction of the German Protestant community established the Confessing Church in defiance of Nazi interference in religious matters.
• Although most young Germans were involved in groups like the Hitler Youth and the League of German Maidens, some resented the strictness and militaristic focus. Groups such as the Swing Youth, Edelweiss Pirates, and the White Rose demonstrated public, physical, and cultural resistance to the Nazi regime.
• The year 1943 was a pivotal point as Germany's poor performance in the Second World War led to increased opposition from various segments of society.

Was There Active Opposition to the Nazis?

• Even before the Enabling Act removed political opposition, the Nazi Party was popular.
  • Hitler won 36% of the votes in the second 1932 presidential election.
  • The Nazi Party won 38% of the votes in the July 1932 election.
• There was a high level of conformity towards Hitler and the Nazi regime after 1933:
  • Four million people joined the Nazi Party from 1933 to 1939.
  • Hitler's policies reduced unemployment.
  • Youth groups embraced Nazi ideology.
  • The Nazis incentivized marriage and childbirth.
  • Propaganda fostered a cult of personality around Hitler.
  • Censorship stifled criticism and emphasized success.
• Hitler began violating the Treaty of Versailles.
  • Millions enlisted in the German Wehrmacht post-1935.
  • Germany remilitarized the Rhineland in 1935.
  • The Saar coalfields were returned in 1935.
• Despite widespread support, there were groups that opposed the Nazi regime:

Groups Who Opposed the Nazi Regime

Why was Most Opposition Private?

Opposition During the Second World War

• Most Germans publicly supported the Second World War because:
  • They believed that Germany was right to invade Poland in 1939
  • The Nazis controlled information about the war
  • The Nazis harshly punished any sign of dissent
• After the failure of Operation Barbarossa, many Germans turned against the Nazi Party

Opposition Within the Army

Admiral Canaris

Youth Opposition