GERMANY
- Communist and Social Democrat parties
- Youth groups
- The churches
- The army
Each of these groups used different methods of opposition.
Communist and Social Democrat parties
After the parties were banned, many of the leaders went abroad but some stayed in Germany and continued to oppose Hitler by:
- Printing newspapers and pamphlets
- Putting up posters and slogans
- Trying to organise strikes
Many members of these organisations were arrested and punished.
Youth groups
The Hitler Youth was the only youth organisation allowed by the Nazis, but other groups politically opposed to Hitler continued to exist. These included:
- The White Rose group of students at Munich University, who printed pamphlets about Nazi crimes. They were arrested and executed.
- The Edelweiss Pirates, who at the end of the war helped army deserters and refugees and stole armaments - one group attacked the Gestapo but 12 of the leaders were publicly hanged.
- The Swing movement, who met to dance and listen to forbidden jazz music, and welcomed Jews to their social clubs.
The churches
The SS dealt with dissident churchmen very harshly; many who opposed the Nazis, both Catholic and Protestant, were imprisoned in concentration camps. Prominent dissident churchmen included:
- The Bishop of Munster, who criticised the Nazis in a sermon and tried to encourage people to stand against them.
- Pastor Niem��r, who preached against the Nazis.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who organised resistance and even contacted the Allies to discuss surrender. Bonhoeffer was hanged.
The army
- In 1938 a group of army officers prepared to take power from Hitler if his action against Czechoslovakia failed - it didn’t.
- In 1944 a plot to kill Hitler with a bomb failed, and the conspirators were executed.
A range of tactics was used by the Nazi party, sometimes involving the use of force, or propaganda.
Here are two examples of the use of force:
- Anyone within the Nazi party who was not thought to be totally loyal was eliminated.
- People who opposed the Nazis were often physically attacked.
Here are three examples of the use of propaganda:
- Children were expected to join Nazi youth organisations.
- The media was controlled by Josef Goebbels.
- Education was used to reinforce ideas about war and racial struggle.
In addition, organisations which could challenge Hitler’s control were taken over or destroyed. Force was often used to close down other organisations if they could not be 'peacefully' taken over.
