History : Opposition Flashcards
(35 cards)
What are the main opposition groups to the Nazis?
Youth, Student, Political, Churches, and Conservative Elites.
What was the collective name for the alternative youth groups opposing the Nazis?
Edelweiss Pirates.
What did the Edelweiss Pirates refuse to do?
They refused to conform to the Nazi model of youth organizations.
How did youth groups initially show their opposition to the Nazis?
By not becoming involved in Nazi organizations and perpetrating minor acts of vandalism and sabotage.
What law made participation in the Hitler Youth compulsory?
The Hitler Youth Law, enacted in March 1939.
What actions did the Nazis take against youth groups?
They banned other youth groups in 1936 and pursued youth opposition through the Gestapo and SS.
What was the Swing Youth movement?
A youth movement dedicated to American Swing music, which the Nazis deemed un-German and decadent.
What did the Nazis do in response to the Swing Youth?
They banned Swing Music and used the Hitler Youth and SA to attack these young people.
How did the Nazis view Swing Music and Jazz?
The Nazis viewed Swing Music and Jazz as dangerous and different, threatening the People’s Community they aimed to build.
Who were notable figures opposing the Nazi regime from universities?
Notable figures included Professor Kurt Huber and Hans & Sophie Scholl of The White Rose, based in Munich University.
What happened to Kurt Huber and Hans & Sophie Scholl?
They were arrested and executed by the Gestapo.
Which political group opposed the Nazis and faced persecution?
The SPD (Social Democrats) opposed the Nazis, with many members arrested and placed in concentration camps.
What was the fate of the Communists under the Nazi regime?
The Communists were constantly attacked by the Gestapo and SS, but they re-emerged as the Red Orchestra.
What was the outcome for the Red Orchestra?
They were eventually all caught and tortured.
How did Christian Churches respond to the Nazi regime?
The Christian Churches offered opposition throughout the period 1933-39, with clergy making statements against the regime.
Were the Christian Churches fully coordinated in their opposition?
No, the Christian Churches were never fully coordinated, a process referred to as Gleichschaltung.
What happened to many clergy opposing the Nazis?
Many clergy were arrested and sent to concentration camps, including Bonhoffer and Neimoller.
Who else showed resistance against the Nazis?
The conservative political elites and military elites also showed resistance against the Nazis.
What were the main Christian religions in Germany during the Nazi era?
The majority of the German population were adherents to either Catholicism or Protestantism.
The largest Protestant denomination was the Lutheran congregation.
Where was the Catholic Church particularly strong in Germany?
The Catholic Church was very strong in southern Germany, especially in Bavaria.
It was one united Church headed by the Pope in Rome.
What was the relationship between Protestant Churches and the Catholic Church?
Protestant Churches had no single head, unlike the Catholic Church.
Why did many Churches initially support the Nazis?
Many Protestant Churches and the Catholic Church supported the Nazis at first because they promoted a message of family values.
The Catholic Church signed the Concordat in 1933, agreeing that the Nazis would leave it alone as long as it stayed out of politics.
What perception did Weimar Germany have that influenced Church support for the Nazis?
Weimar Germany seemed like an immoral country, and the Nazis appeared to represent old-fashioned family values.
What stance did Hitler take regarding the Churches?
Hitler expressed support for the Churches in his speeches.
