Opposition and control in Nazi Germany Flashcards
(23 cards)
Evidence of active resistance from conservative elites in NG
Kreisau Circle- elites opposing Hitler and planning on new type of gov post- war.
1944 Stauffenberg bomb plot led to arrests and executions of 5000 supporters of the resistance.
Evidence of active resistance from the left in NG
Red Orchestra- spy group who successfully permeated Nazi government and military, transmitting vital info back to Moscow until 1942, when they were discovered and killed.
Evidence of passive resistance from students in NG
White Rose Group- Hans and Sophie Scholl- distributed anti-nazi leaflets around Munich in 1942-3; were found, tortured and executed.
Evidence of dissent from youth groups in NG
Swing youth protested by non-conformity by enjoying American- particularly African American- culture.
Edelweiss Pirates mainly passive- alt to the Hitler youth. But active in some groups- 12 hung for killing a Gestapo officer 1944.
Evidence of dissent from Christians in NG
Bishop Galen spoke out against euthanasia.
Pastor Niemoller spoke out against oppression- poem ‘First They Came’- sent to a concentration camp.
Key differences/ similarities in opposition WG and NG
-Aims: overthrow/ undermine government.
-Methods- WG more active, NG more passive in general.
-Success: Neither overthrew, but WG more successful in threatening.
3 key methods pf control by Nazis
-Favourable policies
-Propaganda
-Terror state
Evidence of Hitler’s favourable policies: workers schemes
-KDF- subsidised holidays, loans, medical care, extra food.
-Unemployment fell- 8 million to 1.5.
Evidence of Hitler’s favourable policies: farmers
-Farmers benefitted- 41% farmers’ wage increase.
Evidence of Hitler’s favourable policies: Small businesses
-Small businesses able to buy Jewish businesses cheaply due to Aryanisation.
Evidence against Hitler’s favourable policies: unions.
-Trade Unions abolished and replaced by DAF.
Evidence against Hitler’s favourable policies: Workers’ living standards falling
More workers than ever living off Rye bread and potatoes.
Evidence against Hitler’s favourable policies: tax
Middle classes resented the higher taxes, compulsory donations.
How was Hitler able to appeal to the masses?
Rallies- particularly Nuremberg rallies- sold a Hitler myth.
Hitler’s use of radio
1933, Goebbels established the Reich Radio company and distributed the radio ‘the people’s receiver’- by 1939 70% of German homes had a radio; effective propaganda.
Installation of loudspeakers.
Hitler’s censorship of news: Law banning publications
1933 Decree for the Protection of the People and the State allowed NSDAP to ban publications.
Hitler’s censorship of news: How many Nazi newspapers were there by the end of 1933?
By end of 1933, there were 86 Nazi newspapers with a readership of 3 million.
What was criminalised in 1939 in NG?
Listening to foreign radio stations.
How did Hitler censor left-wing parties?
Gestapo had infiltrated most of the communist party by 1935 and arrested most of its members.
Who led the SS and what did they do?
Himmler, ran the concentration camp system, gathering information (the SD), numbered 250,000 by 1939
Who led the Gestapo, what did it do and who facilitated it?
Goering, secret policing to arrest oppositions of the regime, relied on informers.
Reputation for brutality.
How many supporters of left-wing parties were detained under the Nazis?
150,000-200,000
Examples of Nazi intimidation
-Night of the Long Knives 1934
-Concentration camps opened from 1933- held prisoners indefinitely without trial.
