Resistance from the Youth and Elites Flashcards
(21 cards)
What was the Swing/Jazz Youth?
A youth movement formed in 1939 made up of middle/upper class children who loved American and English culture like jazz, opposing Nazi culture.
They refused to join youth organizations like the Hitler Youth and promoted freedom and non-conformity.
What were the main characteristics of the Swing/Jazz Youth’s resistance?
They arranged private clubs to dance to English music like jazz and swing, wore English style clothes, and used largely non-violent methods.
Boys wore union jack pins, and girls wore short skirts with their hair down.
What was the Nazi response to the Swing/Jazz Youth?
On 18th August 1941, 300 swing youth were arrested in a brutal police operation, with leaders sent to concentration camps.
Many youth had their hair cut and were sent back to school under strict supervision.
What was the threat level posed by the Swing/Jazz Youth to the Nazis?
The threat level was relatively low as they used non-violent methods and were largely non-political.
They did not pose a physical threat to Nazi political ideology.
What were the Edelweiss Pirates?
A youth group founded in the late 1930s dedicated to resisting Nazi rule, primarily comprising members aged 14-17.
They opposed the Hitler Youth’s indoctrination and segregation.
What actions did the Edelweiss Pirates take against the Nazis?
They attacked Hitler Youth groups, collected and spread allied propaganda leaflets, and helped army deserters.
Their activities increased during WW2.
What was the Nazi response to the Edelweiss Pirates?
Initially slight, but as the Pirates became more extreme, punishments increased, including head shavings and concentration camps.
In November 1944, 13 members were hanged, including six Pirates.
What was the threat level posed by the Edelweiss Pirates?
The threat level was higher than most youth groups due to their violent actions and support for allies and deserters.
They posed a significant threat to Nazi authority.
What was the White Rose Movement?
A movement established by a professor and five students at the University of Munich, including key members Alexander Schmorell, Hans Scholl, and Sophie Scholl.
They were motivated by religious and moral reasons.
What were the main activities of the White Rose Movement?
They wrote and distributed leaflets about Nazi atrocities and graffiti’d walls in Munich.
Their final leaflet was released in 1943 after the German defeat at Stalingrad.
What was the Nazi response to the White Rose Movement?
The Scholls were caught distributing leaflets and stood trial, resulting in their execution on the same day.
They were found guilty of treason.
What was the threat level posed by the White Rose Movement?
The threat level was relatively low as they did not use violence and were confined to Munich.
They posed no physical threat to the Nazi regime.
What was the Oster Conspiracy?
A plan devised by General Hans Oster to overthrow Hitler if Germany went to war with Czechoslovakia over the Sudetenland.
Who were the key members involved in the Oster Conspiracy?
Key members included:
* Hans Oster
* Major Helmuth Groscurth
* Generaloberst Ludwig Beck
* General Wilhelm Adam
* Generaloberst Walther von Brauchitsch
* Generaloberst Franz Halder
* Admiral Wilhelm Canaris
* Generalleutnant Erwin von Witzleben
Why did the Oster Conspiracy break down?
It broke down after Neville Chamberlain gave up the Sudetenland, leading to Hitler being perceived positively by the German people.
What does the Oster Conspiracy suggest about Hitler’s position in 1938?
It suggests that Hitler had many people ready to overthrow him and the Wehrmacht was not entirely loyal, indicating he was not completely safe.
What was the main political resistance against Hitler?
The main political resistance came from the SPD and KPD, but both were largely ineffective.
The KPD was severely weakened by 1933, and the SPD was focused on survival.
What type of resistance did workers show against the Nazis?
Workers primarily resisted through strikes and sabotage, which disrupted Hitler’s war preparations.
However, Nazi repression made worker resistance weaker over time.
What was the nature of religious resistance against the Nazis?
Resistance came from both Protestant and Catholic churches, but it was largely ineffective.
The Protestants were divided, while the Catholics remained largely defensive.
What was the impact of youth groups on Nazi resistance?
Some youth groups, like the Edelweiss Pirates, were effective, but most were non-violent and easily suppressed by the Gestapo.
What characterized the resistance from elites against the Nazis?
Many elites supported Nazi rule, with limited resistance mainly focused on foreign policy concerns, as seen in the Oster Conspiracy.
