Lack of Opposition
Most people did not oppose the Nazis because of Terror and propaganda and also because many thought they were doing a good job, for example by apparently getting rid of unemployment.
Opposition Groups
Youth: The Edelweiss Pirates attacked Hitler Youth Groups. The White Rose Group spread leaflets criticising the war and the murder of the Jews (their leaders were executed). Swing Youth rebelled by listening to jazz and having long hair.
Church: Cardinal Galen of the Catholic Church openly criticised the Nazi's policy of 'euthanasia' - killing disabled people. Martin Niemoller was a Protestant pastor (vicar) who preached against the Nazis and set up an illegal Confessional Church.
Army: In 1944 several army officers plotted to kill Hitler. This was known as the Stauffenberg Plot or July Bomb Plot. It failed as the bomb was accidentally moved. Stauffenberg and 5000 others were executed.
Lack of Opposition
Most people did not oppose the Nazis because of Terror and propaganda and also because many thought they were doing a good job, for example by apparently getting rid of unemployment.
Youth Opposition Groups
The Edelweiss Pirates were mostly working-class teenagers who avoided joining the Hitler Youth and attacked Hitler Youth Groups. They were never a serious threat to the Nazis but did murder a Gestapo official in Cologne. 13 members were then executed.
The White Rose Group were students who secretly printed leaflets criticising the war and the murder of the Jews. Their leaders, Hans and Sophie Scholl, were caught in 1943 and were executed.
Swing Youth were groups of mainly middle-class youths who rebelled by listening to jazz and having long hair. It was more of a counter-culture than active opposition.
Opposition from Churches
Cardinal Galen of the Catholic Church openly criticised the Nazi's T4 programme of 'euthanasia' (killing disabled people). Martin Niemoller was a Protestant pastor (vicar) who preached against the Nazis and set up an illegal Confessional Church with Dietrich Bonhöffer. Niemoller was sent to a concentration camp but survived. Bonhöffer was executed.
Opposition from the Army
In 1944 several army officers plotted to kill Hitler. They were angered by the terrible losses in the war, especially in Russia. The plot was known as the Stauffenberg Plot or July Bomb Plot. It failed as the bomb was accidentally moved. Stauffenberg and 5000 others were executed.
Lack of Opposition
Most people did not oppose the Nazis because of Terror and propaganda and also because many thought they were doing a good job, for example by apparently getting rid of unemployment.
Youth Opposition Groups
The Edelweiss Pirates were mostly working-class teenagers who avoided joining the Hitler Youth and attacked Hitler Youth Groups. They were never a serious threat to the Nazis but did murder a Gestapo official in Cologne. 13 members were then executed.
The White Rose Group were students who secretly printed leaflets criticising the war and the murder of the Jews. Their leaders, Hans and Sophie Scholl, were caught in 1943 and were executed.
Swing Youth were groups of mainly middle-class youths who rebelled by listening to jazz and having long hair. It was more of a counter-culture than active opposition.
Opposition from Churches
Cardinal Galen of the Catholic Church openly criticised the Nazi's T4 programme of 'euthanasia' (killing disabled people). Martin Niemoller was a Protestant pastor (vicar) who preached against the Nazis and set up an illegal Confessional Church with Dietrich Bonhöffer. Niemoller was sent to a concentration camp but survived. Bonhöffer was executed.
Opposition from the Army
In 1944 several army officers plotted to kill Hitler. They were angered by the terrible losses in the war, especially in Russia. The plot was known as the Stauffenberg Plot or July Bomb Plot. It failed as the bomb was accidentally moved. Stauffenberg and 5000 others were executed.
