Opposition to the Nazi Regime in WW2

Created by: JMitch
Created on: 30-05-13 13:47

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Opposition to the Nazi Regime 1939-45
- Army
  - Military generally supportive especially at the beginning of the war when victories made Hitler look like a military genius
  - Reluctant to oppose Hitler because of their oath to him
  - Assassination attempt failed in when a bomb was placed on an aircraft
  - By 1943 war had changed military opinion of Hitler - Loss of Stalingrad and horrors of the east persuaded some to oppose Hitler
  - July 1944 Bomb Plot
    - Stauffenberg was a leading conspirator and had a timed bomb device plot to Kill Hitler
      - Planned to place Beck as President and Goerdler as Chancellor andseek peace with the Allies
    - D-Day put urgency into the plans - wanted to show Allies not all Germans had been tainted by Nazism
    - Bomb exploded but was too far from Hitler who was protected by a large oak table
      - Goebbels announced Hitler's survival paralysing the plot
        Hundereds executed for being related to the plot
        
        Army was emasculated as a result and the Hitler salute became compulsary
        
        Himmler became commander in chief of the army
- Conservatives
  - Goerdler Circle
    - Goerdler, Beck et al. opposed antisemitism and wanted diplomatic links with the Allies
    - Morality based opposition
    - Wanted an aristocratic Germany after the War because people couldn't be trusted as they voted the Nazi's
    - Involved in the Bomb Plot - Goerdler was executed as a result
  - Kriesau Circle
    - Included Moltke, intellects and traditionalists
    - Moltke wanted a European Union after the War to keep peace
    - Believed in restoration of rights and democracy
    - Kriesau discovered and leaders executed
- Youth
  - Edelweiss group an alternative to Hitler Youth and beat up members of the Youth
  - White Rose Group - led by Hans + Sophie Scholl
    - Student movement in Munich - led anti Nazi Protests in 1942 - Executed in February '43
  - Youth Disaffected with absence or loss of Fathers - caused drinking/ smoking/ promiscuity
- Church
  - Crucifix Crisis in Bavaria
    - Gaulieter of Bavaria banned Crucifixes in School - This faced serious petition from parents
      - This was more a defense of the Church's independence rather than against the regime
  - Bishop Van Galen
    - Supported destruction of Bolshevism but spoke out against T4 program and closure of monasteries
      - Hitler called the T4 Program off
    - Opposition based partly on morality but mainly to retain culture - not against Nazism
- Left Wing
  - SPD and KPD forced underground and only produced leaflets calling for action rather than causing opposition
  - Bavaria had 89 factory cells of resistance in 1941 alone
  - Gestapo infiltrated most left wing opposition
  - Problem of the left had been dealt with mainly before the war

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Opposition to the Nazi Regime in WW2

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