Other Resistance
Whilst most Germans did not engage in active opposition to
Nazism – whether due to fear or support for the regime – some did
take action.
In addition to some in the Army and Churches, this included
people in youth groups, political opponents, lawyers/judges and
workers too.
One of the most prominent anti-Nazi youth groups was the
White Rose group.
Students from Munich University – including brother and sister Hans and Sophie
Scholl – distributed anti-Nazi leaflets and supported non-
violent resistance. The Scholls were killed in 1943.
The Edelweiss Pirates were a youth group that refused to join the Hitler Youth or the
army. They also attacked Nazi officials and sheltered
deserters from the army.
In 1944, many leaders of these groups – including 16 year old Barthel Schink – were hanged after a Gestapo chief was killed.
The Red Orchestra – led by Anton Saelfhow – gave
information to the USSR and engaged in activity such as
vandalism and strikes.
The Swing Kids were a group of middle class young people who opposed the regime by
listening to banned American music such as jazz.
All non-Nazi political parties were banned in Germany after July 1933. However some still
worked against Hitler.
The SPD set up a group in exile – called SOPADE – and this was based in Prague. They tried to organise underground groups
in Germany, involved in activities such as distributing
leaflets and propaganda.
The Communist Party (KPD) also continued to work against Nazi rule. This included acts of sabotage or espionage (giving information to the USSR). They
also distributed various anti-Nazi materials.
Most members were ultimately arrested and either killed or
sent to concentration camps.
Most members of the German working class had not voted for
the Nazis.
Industrial workers opposed Nazism in different ways,
sometimes linked to the KPD. They engaged in strikes and go-
slows in armament factories. They also engaged in protests
over food prices in 1935.
Strikes which were economic in demand were often tolerated
by the regime, however this was less true after 1939 and
the outbreak of war.
Other workers – including the Mannheim Group - distributed anti-Nazi
newspapers. The Anti-Fascist Workers’ Group of Central
Germany engaged in sabotage.
One of the most famous examples of resistance was from August Landmesser.
He had been a Nazi but left after marrying a Jew. Landmesser famously refused to give the
Nazi salute at a workplace rally in 1936. He was eventually
arrested and died whilst working in a penal battalion in
World War Two.
Worker resistance to the Nazis was unorganised. There were
sporadic strikes across Germany, but no central
coordination.
The reasons for rebellion varied. Some workers were
entirely opposed to the regime, others were simply protesting
about their workplace or economic problems.
Lawyers in Germany belonged to the German Lawyers Front.
Judges were also influenced.
Some judges rebelled by refusing to give verdicts that the courts wanted. However they were usually removed
from office, or simply bypassed with the setting up of the
People’s Court.
One famous anti-Nazi lawyer was Hans Litten, who
represented Nazi opponents at various trials. Litten even
forced Hitler to give testify (in relation to SA members
stabbing a man).
Hitler hated Litten. The lawyer was sent to a concentration camp in 1933, and died at
Dachau in 1938.
Historians’ views
• Frank McDonough: There are numerous examples of resistance from industrial workers, including absenteeism from work, sabotage of machinery and refusal to join the army.
• Frank Hoffer (a left-wing writer): German workers ensured that although trade unions were banned, the German Labour Front was never a genuine workers’ organisation in Germany.
• Tim Mason: Class conflict re-emerged in Germany after 1936, and many workers were involved in economic resistance and supported general opposition too.