Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2016
Last exams 2025
Support & Opposition to the Nazi Party (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Joel Davis
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Did More People Support Than Oppose the Nazis? - Summary
From 1933-39, the Nazi Party received a high level of support and conformity from the German people.
Control over the distribution of information enabled the Nazis to communicate their beliefs and ideas to society. The police forces were used as tools to spread fear and censor opposition, enhanced by the presence of Nazi judges in court trials and concentration camps, where opponents were sent.
Nevertheless, there were still some groups in society who refused to embrace the beliefs and ideas of the Nazi Party.
Both the Catholic and Protestant churches had members who opposed Nazi attempts to control Christianity. Many pastors and priests were sent to concentration camps for speaking out against the Nazi Party. Also, the Confessing Church was set up in opposition to Nazi interference in the Church.
While most of Germany’s young adults attended groups such as the Hitler Youth and League of German Maidens, some became dispirited by the strictness and focus on military activities. The Swing Youth Edelweiss Pirates demonstrated more physical and public resistance by some youth. On the other hand, the Swing Youth posed more of a cultural resistance to the Nazi regime.
Did People Support the Nazi Party?
Support
Even before the Enabling Act removed political opposition, the Nazi Party were popular:
Hitler won 36% of votes in the second 1932 presidential election
The Nazi Party won 38% of votes in the July 1932 general election
There was a high-level of conformity towards Hitler and the Nazi regime after 1933:
Four million people joined the Nazi Party, 1933-39
Unemployment was reduced and changes to working conditions introduced
Young people joined youth groups and embraced Nazi ideology
Women were rewarded for getting married and having children
Propaganda created a cult of personality about Hitler
Censorship banned criticism and only promoted success
The Treaty of Versailles was also being dismantled:
Millions of soldiers joined the German Wehrmacht after 1935
Germany remilitiarised the Rhineland in 1935
The Saar coalfields were returned in 1935
Opposition
There were still groups who opposed the Nazi regime:
Groups Who Opposed the Nazi Regime
Type of opposition | Description |
|---|---|
Trade unions | Workers were encouraged to stay off work sick or damage factory machinery |
Political groups | The Social Democrats campaigned against the Nazis from abroad |
The young | Groups like the Edelweiss Pirates and Swing Youth disliked the Nazi-run youth groups |
The army | Officers like General Ludwig Beck secretly communicated with the British. |
The Churches | Many religious individuals like Martin Niemöller opposed Nazi interference in the churches |
Opposition from the Church
Hitler and the Nazis tried to control the Christian Churches in Germany:
After the Concordat failed, the Nazis targeted Catholic priests and shut down Catholic schools
The Reich Church was created to ‘Nazify’ the Protestant Church
The German Faith Movement aimed to turn Nazism into a religion
However, there was still opposition within the two main Christian churches:
Catholic opposition
Around 400 priests were sent to Dachau Concentration Camp for speaking out
Catholic services still continued, but people were scared to oppose the Nazis
The Pope’s ‘With Burning Anxiety’ statement was read out in churches
Hitler ordered crucifixes to be removed from Catholic churches, which was met with fierce opposition:
Of the 43 crucifixes removed from schools in the Mühldorf district in Bavaria, 42 were returned by the police
The 1939 census of Germany showed that two million people still considered themselves to be Catholic
Some individuals, including Cardinal Galen, actively resisted the Nazis:
Protestant opposition
The Pastors' Emergency League (PEL) was the main source of opposition from Protestants:
Formed by Pastor Martin Niemöller
They opposed the formation of the Reich Church
They believed that Jewish people should be able to become Christians
The PEL created the Confessional Church in 1934:
Around 6,000 pastors joined, and only 2,000 pastors were part of the Reich Church
Around 800 pastors were sent to concentration camps for opposing the Nazis
The 1939 census of Germany showed that 43 million people still considered themselves to be Protestant:
Opposition from the Youth
After Hitler became Chancellor in 1933, all young people were expected to attend one of the Nazi-run youth groups
However, a number of young people opposed these and ran their own groups:
The Edelweiss Pirates
Used the symbol of the edelweiss flower
Had different names depending on where they came from:
Members in Essen were called ‘Travelling Dudes’
Members in Cologne were called ‘Navajos’
Resented the military discipline of the Hitler Youth
Wanted a sense of freedom similar to the youth in Britain and the USA
By 1939, there were only 2,000 Edelweiss Pirates compared to eight million Hitler Youth
The Swing Youth
They admired American culture, especially music:
Played music from their record players
Gathered together to smoke and drink alcohol
Organised illegal dances of up to 6,000 members:
The 'jitterbug' was a favourite dance
Heinrich Himmler disliked the Swing Youth’s focus on jazz music because it was associated with Black people
They presented more cultural opposition rather than a genuine threat to the Nazi regime
Worked Example
Study Interpretations 1 and 2. They give different views about the extent of support for the Nazi regime in the years 1933–39
What is the main difference between these views?
Explain your answer, using details from both interpretations
4 marks
Interpretation 1: From Nazi Germany: confronting the myths by C Epstein, published in 2015.
During the Third Reich, many Germans did not conform with the Nazi regime. This was shown by the fact that some people left the Nazi Party and others refused to give the 'Heil Hitler' greeting and salute. Other people protested against Nazi control of schools and churches. Some Germans told jokes about the Führer, while others listened to foreign radio stations or danced to American swing music. Widespread complaining among the German people showed that they did not always fully support the Nazi regime. |
Interpretation 2: From Backing Hitler: Consent and Coercion in Nazi Germany by R Gellately, published in 2001
From 1933 onwards, the German people clearly conformed with the Nazi regime and became devoted to Hitler. Hundred of thousands of Germans from different classes joined the Nazi Party. In fact. so many people tried to join in 1933 that the Party struggled to cope with the numbers. In the years 1933-39, the Nazi Party gained four million new members. A flood of people also joined other Nazi organisations. The increase in support for the Nazis suggests that the majority of the German people found it easy to support the Nazi dictatorship. |
Answers:
A main difference is that Interpretation 1 suggests many German people did not fully support the Nazi regime (1). This is shown by the quote, “people protested against Nazi control of schools and churches” (1).
On the other hand, Interpretation 2 presents the dedication of the German people to Hitler and the Nazi regime (1). This is shown by the quote, “Hundreds of thousands of Germans from different classes joined the Nazi Party.” (1)
This answer would receive full marks because it clearly states the main difference by comparing the two interpretations. It also used evidence from each interpretation.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Both interpretations will discuss the same topic, but will always have a contrasting view. By identifying the main argument in each interpretation, you will be able to state the main difference between them. Make sure you use evidence from each interpretation.
Worked Example
Suggest one reason why Interpretations 1 and 2 give different views about the extent of support for the Nazi regime in the years 1933–39
You may use Sources B and C to help explain your answer
(4 marks)
Source B:
Source C: A picture of Kroll Opera House in Berlin in 1935. The attendees are Nazi saluting during the national anthem
Answers:
The interpretations differ because they have focused on different areas that demonstrate support for the Nazi regime.
The author for Interpretation 1 has placed emphasis on the social aspects of support given to the Nazi Party (1). This is shown in the quote, “others refused to give the ‘Heil Hitler’ greeting and salute” (1).
On the other hand, the author for Interpretation 2 has chosen to focus on political membership of the party and other organisations to decide how much support there was for the Nazi regime in the years 1933-39 (1). This is shown by, “A flood of people also joined other Nazi organisations”. (1)
This answer would receive full marks because it clearly identifies why the interpretations give different views. The student has identified that the authors have chosen different focuses to evaluate the level of support for the Nazi regime from 1933-39.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Question 3(d) is asking you why Interpretations 1 and 2 have different views.
If you are finding this question difficult to answer, remember that you can use Sources B and C to help you explain your answer.
Historians make interpretations and arguments based on the sources available to them. If historians use different sources, they could come to different conclusions.
Study both Interpretations and both Sources. Then, compare which Source agrees with which Interpretation.
In the question above, it is clear that Interpretation 1 agrees with Source B about the limited support for the Nazi regime. Similarly, Interpretation 2 clearly agrees with Source C about the high level of support.
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