Wartime Opposition to the Nazis

Wartime Opposition to the Nazis

1. July Bomb Plot 1944

   • Also called Stauffenberg Plot or Operation Valkyrie
   • Led by Colonel Von Stauffenberg
   • Aim: To kill Hitler and use the reserve army to remove the SS and Gestapo
   • Events: 20th July Stauffenberg took a suitcase of explosives into a strategy meeting with Hitler. The bomb did not kill Hitler and the plotters were all arrested and executed.
   • Reasons for failure: Table leg took the impact, moved from a bunker to an open room, explosives not strong enough

2. White Rose Group

   • Led by Hans and Sophie Scholl
   • Events: They were students who handed out leaflets at Munich University. They were caught by a caretaker and executed
   • Reason: Hans Scholl had witnessed the treatment of Jews whilst fighting on the Eastern Front

3. Passive Resistance

   • Saying 'Good Morning' instead of 'Heil Hitler'
   • Telling Anti-Nazi Jokes
   • Reading banned literature
   • Listening to the BBC
   • Hiding Jews

4. Religious Opposition

   • Cardinal Galen
     • Catholic Priest delivered anti-Nazi sermons. 3 other Priests were arrested. Galen survived because he was an important person in the Church
   • Dietrich Bonhoeffer
     • Protestant Pastor. Joined the Abwehr as a spy. Sent secret messages that helped Jews escape. Murdered by the SS