Church Opposition & Social Conformity

Conformity to Nazi Ideals

Although Nazi Germany was a police state, most Germans did genuinely support the Nazis. There was some opposition, but it was weak because they were divided and did not cooperate with each other.

Reversing the Treaty of Versailles

It is difficult to put a number on how many Germans supported the Nazis. But it is clear that the Nazis were popular.
The Nazis made Germany stable and prosperous (successful) when democracy could not.
The Nazis tore down the hated Treaty of Versailles and gave Germany international power.

Propaganda

With the amount of propaganda (information designed to influence people) in Germany, many bought into the Nazi vision.

Attack minorities

The Nazis only attacked a small part of the German population, so many people could ignore it in everyday life.

Who supported the Nazis in the early 1930s?

Supporting Hitler and the Nazi party in 1932 was different from supporting them in 1943. The 2 reasons for this work in different directions:
1. Their less humane policies were not clearly articulated in efforts to win the 1932 election. It made support less likely in 1940.
2. German propaganda, censorship, the police state, and brainwashing from 1932 would have made it easier to support them over time, despite their policies. This made support more likely in 1940.

Opposition From the Churches

There was resistance from various branches of the church during Hitler's time as Fuhrer. But many of the resistors ended in concentration camps.

Concentration camps

The Nazis sent 800 Protestant pastors, led by Martin Niemöller, to concentration camps.
400 Catholic priests were arrested and sent to Dachau, a concentration camp.

Executions

Dietrich Bonhöffer, a pastor in the Confessional Church, was linked to an attempted assassination of Hitler. He was executed.

Euthanasia

A rare example of successful opposition was the Catholic cardinal, von Galen.
Von Galen made Hitler stop the euthanasia (intentionally ending the life) of the mentally disabled in 1941.

Differences in religions

According to historian James Hawes, in 1939, the SS' Head Office said 'one can declare with certainty that the Lutheran part of the population has a better understanding of the struggle and mission of the SS than the Catholic part'.
Cardinal von Galen, the German leader of the Catholic Church lived under house arrest until the end of the Nazi regime.

1The Weimar Republic 1918-1929

1.1World War One

1.1.1WW1

1.1.2The Weimar Republic

1.1.3Early Challenges to Weimar

1.1.4Reparations & the Ruhr

1.1.5Weimar Recovery

1.1.6Weimar Living Standards

1.1.7Weimar Culture

1.1.8End of Topic Test - WW1 & Weimar

1.1.9Grade 9 - The Weimar Republic

2Hitler's Rise to Power 1919-1933

2.1Early Development of the Nazi Party

2.1.1Hitler & the Beginnings of the Nazi Party

2.1.2End of Topic Test - Start of the Nazi Party

2.2The Munich Putsch & the Lean Years

2.2.1The Munich Putsch

2.2.2The Lean Years, 1923-1929

2.2.3End of Topic Test - Putsch & Lean Years

2.2.4Grade 9 - Hitler's Rise to Power

2.3The Growth of Support for the Nazis

2.3.1The Impact of the Great Depression

2.3.2End of Topic Test - Great Depression

2.4How Hitler Became Chancellor

2.4.1Article 48 & Political Turmoil

2.4.2von Papen & Hindenburg's Pact

2.4.3End of Topic Test - Chancellory

2.4.4Grade 9 - How Hitler Became Chancellor

3Nazi Control & Dictatorship 1933-1939

3.1Creating a Dictatorship, 1933-1934

3.1.1The Rise of Hitler

3.1.2End of Topic Test - Dictatorship

3.2The Police State

3.2.1The Police State

3.2.2Repression & Concentration Camps

3.2.3The Nazis & Religion

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Police State

3.2.5Grade 9 - Dictatorship and Police State

3.3Controlling & Influencing Attitudes

3.3.1Propaganda & Censorship

3.3.2Nazi Art & Culture

3.3.3Church Opposition & Social Conformity

3.3.4Youth Opposition & the July Plot

3.3.5End of Topic Test - Controlling Attitudes

3.3.6Grade 9 - Controlling Attitudes

4Life in Nazi Germany 1933-1939

4.1Life in Nazi Germany

4.1.1Women in Nazi Germany

4.1.2Youths in Nazi Germany

4.1.3Employment & Living Standards

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Life in Nazi Germany

4.2The Persecution of Minorities

4.2.1Nazi Racial Beliefs

4.2.2The Persecution of the Jews

4.2.3The Death Camps

4.2.4End of Topic Test - Persecution

4.2.5Grade 9 - Life in Nazi Germany

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