Youth Groups

Early Youth Opposition to the Nazis

Although Nazi Germany was a police state, most Germans did genuinely support the Nazis. While opposition did exist, it was rarely openly expressed. However, two young groups, namely the Edelweiss Pirates and the Swing Youth did resist.

Youth opposition

Opposition from the Edelweiss Pirates and the Swing Youth from 1933 to 1939 was cultural not political.
- They were not severely punished when caught.

The Edelweiss Pirates

The Edelweiss Pirates were a group of youths in the Rhineland.
- They were mainly from working class backgrounds and showed resistance by attacking the Hitler Youth.
The group wrote anti-Nazi slogans in graffiti and sang popular songs from before the Nazi regime.
They wore American style clothing.
Their symbol was the Edelweiss, an Alpine flower.
By 1939, there were 2,000 Edelweiss Pirates.

The Swing Youth

The Swing Youth embraced the ‘degenerate’ culture of the Weimar Republic and rejected Nazi values.
Influenced by America, the Swing Youth played jazz, drank alcohol and smoked.
The Swing Youth organised illegal dances that thousands of young people attended.
Members of the Swing Youth came from wealthy backgrounds (unlike the Edelweiss Pirates) as their families would have record players.

The Edelweiss Pirates during the war

Opposition during the Second World War became more open and was treated more harshly.
The Edelweiss Pirates distributed (spread) Allied propaganda, protected army deserters and openly attacked the Hitler Youth.
The Nazis clamped down on the Edelweiss Pirates.
- In 1942, 700 members were arrested.
- In 1944, 12 were publicly hanged in Cologne to send a message.

The Swing Youth during the war

The Swing Youth gained more members over the war.
- But, the Nazis sent anyone they caught listening to jazz to concentration camps.

1Dictatorship

1.1Hitler & The Nazi Party in 1933

1.1.1The Origins of the Nazi Party

1.1.2Hitler & The Growth of the Party

1.1.3The 1932 Election

1.2Establishing Dictatorship, 1933-1934

1.2.1Establishing Dictatorship

1.2.2Achieving Total Power, July 1933 - August 1934

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Dictatorship

1.2.4Grade 9 - Dictatorship

2Control & Opposition

2.1The Machinery of Terror

2.1.1Police State & Legal System

2.1.2The Gestapo & SS

2.1.3Concentration Camps

2.1.4End of Topic Test - Control & Opposition

2.2Nazi Propaganda

2.2.1The Effectiveness of Nazi Propaganda

2.3Opposition to Nazi Rule

2.3.1The Left

2.3.2Church Leaders

2.3.3Youth Groups

2.3.4Support for Nazi Rule

2.3.5End of Topic Test - Propaganda & Opposition

2.3.6Grade 9 - Propaganda & Opposition

3Changing Lives, 1933-1939

3.1Work & Home

3.1.1Work

3.1.2Home

3.2The Lives of Young People

3.2.1Education

3.2.2Youth Movements

3.3Nazi Racial Policy

3.3.1Racial Policy

3.3.2Persecution of the Jews

3.3.3End of Topic Test 0 Changing Lives

3.3.4Grade 9 - Changing Lives

4Germany in War

4.1The Impact of War

4.1.1Impact of the War Economy on the People

4.1.2Impact of Total War on the People

4.2Growing Opposition from the German People

4.2.1Opposition from the People

4.2.2Opposition from the Army

4.2.3End of Topic Test - Germany in War

4.2.4Grade 9 - Germany in War

5Occupation

5.1Nazi Rule in Eastern and Western Europe

5.1.1The Start of World War 2

5.1.2Western Europe

5.1.3Eastern Europe

5.1.4End of Topic Test - Occupation

5.2The Final Solution

5.2.1Ghettos & Executions

5.2.2Death Camps

5.2.3End of Topic Test - The Final Solution

5.3Responses to Nazi Rule

5.3.1Collaboration

5.3.2Accommodation

5.3.3Resistance

5.3.4End of Topic Test - Responses to Nazi Rule

5.3.5Grade 9 - Occupation

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