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Opposition and Resistance in Nazi Germany
An engaging range of period texts and theme books for AS and A Level history. In this innovative new study, Frank McDonough provides a clear account of opposition and resistance towards the Nazi regime from 1933 to 1945 and presents the historical debate surrounding this important aspect of the history of Nazi Germany. The book concentrates on the individuals and groups that resisted and opposed Nazi rule, including the Christian churches, industrial workers, youth groups and sections of the army, whose resistance culminated in the assassination attempt against Hitler in July 1944.
76 pages, Paperback
First published September 6, 2001
94 people want to read
About the author
Frank McDonough
22 books137 followersProfessor Frank McDonough is an internationally renowned expert on the Third Reich. He was born in Liverpool, studied history at Balliol College, Oxford and gained a PhD from Lancaster University.
He has written many critically acclaimed books on the Third Reich, including: The Gestapo: The Myth and Reality of Hitler’s Secret Police (2015). Hitler and the Rise of the Nazi Party (2012), Sophie Scholl: The Woman Who Defied Hitler (2009), The Holocaust (2008), Opposition and Resistance in Nazi Germany (2001), Hitler, Chamberlain and Appeasement (2002), and Hitler and Nazi Germany (1999). He has also published many other books, most notably, The Origins of the Second World War: An International Perspective (2011), The Conservative Party and Anglo-German Relations (2007), Chamberlain, Appeasement and the British Road to War (1998) and The Origins of the First and Second World Wars (1997).
He has written many critically acclaimed books on the Third Reich, including: The Gestapo: The Myth and Reality of Hitler’s Secret Police (2015). Hitler and the Rise of the Nazi Party (2012), Sophie Scholl: The Woman Who Defied Hitler (2009), The Holocaust (2008), Opposition and Resistance in Nazi Germany (2001), Hitler, Chamberlain and Appeasement (2002), and Hitler and Nazi Germany (1999). He has also published many other books, most notably, The Origins of the Second World War: An International Perspective (2011), The Conservative Party and Anglo-German Relations (2007), Chamberlain, Appeasement and the British Road to War (1998) and The Origins of the First and Second World Wars (1997).
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 11, 2020
It's estimated that about 1% of the German population opposed Hitler. In such a political climate it is remarkable that any outright resistance to National Socialism could exist. This book is dedicated to the few brave souls who dared it. It is hard to resist when everyone around including friends and family supports what one opposes. That any citizen can turn you in with the result of imprisonment or death would discourage even the brave, not to mention knowing the negligible impact any action would have.
Opposition and Resistance in Nazi Germany looks at each source of opposition by chapter.
The German Protestant Church did nothing to oppose Hitler, though a minority within it called "The Confessing Church" led by Martin Niemoller did succeed in preventing Hitler from directly controlling the church in return for blanket approval of Hitler's foreign policy. Niemoller even offered to fight for Germany. Church youth groups were absorbed into the Hitler Youth. Reverend Dietrich Bonhoeffer spoke out in direct opposition to Hitler, was arrested and died in a concentration camp.
The German Catholic Church reached a formal agreement with Hitler in which both parties agreed not to interfere with affairs of the other. A Catholic political party was disbanded. This coincided in 1933 with the end of democracy in Germany when Hitler was granted the power to rule by edict. Nevertheless the Nazis insisted on disbanding Catholic youth groups. The Church did manage to keep the right to display the Crucifix in 1936.
Some resistance was passive. Swing dancing and listening to American jazz, denounced as degenerate by Hitler, had a youth following and these activities were simply shut down. Direct opposition in the form of graffiti or distributing leaflets and newsletters could bring death. One small group known as The White Rose led by a brother and sister, Hans and Sophie Scholl, did both. They were caught in the act on the campus of the University of Munich and following a summary trial were beheaded in the presence of their parents.
The best known resistance to Hitler was the attempt to kill him with a bomb in 1944. There were several attempts on Hitler's life before 1944, but all failed. The fear was that Hitler's desire for war would end in defeat for Germany. The near success of the 1944 bomb plot was due to the ability of a colonel of impeccable family standing to place the bomb near where Hitler would sit, only to have the leg of a table protect Hitler from serious injury or death when the bomb exploded. The plotters were captured and executed or committed suicide.
The astounding thing about the military plot against Hitler was the openness of it. The unspoken military code of allegiance shared by the officers allowed direct recruitment without fear of betrayal to Hitler. Some in the high command would refuse to participate, others were on the fence, but none let the secret plan out ahead of time.
This is a short book that can be read in an evening and in common with other works in this series provides documents at the end of each chapter that allow the reader to see the works cited in the text, the 1933 Concordat between the Catholic Church and Hitler for example.
The reader can only be awed by the courage of the very few German civilians who dared to act at a time when even the refusal to give the Hitler salute was reason for arrest.
Opposition and Resistance in Nazi Germany looks at each source of opposition by chapter.
The German Protestant Church did nothing to oppose Hitler, though a minority within it called "The Confessing Church" led by Martin Niemoller did succeed in preventing Hitler from directly controlling the church in return for blanket approval of Hitler's foreign policy. Niemoller even offered to fight for Germany. Church youth groups were absorbed into the Hitler Youth. Reverend Dietrich Bonhoeffer spoke out in direct opposition to Hitler, was arrested and died in a concentration camp.
The German Catholic Church reached a formal agreement with Hitler in which both parties agreed not to interfere with affairs of the other. A Catholic political party was disbanded. This coincided in 1933 with the end of democracy in Germany when Hitler was granted the power to rule by edict. Nevertheless the Nazis insisted on disbanding Catholic youth groups. The Church did manage to keep the right to display the Crucifix in 1936.
Some resistance was passive. Swing dancing and listening to American jazz, denounced as degenerate by Hitler, had a youth following and these activities were simply shut down. Direct opposition in the form of graffiti or distributing leaflets and newsletters could bring death. One small group known as The White Rose led by a brother and sister, Hans and Sophie Scholl, did both. They were caught in the act on the campus of the University of Munich and following a summary trial were beheaded in the presence of their parents.
The best known resistance to Hitler was the attempt to kill him with a bomb in 1944. There were several attempts on Hitler's life before 1944, but all failed. The fear was that Hitler's desire for war would end in defeat for Germany. The near success of the 1944 bomb plot was due to the ability of a colonel of impeccable family standing to place the bomb near where Hitler would sit, only to have the leg of a table protect Hitler from serious injury or death when the bomb exploded. The plotters were captured and executed or committed suicide.
The astounding thing about the military plot against Hitler was the openness of it. The unspoken military code of allegiance shared by the officers allowed direct recruitment without fear of betrayal to Hitler. Some in the high command would refuse to participate, others were on the fence, but none let the secret plan out ahead of time.
This is a short book that can be read in an evening and in common with other works in this series provides documents at the end of each chapter that allow the reader to see the works cited in the text, the 1933 Concordat between the Catholic Church and Hitler for example.
The reader can only be awed by the courage of the very few German civilians who dared to act at a time when even the refusal to give the Hitler salute was reason for arrest.
April 12, 2025
This is a very basic book about the little resistance there was to nazi germany between 1933-45. It’s just basic facts with little political analysis.
Sophie scholl, member of the White Rose who was executed for producing and distributing anti-Nazi leaflets said in a letter to a friend-
‘Sometimes this war terrifies me and I could lose all hope. I'd rather not think about it all, but there is hardly anything other than politics, and as long as politics are as muddled and as nasty as now it would be cowardice to turn my back on them.’
Sophie scholl, member of the White Rose who was executed for producing and distributing anti-Nazi leaflets said in a letter to a friend-
‘Sometimes this war terrifies me and I could lose all hope. I'd rather not think about it all, but there is hardly anything other than politics, and as long as politics are as muddled and as nasty as now it would be cowardice to turn my back on them.’
February 21, 2021
A fascinating book about the less than 1% of Germans who resisted Hitler and Nazisim. This book covers a wide range of topics from The White Rose a group of students who were eventually beheaded for resisting Nazisim and supporting "freedom of speech, freedom of religion and protection of the individual citizen from the arbitrary action of criminal dictator-states" or the Edelweiss Pirates, a bunch of 12 to 17-year-olds who fought the Hitler Youth and shielded deserters from Nazis, many of whom were hung in 1944.
Other points such as the Valkyrie plot and resistance from the Catholic church are also included.
A good, well-researched book, that I recommend to anyone who is interested in the topic.
Other points such as the Valkyrie plot and resistance from the Catholic church are also included.
A good, well-researched book, that I recommend to anyone who is interested in the topic.
September 22, 2017
Very clear explanations while also being short and to the point. The author makes sure the reader understands that the there wasn't much resistance as less than 1% of the population rebelled, while still giving good information on those who did rebel.
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January 4, 2017Good I-can't-believe-Trump-is-president reading
August 22, 2022
was already finding this so interesting because i'd not really been taught/learnt/thought about resistance in Nazi Germany beyond the Communist party, and then the historical debate chapter came and swept me away.
historiography is SO interesting and this made me want to look even further into German history concerning the divide between west and east
also found it interesting to think about how the change from a monarchy to a republic was done by the elites and how the attempt on Hitler's life in the July plot was also by elites/conservatives
historiography is SO interesting and this made me want to look even further into German history concerning the divide between west and east
also found it interesting to think about how the change from a monarchy to a republic was done by the elites and how the attempt on Hitler's life in the July plot was also by elites/conservatives
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews