SPD resistance group, Red Shock Troop (Roter Stosstrupp) had 3000 members 1933, primarily Berlin university students.
SPD The Red Shock Troop newspaper, came out every 10 days. 1939 remaining SPD focused on collecting information of
public opinion in Germany, SOPADE reports.
Limitations: SPD came to accept Nazi regime could only be overthrown by a coup led by German army, rather than
workers/civilians. Less impact as in exile abroad.
Nazi response: May 1933 the funds of the party were seized, June 1933 SPD forced to disband. December 1933, leaders of
Rock Shock Troop were arrested by the Gestapo, imprisoned in concentration camps.
Communist
Resistance: After 1933 KPD changed from party with 360,000 members to anti-Nazi underground organisation. Large
distribution of anti-Nazi literature, leading newspaper Red Flag (Rote Fahne) distributed 1933 to 1935. Uhrig Group:
operated 1941-42 in Berlin, 100 active members. September 1941 won support from 70 workers based in large berlin
arms factory. Red Orchestra: main activity passing on secret of German war effort to Soviet Union.
Nazi response: Reichstag Fire established excuse to persecute Communists, 6 th march, illegal to be communist. 1933-39
150,000 communist were detained in concentration camps, 30,000 were executed. Gestapo reports, 1.2 million
communist anti-Nazi pamphlets were seized 1934, 1.67 million discovered by Nazi authorities 1935. Number of
communists arrested by Gestapo fell from 14,000 in 1935 to 38000 in 1938.
Churches
Protestant resistance – defended against attempts to nazify Protestantism. Group called ‘Confessing Church’ established
September 1933 by Reverned Niemoller, argued allegiance to God rather than Nazis. May 1936, Church leaders sent
memorandum to Hitler denouncing ‘de-Christianising of German life’. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, vital figure was arrested for
involvement in plot to assassinate Hitler
Limitations: Protestants did not disapprove of Nazi foreign policy, expansion of armaments or Jewish persecution. Only
resistance from a few members
Nazi response: under surveillance, some pastors in concentration camps such as Niemoller
Catholic resistance: opposition from Nazi violation of Concordat. 1936, Church succeeded in battle with Nazis to retain
using the crucifix in church. 1937, Pope’s encyclical ‘With Burning Grief’. Bishop Galen spoke out against T4 programme
Nazi response: 400 catholic priests were incarcerated in Dachau concentration camp. Gestapo reports of Catholics as large
religious opponents to the regime
Military
Resistance: Beck-Goerdeler Group - Led by military General Beck and politician Goerdeler. Early supporters of Hitler,
became more alarmed after aggressive foreign policy, worried about war. 1941 established Beck-Goerdeler group, co-
ordinated conservative-military resistance against Hitler. Had contact with British and American diplomats. Many believed
to want more of the old, imperial Germany. 1943, 6 separate attempts by military to assassinate Hitler. July 1944 bomb
plot – led by Claus von Stauffenberg, closest attempt.
Nazi Response: Stauffenberg and 3 others executed
SPD The Red Shock Troop newspaper, came out every 10 days. 1939 remaining SPD focused on collecting information of
public opinion in Germany, SOPADE reports.
Limitations: SPD came to accept Nazi regime could only be overthrown by a coup led by German army, rather than
workers/civilians. Less impact as in exile abroad.
Nazi response: May 1933 the funds of the party were seized, June 1933 SPD forced to disband. December 1933, leaders of
Rock Shock Troop were arrested by the Gestapo, imprisoned in concentration camps.
Communist
Resistance: After 1933 KPD changed from party with 360,000 members to anti-Nazi underground organisation. Large
distribution of anti-Nazi literature, leading newspaper Red Flag (Rote Fahne) distributed 1933 to 1935. Uhrig Group:
operated 1941-42 in Berlin, 100 active members. September 1941 won support from 70 workers based in large berlin
arms factory. Red Orchestra: main activity passing on secret of German war effort to Soviet Union.
Nazi response: Reichstag Fire established excuse to persecute Communists, 6 th march, illegal to be communist. 1933-39
150,000 communist were detained in concentration camps, 30,000 were executed. Gestapo reports, 1.2 million
communist anti-Nazi pamphlets were seized 1934, 1.67 million discovered by Nazi authorities 1935. Number of
communists arrested by Gestapo fell from 14,000 in 1935 to 38000 in 1938.
Churches
Protestant resistance – defended against attempts to nazify Protestantism. Group called ‘Confessing Church’ established
September 1933 by Reverned Niemoller, argued allegiance to God rather than Nazis. May 1936, Church leaders sent
memorandum to Hitler denouncing ‘de-Christianising of German life’. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, vital figure was arrested for
involvement in plot to assassinate Hitler
Limitations: Protestants did not disapprove of Nazi foreign policy, expansion of armaments or Jewish persecution. Only
resistance from a few members
Nazi response: under surveillance, some pastors in concentration camps such as Niemoller
Catholic resistance: opposition from Nazi violation of Concordat. 1936, Church succeeded in battle with Nazis to retain
using the crucifix in church. 1937, Pope’s encyclical ‘With Burning Grief’. Bishop Galen spoke out against T4 programme
Nazi response: 400 catholic priests were incarcerated in Dachau concentration camp. Gestapo reports of Catholics as large
religious opponents to the regime
Military
Resistance: Beck-Goerdeler Group - Led by military General Beck and politician Goerdeler. Early supporters of Hitler,
became more alarmed after aggressive foreign policy, worried about war. 1941 established Beck-Goerdeler group, co-
ordinated conservative-military resistance against Hitler. Had contact with British and American diplomats. Many believed
to want more of the old, imperial Germany. 1943, 6 separate attempts by military to assassinate Hitler. July 1944 bomb
plot – led by Claus von Stauffenberg, closest attempt.
Nazi Response: Stauffenberg and 3 others executed
