Lecture 10: German Resistance against Hitler 30 April 2013 HIST2134 The Third Reich through Documents,
German Resistance against NS rule Two approaches in historiography 1)Fundamentalist approach: Concentrates on elite groups in their organized, brave, high- risk political actions to fight the NS regime Social approach: Concentrates on a number of ‘non-conformities’ between the NS regime and the common man
Active Elite Resistance (I) Communist Underground Organization ‘Rote Kapelle’ (Red Chapel) ‘Kreisauer Kreis’ (Kreisau Circle) with Social Democrats, Trade Unionist and Conservatives (James von Moltke) Protestant and Catholic Clergy: Protestant pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer of Protestant Underground ‘Confessing Church’
Active Elite Resistance (II) Student Group ‘Weisse Rose’ in Munich: Hans and Sophie Scholl Conspiracy circle and the attempt assassination by Claus Count Schenk von Stauffenberg on 20 July 1944
Passive ‘conflicting areas’ Workers’ opposition among former SPD-KPD members in Ruhr area cities Dortmund, Essen, Duisburg Numerous forms of ‘non-conformity’ in daily life Only a potential danger but no real threat for the NS regime No active mass resistance