german response to nazism range of german responses to nazism...
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German Response to NazismGerman Response to Nazism
Range of German Responses to Nazism
Resistance------Bystander-------Collaborators-------Perpetrators
Range of German Responses to Nazism
Resistance------Bystander-------Collaborators-------Perpetrators
Leni Riefenstahl’s ‘Triumph of the Will”
Hitler’s Theory of Power (The Three Pillars of
Authority)
Hitler’s Theory of Power (The Three Pillars of
Authority)
3. policies matching social traditions
2. Instrumental force
1. Popular support
3. policies matching social traditions
2. Instrumental force
1. Popular support
“Examples show that the public attitude can throw a government into misadventures, which in the end leads to the destruction of the state."
Joseph Goebbels1940
“Examples show that the public attitude can throw a government into misadventures, which in the end leads to the destruction of the state."
Joseph Goebbels1940
Hitler thought that "to win the masses. . . no social sacrifice is too great" and "tried to keep the morale of the people in the best possible state by concessions. . .It betrayed great concern over a loss of popularity which might develop into an insurrectionary mood.”
--Albert Speer, 1970
Hitler thought that "to win the masses. . . no social sacrifice is too great" and "tried to keep the morale of the people in the best possible state by concessions. . .It betrayed great concern over a loss of popularity which might develop into an insurrectionary mood.”
--Albert Speer, 1970
Detlev Peukert: The Range of ResistanceDetlev Peukert: The Range of Resistance
Definitions of ResistanceDefinitions of Resistance
Resistance---- Protest-----Noncompliance
Widerstand Resistenz
Resistance---- Protest-----Noncompliance
Widerstand Resistenz
The July 20, 1944 attempt to assassinate Hitler became a basis for the (Widerstand) definition of Resistance --
The July 20, 1944 attempt to assassinate Hitler became a basis for the (Widerstand) definition of Resistance --
Colonel
Stauffenberg
Hitler after the assassination attemptHitler after the assassination attempt
The White Rose: Hans and Sophie Scholl
WHY DID THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT BECOME KNOWN AS“THE GERMAN RESISTANCE?”
and was mythologized?
In Addition, to The July Conspiracy and the White Rose
There were Public Protestseven though these were forbidden by lawAnd the regime appeased them
Nazi Responses to Collective Public Protests
Nazi Responses to Collective Public Protests
Crucifix Decree Struggles, 1936, 1941
Witten Women’s Protest, 1943
Crucifix Decree Struggles, 1936, 1941
Witten Women’s Protest, 1943
Implications of July 20 conspiracy as “The German Resistance”
Implications of July 20 conspiracy as “The German Resistance”
an ordinary German could do nothing
If even the military had tried and failed how little could anyone else do–or even an international organization like the Catholic Church?
an ordinary German could do nothing
If even the military had tried and failed how little could anyone else do–or even an international organization like the Catholic Church?
the main figures in German Resistance mythology all died in their struggle.
this presents resistance as a choice between martyrdom and passivity –
But was it?
the main figures in German Resistance mythology all died in their struggle.
this presents resistance as a choice between martyrdom and passivity –
But was it?
This Myth may be a Good one-- Though IncompleteThis Myth may be a Good one-- Though Incomplete
it has also served to stifle stories that seem to contradict the myth
Implies that Germans wanted to Resist
ordinary Germans actually did rescue Jews from the Holocaust. These unsung heroes include, prominently, Germans married to Jews – as we’ll see
it has also served to stifle stories that seem to contradict the myth
Implies that Germans wanted to Resist
ordinary Germans actually did rescue Jews from the Holocaust. These unsung heroes include, prominently, Germans married to Jews – as we’ll see
Intermarried German Protest
Intermarried German Protest
98 percent of German Jews who survived the war without being sent to the death camps -- even though the Gestapo knew of their whereabouts -- were married to non-Jews. Why?
98 percent of German Jews who survived the war without being sent to the death camps -- even though the Gestapo knew of their whereabouts -- were married to non-Jews. Why?
Intermarried CouplesIntermarried Couples
Rosenstrasse Protest, 1943
Rosenstrasse Protest, 1943
RESISTANCE OF THE HEART
INTERMARRIAGEAND THE ROSENSTRASSE PROTEST INNAZI GERMANYNATHAN STOLTZFUS
Part IV: von Trotta’s film Part IV: von Trotta’s film
the protest scene is plausible
The scene with Goebbels is ludicrous and trivializes Nazi terror
Inference that the Nuremberg Laws protected intermarried Jews is a Goebbels-like inversion of the truth
the protest scene is plausible
The scene with Goebbels is ludicrous and trivializes Nazi terror
Inference that the Nuremberg Laws protected intermarried Jews is a Goebbels-like inversion of the truth
von Trotta’s “Rosenstrasse”von Trotta’s “Rosenstrasse”
The search for a “usable past” from the Nazi Period
The search for a “usable past” from the Nazi Period
reviled parts publicly renounced
Parts of the past that seem to represent good were (and are) selected out and eulogized
reviled parts publicly renounced
Parts of the past that seem to represent good were (and are) selected out and eulogized
Inventing Resistance in West GermanyInventing Resistance in West Germany
Very few openly identified with Nazism
Yet there had not been much resistance
Very few openly identified with Nazism
Yet there had not been much resistance
A poll of West Germans in 1951 found
A poll of West Germans in 1951 found
only five per cent said they felt guilty about what had happened to the Jews;
twenty-one per cent thought the Jews were “partly responsible” for their fate.
only five per cent said they felt guilty about what had happened to the Jews;
twenty-one per cent thought the Jews were “partly responsible” for their fate.
Large numbers of Germans continued to have a preference for authoritarian rule . . .
and to think there was more good than negative about National Socialism.
Large numbers of Germans continued to have a preference for authoritarian rule . . .
and to think there was more good than negative about National Socialism.
Politics of Resistance in West Germany
The Common Wisdom was that Hitler forced the Germans to be Nazis
It became necessary to find a definition of resistance to match
The Allies had Reason to Agree with the MythThe Allies had Reason to Agree with the Myth
The Nuremberg Trials charged the most conspicuous and looked for a top down conspiracy
De-Nazification was quickly forgotten as the West changed enemies to Communism
The Americans especially pushed for the revival of a German army, especially with the Korean War
The Nuremberg Trials charged the most conspicuous and looked for a top down conspiracy
De-Nazification was quickly forgotten as the West changed enemies to Communism
The Americans especially pushed for the revival of a German army, especially with the Korean War
PART III The Role of Ordinary Germans
PART III The Role of Ordinary Germans
During the past generation historians have created a new paradigm identifying popular German consensus for Hitler’s rule as the most basic element of his power
Nazism was not just Hitler, but the mass movement support that Hitler successfully set out accomplish in Germany.
During the past generation historians have created a new paradigm identifying popular German consensus for Hitler’s rule as the most basic element of his power
Nazism was not just Hitler, but the mass movement support that Hitler successfully set out accomplish in Germany.
Hitler openly acknowledged his dependency on the ‘racial’ people
Hitler openly acknowledged his dependency on the ‘racial’ people
"What you are, you are through me, but what I am, I am through you." (June l939)
“the idea of our movement is the philosophy of our people”
Hitler, (Sept 1935) in Riefenstahl’s ‘Triumph of the Will’
"What you are, you are through me, but what I am, I am through you." (June l939)
“the idea of our movement is the philosophy of our people”
Hitler, (Sept 1935) in Riefenstahl’s ‘Triumph of the Will’
The Role of Ordinary Germans, cont.
The Role of Ordinary Germans, cont.
If ‘racial’ Germans (aggregately) formed the most fundamental pillar of Hitler’s power might we not look for civil disobedience in Nazi Germany as a form of resistance?
If ‘racial’ Germans (aggregately) formed the most fundamental pillar of Hitler’s power might we not look for civil disobedience in Nazi Germany as a form of resistance?
The Highest Nazis Thought So
The Highest Nazis Thought So
“A National Socialist has a duty to disobey those in authority who are unworthy of power “ Hitler, Mein Kampf
Hitler believed trade unions could force approval of the demands of workers through repeated strikes
“A National Socialist has a duty to disobey those in authority who are unworthy of power “ Hitler, Mein Kampf
Hitler believed trade unions could force approval of the demands of workers through repeated strikes