Summary:
The present work aims to highlight a different side of German society from 1933 to 1938, the side of that society which resisted, risked, the thousands who gave their lives to overthrow Nazi tyranny in those years. It is examined the Germans' resistance to Hitler in the light of its two main actors, the Communist Party of Germany and the Social Democratic Party of Germany.
Introducing the two central schools of historiography that deal with this issue, namely that of the German Democratic Republic and the rest of the Western world, at the same time are presented some basic works of these schools. Following are introductory remarks, details concerning the peculiarities of the German resistance due to the scholar, as well as the definition of the concept “resistance” in the literature. The historical formation of relations between German Communists and Social Democrats from 1918 onwards is also summarized.
In the second chapter, an attempt is made to present the resistance of the Communists through a large number of examples and figures, in an attempt to substantiate that the Communist resistance was in fact the most stubborn, most heroic side of the German resistance. An attempt is made to show up the Communist Party of Germany a part of the International Communist Movement and the Communist International, with a pioneering role and action within it. The course of this party's strategy, the link between theory and strategy with the daily activities and its impact on the CPG alliance policy are presented. The 7th Congress of the Communist International and its decisions that paved the way for wider alliances and fronts is marked as a turning point in this development.
The third chapter presents the resistance organized by the Social Democratic Party of Germany. It outlines the theoretical background of this party as the decisive factor in his attitude towards Hitler, while examining the course of the conflicts with its own delusions about parliament and Nazism, especially in the first months of the regime, until the total party’s transition to the underground work .The main resistance groups and aspects of their history and action, their dismantling, and the ways chosen to continue the resistance in another passive way are mentioned.
In the last section, a comparative evaluation of the two pieces is made, and key conclusions are drawn from all this effort, according to the author.
Keywords:
Germany, Resistance, german resistance, anti-Hitleric, Hitler
