To what extent was there opposition to the Nazis? There was little opposition that was effective in resistance to the Nazis. Hitler’s power was finally consolidated in 1934 when Hindenburg died in August of that year, up until this time Hitler could have been dismissed as Chancellor. However, after this time he could not legally be removed. The evidence also suggests the mass population had not many reasons to resist a new government which, seemed at the time to turn around Germany, almost abolishing unemployment and improving living conditions. Organisations that opposed the regime were in the minority, due to the threat of punishment and the power of the police state. Also the organisations were only united in one aim, the downfall of Hitler and the Nazis, and this was not enough, as they were divided on the methods to achieve this, and what should replace Nazi Germany. The Army and the Church were in the best position to oppose the regime. They both had legal reasons to meet in public in large groups, whereas political groups had been abolished when Hitler came into power. The Church could not be integrated into the Nazis or abolished. The Church itself had great influence over the German people, as ninety percent of the population in 1932 were either Catholic or Protestant. It was well organised and strong, especially as it was internationally based. However the priests were not interested in opposing the regime, the leadership of the churches were very naive in believing that they could reach and understanding with the Nazis, and as most of the German population and even the world, they underestimated the Nazis ability and gave in easily to them. Churches did use methods to criticise the regime as they disagreed with many polices, including sterilisation and euthanasia, however these methods of pamphlets and sermons were too late and therefore ineffective as opposition. They also had to be quite subtle, as oppositio...
