Groups and Organisations

Despite the personal dangers involved, a remarkable number of Germans and Austrians chose to resist the Nazi regime. The aim of this chapter is to provide a succinct, yet comprehensive, overview of the myriad groups and organisations of differing political, religious and ethnic persuasions that took the fateful decision to resist the regime. The chapter identifies precisely when, where and with what frequency each of these groups carried out their serious resistance. While the chapter captures and highlights the amazing diversity of political and spiritual beliefs which provided the organisational context for, and motivation to, those who chose to engage in serious resistance, it also identifies the enduring importance of certain parties and groups – in particular, the Communist Party of Germany (Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands or KPD) and Social Democratic Party of Germany (Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands or SPD) in Germany and the Communist Party of Austria (Kommunistische Partei Osterreichs or KPO) and Catholic-Conservative-Legitimist organisations in Austria – in that struggle to bring down Hitler’s regime from within.