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German Resistance to Hitler
Fascination with the evil of the Nazi regime has not diminished in the decades since Hitler assumed power in Germany, but the story of internal resistance to Nazism has not been as fully realized as have the innumerable tales of horror. In this compact book Peter Hoffmann examines the growing recognition by some Germans in the 1930s of the malign nature of the Nazi regime, the ways in which these people became involved in the resistance, and the views of those who staked their lives in the struggle against tyranny and murder.
The earliest postwar accounts of the resistance by survivors and witnesses were followed by a variety of investigations and evaluations. Peter Hoffrnann here presents a complete reconstruction of this baffling and intriguing story. After several decades of study of the German resistance to Nazism, he has unlocked the secrets of its inner history. Hoffmann recounts the methods of Hitler's rise to power in the tumultuous days of January and February 1933, the consolidation of his power as a result of the Röhm Massacre in 1934, and his growing criminality as evidenced by the rape of Czechoslovakia and the pogrom of 1938. The author describes the several attempts in 1938 and during the war years to dislodge Hitler from within; the desperation of the luckless opponents over the carnage of war and the mass murders that threatened to engulf them; and finally, the attempt to assassinate Hitler on July 20, 1944. Throughout, he probes the motives of the resisters. Some, for example, found it difficult to justify assassination, even for the purpose of bringing an end to mass killing. Hoffmann examines and discounts the accusation that the principal motive of those who resisted was to preserve their class privileges. The resisters, he concludes, acted not so much in the hope of personal gain as from a moral obligation to challenge the evils they saw before them.
The earliest postwar accounts of the resistance by survivors and witnesses were followed by a variety of investigations and evaluations. Peter Hoffrnann here presents a complete reconstruction of this baffling and intriguing story. After several decades of study of the German resistance to Nazism, he has unlocked the secrets of its inner history. Hoffmann recounts the methods of Hitler's rise to power in the tumultuous days of January and February 1933, the consolidation of his power as a result of the Röhm Massacre in 1934, and his growing criminality as evidenced by the rape of Czechoslovakia and the pogrom of 1938. The author describes the several attempts in 1938 and during the war years to dislodge Hitler from within; the desperation of the luckless opponents over the carnage of war and the mass murders that threatened to engulf them; and finally, the attempt to assassinate Hitler on July 20, 1944. Throughout, he probes the motives of the resisters. Some, for example, found it difficult to justify assassination, even for the purpose of bringing an end to mass killing. Hoffmann examines and discounts the accusation that the principal motive of those who resisted was to preserve their class privileges. The resisters, he concludes, acted not so much in the hope of personal gain as from a moral obligation to challenge the evils they saw before them.
182 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1988
33 people want to read
About the author
Peter Hoffmann
23 books3 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 14, 2017
Peter Hoffman’s research into the German resistance culminated in a 900-page History of the German Resistance 1933-1945, but this work – simply titled German Resistance to Hitler -- is a much smaller overview. In it, Hoffman briefly reviews the major sources of resistance (the Wehrmacht, the Church, and citizen-protestors in the form of students and communists) and addresses why their work never saw fruit. In short: protestors like the social-democrats and communists were disorganized, more interested in fighting among themselves; the Church’s resistance amounted to condemnatory speeches and safeguarding lives; and those in the Army seemed to be cursed with bad luck in their operations.
Hoffman writes that virtually all of these factions shared two great weaknesses: first, they had to resolve within themselves the moral dilemma that came from resisting or undermining their own people, in a state of war surrounded by hostile powers. This was especially difficult for members of the military, whose mission was the defense of the country, who were bound by not only oaths but loyalty to their fellow soldiers. Two, Allied support for the German resistance was nonexistent, and once the war reached a point of no return in the Nazi invasion of Denmark and Norway, the terms of unconditional surrender were discouraging to patriotic if dissident Germans who had no wish to see Germany dismembered further at a peace conference. It was only after the disaster of Stalingrad – which some in the army viewed as criminal negligence -- that desperation overrode caution.
Those who have no knowledge of the resistance whatsoever will find Hoffman an attractive author, as he combines a basic overview of the Nazi seizure of power and the war along with resistance to the same. I am definitely interested in reading Hoffman’s more expansive History of the resistance, as even in these few pages he offers some new insights. I thought Valkyrie mostly failed because someone kicked the explosive briefcase further under the table, muffling some of its force, but Hoffman recounts how von Stauffenburg was summoned into the board room before he and a cohort were finished priming the explosives. Only half of the charges were ready, and between that, the misposition under the table, and the architecture of the room itself (not as confined as Stauffenburg had planned for) a strike that would have killed everyone in the room was reduced to one which only gave Hitler ringing ears and a few scratches.
Related
An Honorable Defeat: German Resistance to Hitler
They Thought They Were Free: The Germans, 1933-1945
Hoffman writes that virtually all of these factions shared two great weaknesses: first, they had to resolve within themselves the moral dilemma that came from resisting or undermining their own people, in a state of war surrounded by hostile powers. This was especially difficult for members of the military, whose mission was the defense of the country, who were bound by not only oaths but loyalty to their fellow soldiers. Two, Allied support for the German resistance was nonexistent, and once the war reached a point of no return in the Nazi invasion of Denmark and Norway, the terms of unconditional surrender were discouraging to patriotic if dissident Germans who had no wish to see Germany dismembered further at a peace conference. It was only after the disaster of Stalingrad – which some in the army viewed as criminal negligence -- that desperation overrode caution.
Those who have no knowledge of the resistance whatsoever will find Hoffman an attractive author, as he combines a basic overview of the Nazi seizure of power and the war along with resistance to the same. I am definitely interested in reading Hoffman’s more expansive History of the resistance, as even in these few pages he offers some new insights. I thought Valkyrie mostly failed because someone kicked the explosive briefcase further under the table, muffling some of its force, but Hoffman recounts how von Stauffenburg was summoned into the board room before he and a cohort were finished priming the explosives. Only half of the charges were ready, and between that, the misposition under the table, and the architecture of the room itself (not as confined as Stauffenburg had planned for) a strike that would have killed everyone in the room was reduced to one which only gave Hitler ringing ears and a few scratches.
Related
An Honorable Defeat: German Resistance to Hitler
They Thought They Were Free: The Germans, 1933-1945
March 18, 2019
Nothing is more profoundly inhuman than systematic, "racially" motivated extermination.
February 7, 2025
Readable layman's guide that gives a quite detailed account of the bombing that came closest to killing Hitler
May 28, 2025
A short and approachable history of the failed resistance to Hitler inside Germany.
August 2, 2016
This was a quick read (I was able to do it in an afternoon), and it was able to condense a lot of history. The first part of the book reviews how Hitler came to power in the first place and the second part recounts how the Resistance inside of Germany did its best to undermine him. It's tough to imagine being in the place of some of the people in this book--particularly men who were higher-ups in Hitler's government who decided they had a moral and ethical need to do something. I think it's easier to imagine choosing to resign quietly rather than risking everything. However, I think that's part of what made this book a good read--it was a history of those who, even as higher-ups in the German government, were really just average people willing to take action against injustice and hate. I admire the people I read about in this book and appreciate their commitment to a better world.
I will say, though, that it was interesting and a little disheartening to read about how often the Resistance tried to gain support and encouragement from the West and were rejected or ignored. It made me wonder if and when that has happened in the 21st century. I can understand needing to make political maneuverings and not reacting in a knee-jerk fashion, but it certainly gives rise to thoughts of "How much earlier could Hitler have been stopped if the quiet voices of a few had been acknowledged by the selective hearing of the rest of the world?"
I will say, though, that it was interesting and a little disheartening to read about how often the Resistance tried to gain support and encouragement from the West and were rejected or ignored. It made me wonder if and when that has happened in the 21st century. I can understand needing to make political maneuverings and not reacting in a knee-jerk fashion, but it certainly gives rise to thoughts of "How much earlier could Hitler have been stopped if the quiet voices of a few had been acknowledged by the selective hearing of the rest of the world?"
January 24, 2026
Introductory material on German resistance, with a glaring issue. Focuses disproportionately on Stauffenberg when compared to other modes of German resistance, such as the White Rose, which is only mentioned in two paragraphs. Paints Stauffenberg as a hero because of his assassination attempt against Hitler, while hiding the fact that Stauffenberg was himself an enthusiastic antisemite and cog in the Nazi machine.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews