I saw this story today and I realized that I've seen more instances of white nationalists being vocal in recent months than I have before. Whether that's a simple coincidence or even an incorrect assumption on my part is beside the point in my mind, because I always read about how there is local pushback whenever these groups show up.
However, it did get me thinking about the Nazi rise to power. They held enormous rallies and my limited understanding of Germany at this time makes it seem like most of the country stood behind their ideals.
But did anyone publicly push back against them? Did good Samaritans exist, only to be shot down by the mob? If so, are there any specific instances of a person of note trying to warn the country about what the future had in store?
I certainly don't think America is on the road to a Nazi-esque regime, specifically because I see people pushing back against bigotry. I'm just curious how this played out in the past.
There wasn't much public opposition, because it usually meant concentration camp or execution.
The White Rose was a resistance group made up of University of Munich students (and one professor). Starting from June 1942, it distributed leaflets and painted anti-nazi graffiti. It lasted about 8 months, until the Gestapo stepped in. Many of its members were executed.
A couple of high-level personalities were openly critical of the regime, and due to their exposure they didn't suffer the same fate - even though they were ostracized and Hitler planned to dispose of them after he had won the war. Bishop Von Galen, a catholic priest, was particularly prominent. The main object of his criticism was Aktion T4, the extermination of mentally ill and handicapped people. He publicly denounced the atrocities in his sermons and was confined to de facto house arrest from 1941. The same program prompted judge Lothar Kreyssig to formally protest with the Minister of Justice. He was relieved of his duties because he refused to accept the word of Hitler as law.