List of Germans who resisted Nazism
This list contains the names of individuals involved in the German resistance to Nazism, but is not a complete list. Names are periodically added, but not all names are known. There are both men and women on this list of Widerstandskämpfer primarily German, some Austrian or from elsewhere, who risked or lost their lives in a number of ways. They tried to overthrow the National Socialist regime, they denounced its wars as criminal, tried to prevent World War II and sabotaged German attacks on other countries. Some tried to protect those who were being harmed and persecuted by the Nazis, others merely refused to contribute to the Nazi war effort. Most of those on the list worked with others; their affiliated resistance group or groups are listed. Where no group is mentioned, the individual acted alone.
A
- Anton Ackermann was an East German politician
- Deutsche Demokratische Partei, National Committee for a Free Germany in Switzerland
- Wolfgang Abendroth KPO, Neu Beginnen, ELAS
- DDP
- Robert Abshagen, KPD
- Alexander Abusch, KPD
- , SPD, supporter of Polish resistance group organized by Ignaz Hulka
- , White Rose
- , KPD
- , SPD
- Rosa Aschenbrenner, Rote Hilfe
- Judith Auer, Saefkow-Jacob-Bästlein Organization
- SPD, International Transport Workers' Federation
- Hermann Axen, KPD
B
- , Edelweißpiraten
- Lagi von Ballestrem, Solf Circle
- , KPD
- Karl Baier, Rote Hilfe
- , KPD
- Karl Barth, theologian, Confessing Church
- , KPD
- Bernhard Bästlein, Bästlein-Jacob-Abshagen Group and Saefkow-Jacob-Bästlein Organization
- Albert Battel, Wehrmacht
- Herbert Baum, KJVD, Herbert Baum Group
- Marianne Baum, Herbert Baum Group
- , SPD-RK
- , KPD
- Arno Behrisch, Socialist Workers' Party of Germany, ITF
- , Catholic church
- Hans Beimler , KPD
- Walter Beling, Résistance
- , KPD
- Helene Berg
- , IKD, secretary of Oskar Schindler
- KPO
- , Rote Hilfe
- Gustav Bermel, Ehrenfeld Group
- Eberhard Bethge, student of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
- Wilhelm Beuttel, Rote Hilfe
- , Wehrmacht, Operation Radetzky
- Dagobert Biermann, KPD
- Charlotte Bischoff, KPD, Red Orchestra
- Peter Blachstein, Socialist Workers' Party of Germany, SJVD, Neuer Weg Group
- , KPD
- Willi Bleicher, KPD, unionist
- , Socialist Front
- , Socialist Workers' Party of Germany, SJVD
- , KPD
- Gustav Böhrnsen SPD, unionist
- Hermann Böse, Communist resistance
- Walter Bohne, Bästlein-Jacob-Abshagen Group
- , Rote Hilfe
- Eugen Bolz, Zentrumspartei
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Confessing Church
- Klaus Bonhoeffer, Confessing Church
- , KPD
- Willy Brandt, Socialist Workers' Party of Germany
- , Deutsche Volksfront
- Willi Bredel, KPD
- Rudolf Breitscheid, SPD
- Otto Brenner, Socialist Workers' Party of Germany
- Hein Brettschneider, KPD
- Hermann Brill, Neu Beginnen, Deutsche Volksfront, Buchenwald Popular Front Committee
- , SPD
- Paul Bromme, Sopade, RSD
- Arnolt Bronnen, Willy Fred
- Elisabeth Bruhn, KPD, Bästlein-Jacob-Abshagen Group
- Gustav Bruhn, KPD, Bästlein-Jacob-Abshagen Group
- Eberhard Brünen, Socialist Workers' Party of Germany
- , Heimwehr
- Werner Bruschke, SPD
- "Appel", KPD
- , KPO
- , Rote Hilfe
- , Rote Hilfe
- KPD
- SPD
- Ernst Busch , actor, KPD
- Wilhelm Busch , Confessing Church
C
- ,
- Wilhelm Canaris,
- Emil Carlebach, KPD
- , KPD
- , Rote Hilfe
- , Bästlein-Jacob-Abshagen Group
- Hans Christoffers, KPD
- , KPD
- , SPD
D
- Jakob Dautzenberg, KPD
- Alfred Delp, Catholic church
- , Rote Hilfe
- , SPD
- Marlene Dietrich, actress and singer
- , Socialist Workers' Party of Germany
- Willi Dickhut, KPD
- , SPD
- Hans von Dohnanyi, Confessing Church
- Leo Drabent, Bästlein-Jacob-Abshagen Group
- Fritz Dressel, KPD
- , Ernst Niekisch resistance movement
E
- Fritz Eberhard, ISK
- , BRSD, KPD
- Hugo Eckener, manager of the Luftschiffbau Zeppelin
- Hans Ehrenberg, Lutheran theologian, a founder of the Confessing Church
- Willi Eichler, ISK
- Ernst Hampel, communist
- , NKFD
- , KPD
- Georg Elser, acted alone
- , KPD
- August Enderle, Socialist Workers' Party of Germany
- , KPD
- , KPD
- Leopold Engleitner, Jehovah's Witness
- Fritz Erler, Neu Beginnen
- Anna Essinger, Landschulheim Herrlingen
- Erika Etter, KJVD
- Walter Eucken, economist
F
- Walter Fabian Socialist Workers' Party of Germany
- Marianne Feldhammer, Willy Fred
- KPD
- Hermann Fischer, Rote Hilfe and Brümmer Kleine resistance group
- Herbert Frahm see Willy Brandt
- Egon Franke , SPD
- David Frankfurter, acted alone
- , Neu Beginnen
- Georg Fritze, BRSD
- August Froehlich, Catholic church
- Paul Frölich, Socialist Workers' Party of Germany
- Emil Fuchs, BRSD
- , KPD
- Max Fürst, author
- , SPD
G
- Johann Gahr, acted alone
- Albrecht Gaiswinkler, Special Operations Executive spy
- Clemens August Graf von Galen, Catholic church
- Willi Gall, KPD
- Jakob Gapp, Catholic church
- Martin Gauger, Confessing Church, Kreisau Circle
- , Résistance
- Herta Geffke, Rote Hilfe
- , ISK, ELAS
- , KPD
- Fritz Gerlich, journalist
- Kurt Gerstein, Waffen-SS, Gerstein Report author
- Eugen Gerstenmaier, Confessing Church
- Johann Geusendam, Rote Hilfe
- , KPD
- Peter Gingold, KPD
- , Willy-Fred
- Helene Glatzer, KPD
- , SPD
- , KPD
- SPD
- Albert Goldenstedt, KPD, Rote Hilfe
- , KPD
- , KPD
- Kurt Julius Goldstein, KPD
- Albert Göring, businessman and younger brother of Nazi leader Hermann
- , AfA-Bund, Neu Beginnen, Covenant of Religious Socialists of Germany
- Herta Gotthelf, SPD
- Hugo Gräf, Rote Hilfe
- Willi Graf, White Rose
- , Special Operations Executive spy
- , Rote Hilfe
- Karl Grönsfelder, KPD
- , SPD
- Anneliese Groscurth, European Union
- Georg Groscurth, European Union
- Helmuth Groscurth Wehrmacht and Abwehr officer
- , KPD
- Otto Grotewohl, SPD
- , KPD, London "Free Germans" of the OSS
- , Rote Pfadfinder
- Gustav Gundelach, KPD
- , KPD
H
- Georg Häfner, Catholic church
- Kurt Hälker, Résistance
- , KPD
- Elise Hampel, acted alone with husband Otto
- Ernst Hampel, part of the Etter-Rose-Hampel group
- Otto Hampel,, acted alone with wife Elise
- Arvid Harnack, Rote Kapelle
- Werner Hansen, ISK
- , KPD
- Elli Hatschek European Union
- Paul Hatschek European Union
- Theodor Haubach, SPD
- , Rote Hilfe
- , KPO
- , Rote Hilfe
- ,
- Rudolf-Ernst Heiland, IKD
- Ernst Heilmann, SPD
- , SPD, Reichsbanner
- , KPD, Robert Uhrig Group
- , Catholic church
- , IKD* Georg Henke, KPD
- Albert Hensel, KPD
- Liselotte Herrmann, KPD
- , National Committee for a Free Germany
- Heinz Heydrich, younger brother of Reinhard Heydrich
- Friedrich Hielscher, Konservative Revolution
- Rainer Hildebrandt, Haushofer-Kreis
- Else Himmelheber, resistance group in Schlotterbeck aus Luginsland
- , Trotzkyist
- Else Hirsch, schoolteacher, organized 10 children's transports out of Germany
- , SPD
- , KPD
- , SPD
- , Saefkow-Jacob-Bästlein Organization
- Erich Honecker, KPD
- , KPD
- Wilm Hosenfeld, Nazi Captain who hid and rescued many Polish people, including Władysław Szpilman
- Kurt Huber, White Rose
- Helmuth Hübener, Hamburg Vierergruppe
- Alois Hundhammer, at the time, the youngest member of the Bavarian Landtag
- Peter Hüppeler, Ehrenfeld Group
I
- Karl Ibach, KPD
- , Socialist Workers' Party of Germany
- , SPD, party chairman of Sopade, Belgium
J
- Franz Jacob, KPD, Bästlein-Jacob-Abshagen Group, Saefkow-Jacob-Bästlein Organization
- Katharina Jacob, KPD, Bästlein-Jacob-Abshagen Group
- , elected legislator from Prussia SPD
- Rudolf Jacobs,
- , KPD, Herbert Baum Group
- Franz Jägerstätter, Austrian conscientious objector
- Frieda and Rudolf Jahn, Covenant of Religious Socialists of Germany
- Hans Jahn, International Transport Workers' Federation
- , Confessing Church
- Hans Jendretzky, KPD
- Marianne Joachim, Herbert Baum Group
- , KPD
- , KPD
- Franz Jung, KAPD and Rote Kämpfer
- , KPD
- , IKD
K
- Otto Kahn-Freund Jurist
- Jakob Kaiser Zentrumspartei
- , ISK
- Heinz Kapelle, KPD
- , ISK and Independent Socialist Union
- Friedrich Kellner, SPD
- Kilian Kirchhoff, Catholic church
- Johanna Kirchner, SPD, Rote Hilfe
- Ernst Kirchweger, KPÖ
- Heinz Kiwitz, ASSO
- Erich Klausener, Zentrumspartei, Catholic church
- , KPD
- Walter Klingenbeck, Munich Vierergruppe
- , Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold and Protestant teenagers' group
- Rudolf Klug, KPD
- Wilhelm Knöchel, KPD
- , SPD, Neu Beginnen
- , KPD
- , Edelweißpiraten
- Hans Koch, Jurist, Confessing Church
- Werner Koch , Pastor, Confessing Church, brother of Hans Koch
- , ISK
- Bernard Koenen, Rote Hilfe and National Committee for a Free Germany
- , Rote Hilfe
- Olga Körner, KPD
- Fritz Kolbe, acted alone
- , National Committee for a Free Germany
- , KPD
- Walter Kraemer, KPD
- Heinrich Kratina, Ehrenfeld Group
- Wilhelm Kratz, Ehrenfeld Group
- Johann Krausen, Ehrenfeld Group
- Willi Kreikemeyer, KPD
- , Résistance
- Lothar Kreyssig, Jurist, Confessing Church
- , KPD
- Maria Krüger, Rote Hilfe
- Alfred Kubel, ISK
- Adam Kuckhoff, Red Orchestra
- Greta Kuckhoff, Red Orchestra
- Heinz Kühn, SPD
- Otto Kühne, KPD und Résistance
- , KPD
- , KPD
- , KPD
- , RSD
L
- Max Lackmann, Evangelical Church in Germany
- KPD
- Erwin von Lahousen military resistance
- Fritz Lange, Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany, KPD, Rotfrontkämpferbund
- Käthe Latzke, KPD
- Julius Leber, SPD
- , SPD
- , IKD
- Hans Leipert, White Rose
- Josef Lenzel, Catholic church
- Theodor Lessing, acted alone
- , KPD
- Wilhelm Leuschner, SPD
- Bernhard Lichtenberg, Catholic church
- Hermann Lichtenegger, KPÖ politician
- Simone Arnold Liebster, Jehovah's Witness
- Max Liedtke Wehrmacht
- Rosa Lindemann, KPD, Rote Hilfe in Berlin-Moabit
- Herta Lindner, KJVD
- , ISK
- Eva Lippold, Rote Hilfe and Saefkow-Jacob-Bästlein Organization
- Hans Litten
- Paul Löbe, SPD
- Max Loeper, mentioned in 2002 book Shades of Gray by Arthur O. Naujoks Jr. and Michael S. Eldredge, pages 43, 44, 144.
- :de:Walter Loewenheim|Walter Loewenheim, Neu Beginnen
- Roland Lorent, Ehrenfeld Group
- , SPD
- , KPD
M
- Johann Maier preacher, Regensburger Dom
- Heinrich Maier, theologian
- Adolf Maislinger, KPD
- Maria von Maltzan, Solf Circle
- Maria Restituta Franciscan
- Hilde Meisel , ISK
- , KPD, Résistance
- ,
- ,
- Max Josef Metzger, Catholic church
- Herbert Michaelis, lawyer, KPD, Michaelis Group
- , SPD
- , KPD, Rote Hilfe
- Helmuth James Graf von Moltke, founding member, Kreisau Circle
- Mentona Moser, Rote Hilfe
- Erich Mühsam
- Josef Müller , Bavarian People's Party, Catholic resistance
- Oskar Müller, KPD
N
- Harry Naujoks, KPD
- , KPD
- , Rote Hilfe
- , SPD
- Ernst Niekisch, publisher of Widerstand, Magazine for national revolutionary Politics
- Katja Niederkirchner, KPD
- Martin Niemöller, Confessing Church
- Karl Nolan, Rote Hilfe, KPD, father of Fritz and Anna Pröll, one of the first Augsburg Nazi murder victims in Dachau concentration camp
- , SPD
- Socialist Workers' Party of Germany
O
- , Aktion Rheinland
- , KPD
- , KPD
- Carl von Ossietzky
- Hans Oster
P
- Willy Fred
- Toni Pfülf, member of the SPD
- , Confessing Church
- , Edelweißpiraten
- , Rote Hilfe
- , Westerweel Group
- , KPD
- , SS-Obersturmbannführer with contact with Wilhelm Canaris
- Karl Plagge, Wehrmacht officer, acted alone
- , Communist Party Opposition
- , KPÖ, Willy Fred
- , KPD
- , Onkel Emil Group, Confessing Church, BRSD
- Ottilie Pohl, USPD, Rote Hilfe in Berlin-Moabit
- Johannes Popitz,
- Hedwig Porschütz, Righteous among the Nations
- , KPD
- , KPD
- Bernard Povel , Catholic textile manufacturer, Zentrumspartei
- Olga Benario-Prestes, KPD
- Konrad von Preysing, Catholic church
- Christoph Probst, White Rose
- Fritz Pröll, Rote Hilfe
- , Rote Hilfe
R
- , KPD
- Siegfried Rädel, KPD
- Adolf Reichwein 1898–1944, SPD
- Franz Reinisch, Catholic church
- , Bästlein-Jacob-Abshagen Group
- , ELAS
- , European Union
- Franz Rheinberger, Ehrenfeld Group
- Albert Richter, track cyclist
- , Catholic church
- , Robert Uhrig Group
- , Socialist Workers' Party of Germany
- , DDP Robinsohn-Strassmann Group
- , CVJM
- Beppo Römer, KPD
- Erwin Rommel,Wehrmacht
- Augustin Rösch, Kreisau Circle, Catholic church
- , Catholic church
- , SPD
- , KPD
- , SPD
S
- Anton Saefkow, Saefkow-Jacob-Bästlein Organization
- Herbert Sandberg, KPD, Association of Revolutionary Visual Artists
- Willi Sänger, KPD
- , Solf Circle
- Karl Schapper, Catholic
- Werner Scharff,
- John Schehr, KPD
- , KPD
- Heinrich Scheuken, acted alone
- , SPD
- , KPD
- Emilie Schindler, acted alone
- Oskar Schindler, acted alone
- Bartholomäus Schink, Ehrenfeld Group
- Friedrich Schlotterbeck, KJD, KPD, Schlotterbeck Group
- , SPD
- Anton Schmid, Wehrmacht
- Richard Schmid, counsel, Socialist Workers' Party of Germany
- Otto Schmirgal, KPD
- , theologian, resistance fighter, Confessing Church
- Alexander Schmorell, White Rose
- Paul Schneider, pastor, Evangelical Church in Germany
- :de:Ernst Schneller|Ernst Schneller, KPD
- , Sopade, Neu Beginnen
- KPD
- , Résistance
- Eugen Schönhaar, KPD
- , KPD
- Hans Scholl, White Rose
- Sophie Scholl, White Rose
- Roman Karl Scholz, Catholic church
- Felice Schragenheim, unknown
- , Communist Party Opposition
- Karl Schröder, Rote Kämpfer
- Friedrich-Werner von der Schulenburg, 20 July plot
- Fritz-Dietlof von der Schulenburg, 20 July plot
- Eduard Schulte, industrialist, acted alone
- , Speyer Kameradschaft
- Josef Schulz, Wehrmacht
- , KPD
- Eva Schulze-Knabe, KPD
- Elisabeth Schumacher Red Orchestra
- Kurt Schumacher Red Orchestra
- Georg Schumann , KPD
- Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, KPÖ
- Adolf Schütz, Ehrenfeld Group
- Alexander Schwab, Rote Kämpfer
- Günther Schwarz, Ehrenfeld Group
- Rudolf Schwarz , KPD
- Werner Seelenbinder, KPD
- Willi Seng, KPD functionary
- Robert Siewert, KPO, Buchenwald Resistance
- , KPD
- , KPD
- Hanna Solf, Solf Circle
- Richard Sorge, KPD spy for the Soviet Union
- Confessing Church
- Claus von Stauffenberg, 20 July plot
- , KPD
- Wilhelm Stein, KPD
- Hans Steinbrück, Ehrenfeld Group
- , Young Communist League of Germany, Herbert Baum Group
- , Rote Hilfe
- , KPD
- , DDP,
- Stefan Szende, Socialist Workers' Party of Germany
- Carl Szokoll, Wehrmacht,
T
- Elisabeth von Thadden, Solf Circle
- Bruno Tesch , KPD
- Ernst Thälmann, KPD
- Fritz Theilen, Ehrenfeld Group
- Matthias Theisen, KPD, SPD
- Paul Thümmel, Abwehr, Czech Resistance
- Paul Tillich, Christian Socialist, American Friends of German Freedom, Council for a Democratic Germany
U
- , unionist resistance
- Robert Uhrig, KPD
V
- Kurt Vieweg, KPD
- Franz Vogt, labour unionist, SPD, Reichsbanner Schwarz-Rot-Gold
W
- Maria Wachter, KPD
- , SPD
- Heinrich Wagner, KPD, Rote Hilfe
- Jacob Walcher, Socialist Workers' Party of Germany
- , KPD
- Eduard Wald, Committee for Proletarian Unity
- Orli Wald, Young Communist League of Germany, "Angel of Auschwitz"
- Maria von Wedemeyer, Confessing Church
- , from SPD- and Socialist Workers' Party of Germany, member of existing resistance group in Zeitz
- Armin T. Wegner, author, medic, soldier and human rights activist, acted alone
- Herbert Wehner, KPD
- Otto Weidt, anarchist resistance
- , Rote Hilfe
- Friedrich Weißler, Confessing Church
- , SPD
- , Lutheran pastor
- Hans Westermann, Versöhnler, KPD
- , European Union
- , SPD
- , Aktion Rheinland
- Albert Willimsky, Catholic church
- , White Rose
- Josef Wirmer, Catholic church,
- , artist, acted alone
- , Catholic church
- , Zionist refugee helper in Berlin
- Rosi Wolfstein, Socialist Workers' Party of Germany
Z
- , Hashomer Hatzair, Herbert Baum Group
- Hiltgunt Zassenhaus, wartime translator and interpreter
- Zita Zehner, home economist and radio host
- , KPD
- Antinazistische Deutsche Volksfront
- , KPD