The Moral Example of the German Resistance Against the Nazi Regime

Abstract

Perceptions about the German Resistance against the Nazis (Widerstand) changed over the years since WWII. Whereas the Nazis saw resisters as amoral traitors, German leaders recently presented the individuals of the Widerstand as moral examples of people who resisted intolerance, racism and totalitarianism. Statements and reflections about moral perception by and about people of the Widerstand in a wide variety of sources were considered historically and with moral theory. Because of the vast heterogeneity of the resisters, a basic normative understanding of ethical and moral action was engaged instead of a single theory. The Widerstand represents a struggle for moral dominance between individuals and a morally corrupt state. The Widerstand case confirms the notion that morality is inextricably bound to individual perception of what is right or wrong. As an universal moral example, the Widerstand example moots for the rejection of intolerance, racism and totalitarianism as morally wrong.