Resistance to Nazi oppression during World War II took many forms. Much resistance took place on a personal level — even survival itself, in many cases, was a form of resistance. Public displays of resistance were evident in every country where oppressive forces were in power.
Organized resistance within Germany came from outlawed political parties, university students, disloyal military leaders, and members of the clergy. Their operations, which ranged from distribution of anti-Nazi pamphlets to attempts to assassinate Adolf Hitler, were generally ineffective. Outside Germany, partisan groups and covert armies did significant damage to the German war machine. Many of these units were made up of women and men and Jews and non-Jews who fought together, whether carrying out guerrilla attacks on Axis troops or sabotaging German military installations.
Substantial resistance to the Germans emerged in Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, the Soviet Union, and Yugoslavia. But in nearly every country, there were those who felt compelled to collaborate with the occupying forces as well.
