Women and Nonviolent Resistance to WWII Nazism

Women were major players in the Resistance to Nazi occupation. Their role was downplayed in the post-war period, but this is changing with more studies being published, led by women historians. This article aims to help reverse the historiographical gender imbalance and add to the small body of literature on non-violent resistance to Nazism. It gives an overview of the many nonviolent ways in which women resisted, before focusing on the activities of several key women. It considers how these fit within the pantheon of non-violent tactics, including symbolic actions, overt non-cooperation and covert tactics. It will then focus on four types of covert tactics in particular, commencing with the gathering and communicating of intelligence. A subsequent article will explore resistance through media; smuggling and hiding people; and sabotage, and examine some of the effects of these tactics in order to determine how successful they were.