Final answer:
In the 1920s and 1930s, there was a narrow space for opposition which disappeared as the Nazis consolidated power, leading to fearful choices between resistance and forced complicity. The Nazis dramatically altered the socio-economic and political landscape through repressive laws and changed roles for women and people discriminated against in society. The war thus presented both new challenges and opportunities within a totalitarian Nazi regime.
Step-by-step explanation:
The choices that were open to individuals like Hans and Sophie Scholl, Helmuth von Moltke, Claus von Stauffenberg, and the “Aryan” wives of Jewish men were drastically different in the 1920s and 1930s compared to the 1940s. In the earlier period, despite the rise of the Nazi party, there were somewhat more degrees of freedom for opposition and criticism, although the space for such actions was shrinking rapidly. Following Hitler's consolidation of power and the start of the war, the choice for anyone opposed to the regime often boiled down to outright and dangerous resistance or forced complicity. As the Nazis tightened their grip on society, anti-Jewish laws severely curtailed the lives of Jews across Germany, and the very nature of what constituted “Aryan” culture and art was a matter of internal conflict among Nazi elites. With Hitler's policies, Aryan women who had Jewish spouses faced harsh discrimination and often had to make difficult choices to protect their families.
The economic, social, political, and religious fabric of Germany was systematically altered by the Nazis, with over 1400 anti-Jewish laws passed that Made Jewish citizens pariahs in their own country. Significant events like the boycott of Jewish businesses, removal of civil rights in April 1933, Hitler becoming chancellor in January 1933, and the publication of “Mein Kampf” in July 1925 deeply impacted the lives of Jews and non-Jew resistors alike. As the Nazis fostered art that fit their ideology, the role of women changed significantly during the war years, from being encouraged to stay at home to being necessary components of the workforce and military. The war itself saw new opportunities for groups that had faced discrimination or limited roles in society, challenging and changing the status quo for many, including women and African Americans.