Fusarium head blight (FHB; caused primarily by Fusarium graminearum) can severely reduce wheat yield and quality. Improving wheat's inherent ability to withstand FHB is the most effective, economic, and environmentally friendly control strategy. Resistance is inherited through numerous small effect QTL that is strongly affected by GXE interaction.  Many resistance QTL have been discovered but only a few of those with comparatively larger effects are well characterized and widely pursued in breeding. Many other, less well-studied resistance QTL, contribute to ‘background’ or ‘native’ FHB resistance variation in wheat germplasm. This study aimed to discover useful genetic background FHB resistance in NDSU elite hard winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) germplasm. Eleven advanced lines were crossed to produce 55 partial diallel F₁ hybrid combinations. The parents and F₁ were evaluated for FHB type II resistance in a replicated greenhouse trial. ANOVA indicated significant differences in disease severity among entries. Interpretation according to Griffing showed that the parents differed significantly in general combining ability (GCA) and the F₁ differed significantly for specific combining ability (SCA). The overall ratio of GCA:SCA genetic components was 2.88, suggesting that additive QTL effects were of primary importance and that pure line selection was an appropriate breeding strategy for improving resistance. The best general combiners (and most resistant among the parents) were ND Noreen, 18Nord-107, and 19Nord-129. 18Nord-107 and ND Noreen do not have known, well-characterized larger effect resistance QTL but did show significant genetic background resistance.19Nord-129 may also have only background resistance but needs confirmation. Five F₁ combinations showed strong, significant SCA effects for increased resistance over the parents. The Vr–Wr graph (Jinks and Hayman’s interpretation) suggested an absence of epistatic gene action and the presence of incomplete dominance of the resistance QTL. It appeared that 18Nord-107 and ND Noreen had mostly dominant resistance QTL, whereas 19Nord-129 had mostly recessive resistance QTL. The material presents an opportunity to accumulate favorable alleles through selection in specific cross combinations. Eight F₂ families will be tested in a second greenhouse trial to confirm the earlier results; identify plants showing possible transgressive resistance, and initiate single seed descent (SSD) inbreeding.