HITLER AND THE YOUNG

Why focus on the young

• Hitler’s third Reich was going to last for 1000 years. Clearly the next generation were vital.

• Children are easier to indoctrinate than adults.• Ideas formed in childhood last for life

THE BIG QUESTIONS

• What did the Nazis do to try and indoctrinate

young people?• Was life better or worse for young people

under the Nazis?• Did the Nazis succeed in indoctrinating the

young?

Took over existing youth clubs in 1933, took over sports clubs in 1936 and became compulsory in 1939. Membership grew from 3.5 million in 1935 to 7.7 million in 1938. Almost everyone.

For boys

• 6 – 10 – Pimpfen – little fellows• 10-14 DJ (German Young People). • 14-18 Hitler Youth• 18-19 Labour Corps• 19 - Army

What did it do for boys?

• Hitler Youth – sports, parades, singing military training, camping, uniform. Tough exercise. Win a Hitler Youth Knife

• Education – More German literature and history promoting German glory. Science. Sport. Maths uses military examples. No RS or free thought or foreign languages. Jewish children excluded.

For girls

• JM League of Young Girls - 10-14• BMD (League of German Maidens) 14 – 18• 18 + Faith and Beauty Club• 19 Marriage and lots of children. No career.

What did it do for girls

• JMB – cooking sport parades and crafts• Education – more home economics less

academic study. Preparation for homemaker and mother. Simple dress – no make up. Biology becomes eugenics. Maths using cooking examples

Was life good for children

• Most children enjoyed the sport and social bit of the Hitler Youth. Almost everyone joined even before it was compulsory

• But – there was bullying of the weak• It was military training which led into WW2• All other things – scouts church groups etc were closed• Some hated it• Jews were banned and racial hatred encouraged• Much of the education was brainwashing• Private and religious schools were closed

Were German children convinced?

• Yes • Almost everyone joined even before it was

compulsory• 12 SS Panzer Hitler Jugend division –

comprised of 16/17 year olds fought bravely in Normandy and committed atrocities.

• Children as young as eleven fought bravely against the Russians.

Was anyone not convinced?

• The Eidelweiss Pirates listened to jazz music and fought the Hitler Youth.

• There was some resistance and non cooperation.

• Many were bullied into joining by threats and peer pressure

• Once Hitler had gone the Hitler Youth disappeared