Hitler+Youth

By Douglas Scandrett (edited by Mackenzie Taing and Rachel Baxter)
 * Introduction**

Hitler Youth was designed somewhat like a youth group today, with emphasis on physical fitness and team building, but contained a strong Nazi viewpoint as well. The training was designed to prepare boys for combat and turn them into the perfect, ideal German solider by teaching them military tactics, physical fitness and anti-Semitism early on. It had three sections, the Hitlerjugend proper, for male youth ages 14–18; the younger boys' section Deutsches Jungvolk for ages 10–14; and the girls' section Bund Deutscher Mädel.

The group was originally formed in 1922 as the Nazi Youth Organization and became the Hitler Youth in an official way on July 4, 1926 during the 2nd annual National Party Day. Soon, other youth groups began to be folded into Hitler Youth or were banned by the state. Groups such as Boy Scouts were folded in and their employees transferred to Hitler Youth. At first, Hitler Youth was not mandatory, but //strongly recommended// but later on in the war, as more and more soldiers were killed and meeting attendance experienced a sharp decline, it was required for all boys to attend every meeting. Meetings would often run late into the night and teachers would complain that the students were simply too exhausted to learn the next day after attending Hitler Youth. Around the world the Hitler Youth was seen as a perfect example of German discipline.

Before it was mandetory to join, the interested youth would have gone through various testing to see if they were worth enough to join. The Germans wanted the best to continue Germanys legacy. Eventually the Youth would be accepted in the SS, which was their main goal.


 * Ideals **

As it was a Nazi organization, strong emphasis was placed on Nazi ideals, including the punishment of intellectuals and most of all, hatred of Jews. As well, the SS were an interval part of the youth group, so the Nazi ideals were heavily pushed by everyone involved.


 * Program **

Hitler Youth was very much like any other youth group. Focuses were put on outdoor activities and physical fitness. Youth went on camping trips, played outdoor games and learned how to function as a team t hroughout the program. They also participated in a number of activities that would translate into basic military training. Youth were required to read maps, learn first aid and become competent with a rifle at a young age. A strong focus was put on unity and the importance of sport in a young person’s life, as Hitler was a firm believer in the powers of sport and what it would translate to on the battlefield.

The girls program shared some similarities as the boys, however some activities were different. Girls focused more on how to become the perfect Nazi wife and mother than warrior. Girls were required to take sewing and cooking classes, but still had to achieve some level of physical fitness.

A branch of the Hitler Youth was the German Worker Youth, which main goal was to train members for future labor and technician jobs.

As with all other Nazi organizations, it was disbanded after the end of WWII and some of its’ leaders were tried for their actions. If the Germans had won the war, the Hitler Youth would've been a great investment.
 * Fate **

//Sources:// Student Workbook, [], http://histclo.com/youth/youth/org/nat/hitler/hitler.htm

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