Hitler Youth Activities: War Work

Figure 1.--After the disaster before Moscow (December 1941), German military fortunes changed drmatically. The NAZIs had to utilize available manpower resources and thist included the Hitler Jugend (HJ). In 1943 as the Allied strategic bombing campaign intensified, HJ boys and even some girls were recruited to be Flakhelfers as depicted here in this NAZI poster. This was only one of the ways in which the HJ supported the War. "Wir alle helfen mit!" means "We all help with the War! "Kriegseinsatz der Hitler Jugend" means "War time activities of the Hitler Youth".

The Hitler Youth after the outbreak of the war in 1939 began a variety of war work. At first it was home froint duties much like the Scouts in Britain, collecting scrap metal, warm clothing for soldiers on the Easter Front, charity donations, or other similar activities. Hitler Youth were also involved in farm work. We believe that there was also farm work before the War, but as more and more men were drafted into the military during the War, more workers were needed. We note accounts of HJ farm workers both living with farm families as well at HJ camps. We also have reports of children from the right-wing yoth groups in occupoied countries doing farm work. These children supplmented the slave labor from occupied countries Eventually other activites such as air raid wardens were taken up. Eventually Hitler Youth boys were involved in fighting fires and police work. By 1944 normal Hitler Youth activities were disrupted by the fact that older Hitler Youth boys who had leadership roles were being recruited into the army and SS units--in some cases special Hitler Youth units.

Collections

The Hitler Youth after the outbreak of the war in 1939 began a variety of war work. At first it was home froint duties much like the Scouts in Britain, collecting scrap metal, warm clothing for soldiers on the Easter Front, charity donations, or other similar activities.

Farm Work

Hitler Youth were also involved in farm work. We believe that there was also farm work before the War, as the NAZIs attached great importance in establishing an attachment to the land. This became increasingly important as more and more men were drafted into the military during the War, more workers were needed. We note accounts of HJ farm workers both living with farm families as well at HJ camps. NAZI publications were full of peaceful scenes like this to promote the image of German youth living healthy, useful lives on the land in the service of their country. We also have reports of children from the right-wing yoth groups in occupied countries doing farm work. Many farmers also slave lanorers and prisoners of war from France, Yugoslavia, Poland, the Ukraine, and other countries who usually lived on the premises. A Dutch reader writes, "Some children of Dutch Nazis during 1941 and '42 were sent to Germany in their summer vacation (4 weeks). They were staying with selected German families, often farmers, where they were expected to help a little on the farm, since most of the men were in the Wehrmacht and their women had to do all the work. This was particularly during the summer leading to harvest time. These children supplmented the slave labor from occupied countries

Civil Defense

Eventually other activites such as air raid wardens were taken up. Eventually Hitler Youth boys were involved in fighting fires and police work.

Aufraeumungsarbeit

A HBU contributor writes about his HJ experience, "Most of what we did was "Aufraeumungsarbeit". That is, we had to clear rubble of the bombed out sections, search the cellars and basements - flooded and ready to collapse.- for survivors and dead. It was not fun by any imagination." [Lojewski]

Military Service

Normal Hitler Youth activities by 1944 were disrupted by the fact that older Hitler Youth boys who had leadership roles were being recruited into the army and SS units--in some cases special Hitler Youth units. Many Hitler Youth boys did more than just home front war work, but actually saw military service. The Hitler Youth was important in the German military effort. It no only prepared boys for military service, providing physical and ideological conditioning, but also was a conduit for chaneling the boys into the various service branches. But once accomplished the boys were no longer HJ members. Some boys acutually participated in the War as active HJ nembers. This was accomplished in sevedal ways: 1) anti-air craft batteries, 2) Volkssturm (the People's Stotrm or Home Guard), and 3) other ways. Whole military units were formed from Hitler Youth boys. I'm not sure if the boys in these units continued to be HJ members once their military unit was formed.

Sources

Lojewski, Frank A. E-mail message, December 1, 2004. Frank has provided us more details about his HJ experiences.