Hitler Youth Activities: Physical Conditioning

Figure 1.--The Hitler Youth program was based on Hitler's anti-intellectualism. Physical, rather than mental superiority, was stressed and outdoor activities dominated the program.

Hitler's anti-intelcualism was reflected in the Hitler Youth program and its activities. The Hitler Youth program stressed physical, rather than mental superiority. Outdoor activities dominated the program and many of the activities, especially for the older boys delt with skills which the military would find of value. Hitler from the beginning saw the Hitler Youth movement as a tool to hardening boys for their future role of soldiers. He wanted a generation of "victorious active, daring youth, imune to pain." Hitler wanted them to be "quick like greyhounds, tough like leather, and hard like Krupp steel." There was to be no "intelectual" training for the boys of the New Order, he saw intelectual pursuits as damaging to German youth. Sone of this was similar to Scouting which extolded the benefits of healthy outdoor activities. Scouting almost exclusively, however, dealt with outdoor activities. The Hitler Youth not only pursued outdoor activities, but physical consition and exercises as well.