Figure 1.--Hitler did not openly tell the German people that he planned war, but war was in fact a core element of NAZI ideology and Fascist ideology in general. Note the extent to which this ideal NAZI family had been militarized. I am not sure what uniform the father wears. The two boys look to be in the Duetch Jungvolk, the junior level of the Hitler Youth. The girl is in the Bund deutscher Mädel. Many families had boys in the highly militarized Labor Service (RAD). The older son is in the Luftwaffe.l

War was an integral part of NAZI ideology. The two most important NAZI Party organizations were the para-military SA and SS. Hitler was very guarded about his devotion to war. Hitler is amazngly forthwright about about NAZI idelogy in Mein Kanpf. Much of what he did is stated with considerable clarity, if muddled syntax, in Mein Kampf. The one aspect that he does not treat with some openess is his desire to lean the German nation in a great war. German was a corporal in World War I and he amazingly described the War as some of the hapiest times of his life. There can be no doubt that war was an integral part of NAZI idelogy. Hitler had to be careful about this because to gain power the NAZIs had to win seats in the Reichstag. And as a result of World War I, no party could have succeeded if it openly expoused war. Any minimal reading of Min Kampf clearly indicated that Hitler meant war. When he discusses the need for Lebensraum in the East, this could only be achieved by war. But for the NAZIs, war is not just a necesary evil, it is positive force for good. Upon seizing power, Hitler launched a massive rearmament program, far beyond Germany's need for defense. War as a pat of NAZI ideology can be seen in many aspects of the NAZI regime. Biology courses in schools strssed the comcept of survival of the fitest and the connection was made between struggles among nations and people. Here a heavy enphasis was given to race. Military service was lauded and the NAZIs began militarizing children at age 10 years. The Hitler Jugend (HJ) was essentially an orgamization designed to militarize the new generations of Germans. Hitler Youth boys were pitted in often savage wide cames. Military service was launed as the epitome of human endevor. Boys would hold mock funerals for comrades who had died in battle. Girls joined the Bund deutscher Mädel. After the HJ, boys would do a year of Reichsarbietsdienst (Labor Service, RAD), which was a highly militarized experience. Finally the boys would enter the military itself. Once the war began, party members of appropriate age were expected to join the service. So you see even officials like Baldur von Schirach, the head of the HJ, who did so much to militaize German youth, did military service, although in a safe posting.

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Created: 5:55 AM 6/14/2006
Last updated: 5:56 AM 6/14/2006