Figure 1.-The photo here is a group of boys about 11 years old who have just entered the Blankenburg Gymnasium (figure 1). This was a secondary school that educated boys in academic subjects to prepare them for university entrance. One had to pass examinations to be admitted. The ages of the school were from 10 to 18. Notice that all the boys but a few are dressed in the Hitler Youth uniform. This photograph was taken in 1937, presumably September as the boys had just entered the school. |
This was a secondary school that educated boys in academic subjects to prepare them for university entrance. One had to pass examinations to be admitted. The ages of the school were from 10 to 18. We have no specific information on the school at this time. The only information we have here is the class portrait. I'm not sure where Blackeburg is located.
This was a secondary school that educated boys in academic subjects to prepare them for university entrance. One had to pass examinations to be admitted. The ages of the school were from 10 to 18. We have no specific information on the school at this time. The only information we have here is the class portrait.
Blankenburg is a small, unspoiled town noted for its spa in Saxony-Anhalt in
the Harz Mountains.
The photo here is a group of boys about 11 years old who have just entered the Blankenburg Gymnasium (figure 1). The boys were photographed in 1937. An earlier picture of some of the boys is availavle in the local primary school during 1933.
Notice that all the boys pictured here but a few are dressed in the Hitler Youth uniform. The photograph was taken in 1937. The boys who aren't in uniform (there are only two in the front row) are apparently still too young to join the HJ. They had apparently skipped a grade because they were exceptionally bright, and were not quite old enough (10) to join the Hitler Youth. They were talented boys who were able to enter the Gymnasium a year before the normal entrance age. The Hitler Youth uniforms were not regular classroom wear. The boys here are simply in uniform for the school photograph. The Hitler Youth uniform involved military jackets-looking shirts and jackets, belts with across-the- chest straps, and knee socks. The boys here mostly wear the Winter unikform. One boy, however, wears the Summer uniform. He also wears long stockings with his short pants--a style that the NAZIs generally discouraged.
Here the two boys not wearing their uniforms were not yet 10 years old. Membership in the Hitler Youth was at first voluntary, but strongly encouraged. Most boys wanted to join because their frirnds were memmbers and because of the activity program. Eventually membership was made compulsory at age 10. There were a range of reasons why boys did not join or that some boys in images like this were not in uniform. Jewish children were excluded, but after the issuance of the Nurenberg Laws (1935), they were also soon expelled from German schools. In the early NAZI years, participation was not as compulsory as it was to become. Thus families that objected to the NAZIs could keep their children out. This worked for example for the future Pope Benedict for several years. Some boys could be exempted for health reasons. Some parents could not afford the uniform or did not want to pasy for it. As the NAZIs solidified their hold on Germany, in became dangerous for parents to keep their children out of the HJ. It is always possible of course that they forgot to put on their uniform that day.
This school portrait is unusual in that so many of the boys are wearing their HJ uniforms. It is rare to see German school portraits when even a few boys are wearing their uniforms. I don't think it is a school rule, although we have no rel infomation about this school photograph. More likely is that some special event was taking place. Perhaps this was the first day of school for the new boys. Perhaps a HJ event followed school. Mabey it was Hitler's birthday. We just do not know. HJ boys mostly wore their uniforms for HJ activities, but we occassionally see boys wearing their uniforms fofr other occassions.
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