Figure 1.-- This photograph is unidentified, but we believe it is a scene from one of the Adolf Hitler Schools, It showcases the level of discipline employed at the schools. Here the boys are undergoing inspection and having their lockers inspected--probably not only for neatness (notice the shoes being examined to see if they are properly shined) but also for items that weren't permitted. The boys have to stand at attention while an older boy (clearly in the role of the inpsecting officer) makes sure that beds are properly made, items in lockers neatly stored and arranged, and that general discipline is being observed. Of course the boys are wearing their uniforms--brown shirts, short trousers, knee socks, and (in some cases) additional ankle socks (apparently not a requirement). This facility seems to have been run very much like the army. The older boy (the inspector) is one of tge senior boys at the school. Source: Budesarchiv Bild 146-1983-056-07. The photograph is undated, but looks like it was taken about 1940.

The second kind of party secondary schools created by the NAZIs were called the Adolf Hitler Schulen (AHS--Adolf Hitler Schools). The AHS were founded because the SS essentially seized control of the NAPOLA. Reichsorganisationsleiter Dr. Robert Ley (DAF leader of the DAF) and Baldur von Schirach (Hitler Youth leader) agreed to set up the new schools in January 1937. These schools, according to the joint statement issued by Schirach and Ley, were open to outstanding and proven members of the Jungvolk, the junior section of the Hitler Youth. The selection from the Jungfolk was of course because the boys enter the AHS at age 12. I have no details on the selection process. Presumably it was similar to the NAPOLAs. Selection to the AHS was a great honor. Not only were there no fees, but success at the schools would open a wide range of opportunities to boys who might come from humble backgrounds. These schools were units of and under the jurisdiction of the Hitler Youth. Schirach and Ley shared in the supervision of both the curriculum and the selection of school staff. [Nizkor, 2653-PS.] The first AHS was opened at Krössinsee in April 1937. The schools were scatered all over Germany. The initial plan was to open a AHS in each Gau (NAZI administrative unit). This was never accomplished, but two AHS were opened in the occupied territories during World War II (Belgium and Böhmen-Mähren). They were boarding school directed by the Hitler Youth. Outstanding students were selected from the Hitler Youth. It is notable that the selection was made from the Hitlaer Youth and not German schools. This shows the NAZI distrust of the school system. They went through 6 years of leadership training for possible future positions in the NAZI party. Upon graduation, the student was prepared to attend the university or other post secondary training at Poltical Institutes and Order Castles. The head school was in Brunswick. [Shirer, p. 13.] Adolf Hitler Schools had 600 students in total. The small number suggests the great care with which the children were chosen. The larger number of NAPOLA students, however, has to be added to get a true picture of the number of students trained at these NAZI Party academies. German statistics show that in 1940, 28 percent of the students came from urban areas, while 20 percent came from rural areas [Overy, p. 42] [Recheck, why does this not add to 100 percent?] Students who passed the first training process were sent to a Gebietsführerschule (Area Leader School) for the final training.

Founding

The second kind of party secondary schools created by the NAZIs were called the Adolf Hitler Schulen (AHS--Adolf Hitler Schools). The AHS were founded because the SS essentially seized control of the NAPOLA and the Party and Hitler Youth wanted to operate some of these schools. We are not sure just why Hitler decided a second group of Party schools. Perhaps he was just placating the Party which still had many SA members. Or perhaps he liked the sound of the name. This we will probably never know.

At any rate Hitler announced the foundation of the Adolf Hitler Schools to Party leaders (January 15, 1937). "You, my brown shirts, you are the fighting troops of this whole development (Entwicklung) you are the representatives of this political mission. You were the ones who carried this banner first, and I know you will continue to carry it far into the German future, and when the last man among you has passed by, the first columns of the German youth will already be there. An endless stream of German blood and of German life. "Thus, generations after generations of our people will march on in our history. With this banner always in view which obligates us to our people, to its honor, to its Freedom and to our community, to our real National Socialist fraternity." "This German Youth marches in the Hitler-Youth to carry on this banner into the German future. A new great task was put before it at the beginning of the year, which found its expression in the establishment of the Adolf Hitler Schools. The Fuehrer's decree says: 'I give my consent, after having received the report of the Reichsorganizationslehrer of the NSDAP and of the Youth Leader [Jugend Fuehrer] that the National Socialist Schools to be built which are also supposed to serve as preliminary schools (Vorschuler) for the National Socialist Ordensburg may carry my name." [Ruhle, pp. 117-118.] Reichsorganisationsleiter Dr. Robert Ley (DAF leader of the DAF) and Baldur von Schirach (Hitler Youth leader) agreed to set up the new schools and 2 days after Hitler's announcement issued this statement in Munich :

" The Fuehrer has issued the above decree concerning the Adolf-Hitler-Schools of the NSDAP, on the basis of a plan which had been worked out by us in cooperation with each other. Therewith NSDAP and the Hitler Youth have received the new enormous task which reaches far beyond the present into the distant future. Further details concerning the Adolf-Hitler-Schools will not yet be published today. But in order to avoid confusion, we state the following principles: 1. The Adolf-Hitler-Schools are units of the Hitler-Youth, and come under its jurisdiction. Directives regarding the subjects to be taught, the curriculum and the teachers staff will be issued coherently throughout the Reich by the undersigned Reich leaders. 2. The Adolf-Hitler-School comprises six classes. Generally admission takes place upon the completion of the 12th year. 3. Admitted shall be such boys who have proved themselves to be outstanding in the German Junior Hitler Youth Jungvolk and who are recommended by their competent superiors. 4. The training in the Adolf-Hitler-Schools is free of charge. 5. The supervision of the Schools falls under the jurisdiction of the district leader of the NSDAP Hoheitsrechte des Gauleiters]. Either he himself exercises the right of supervision, or he transfers its execution to the Educational Bureau of the District [Gauschulungsampt]. 6. After a successful examination any career in the Party and in the Reich is open to the Adolf-Hitler-Student. "

Selection

These schools, according to the joint statement issued by Schirach and Ley, were open to outstanding and proven members of the Jungvolk, the junior section of the Hitler Youth. The selection from the Jungfolk was of course because the boys enter the AHS at age 12. I have no details on the selection process. Outstanding individuals were selected from the Hitler Youth. I don't think that academic performance, however, was the principal qualification. Just how this wa measured I do not know. It is notable that the selection was made from the Hitler Youth and not German schools. This shows the NAZI distrust of the school system. It seems to have been similar to the NAPOLAs. Selection to the AHS was a great honor. Presumably performance in the DJ was very important. We suspect that the principal factor may have been family political connections with Party officials. Ley's interest was to provide a pathway for working-class boys to important positions in the Party. Adolf Hitler Schools had 600 students in total. The small number suggests the great care with which the children were chosen. The larger number of NAPOLA students, however, has to be added to get a true picture of the number of students trained at these NAZI Party academies. German statistics show that in 1940, 28 percent of the students came from urban areas, while 20 percent came from rural areas [Overy, p. 42] [Recheck, why does this not add to 100 percent?]

Benefits

Not only were there no fees, but success at the schools would open a wide range of opportunities to boys who might come from humble backgrounds.

Administration

These schools were units of and under the jurisdiction of the Hitler Youth. Schirach and Ley shared in the supervision of both the curriculum and the selection of school staff. [Nizkor, 2653-PS.]

Schools

Teachers selected for the schools met in Potsdam (March 7-13, 1937). The first AHS was opened at Ordensburg Groessinsee/Krössinsee in (April 19, 1937). The schools were scatered all over Germany. None of the schools were newly built facilities, but rather set up in facilities taken over by the Party. The first 10 schools were located at: 1. East Prussia, later Tilsit 2. Kurmark - later Mark Brandenburg (respectively Frankfurt) 3. Cologne-Aachen, later Waldbröl 4. Koblenz-Trier - later Koblenz 5. Saxony - later Plauen 6. Thuringia - later Weimer 7. Franconia - later Hesselberg 8. Hochland - later Munich-Upper Bavaria / Chiemsee 9. Mecklenburg - later Westmark / Landstuhl 10. Saarpfalz - later Westmark Two more schools were opened in 1941 and 1943 at: 11. Silesia - later Bohmen-Mähren 12. Iglau - later Lower Silesia The initial plan was to open a AHS in each Gau (NAZI administrative unit). This was never accomplished, but two AHS were opened in the occupied territories during World War II (Belgium and Böhmen-Mähren). The head school was in Brunswick. [Shirer, p. 13.]

Program

They students went through 6 years of leadership training preparing for possible future positions in the NAZI party. The 6 years was the standard German secndary program. We are not sure what the academic program was like, but we suspect it was much weaker than the standard secondary program which itself was being steadily weakened by the NAZI regime which was replacing qualified teachers with Party loyalists. One report suggests that the syllabus was that of ordinary grammar schools with the exceotion that political indocrtinatio replaced religious instruction. It should be noted that a similar syllabus does not mean a similar rigorus level of instruction or academic standards. As the schools were boarding schools that mean that much more could be added to the program. Even in the rehgular schools, the NAZIs incresed the time devoted to phsical training and added boxing to the pogram. And poor performance in the PE classes could lead to expulsion no matter how wll the student did academically. At the AHS schools the PE training program was much more intense than even the expanded secondary program. A great deal of time devoted to they were boarding chools, a great deal of time was available. The PE and activities program included sports, boxing, war games, rowing, sailing, gliding, fire arms training, shooting, riding motorbikes, hiking, and much more.

Boarding

The AHS were boarding school directed by the Hitler Youth. Boarding of course offered a degree of socialization on the Party ethos that could not be achieved in a day school environment. It is essentially gave the NAZIs control over the boys for almost all of their teen years.

Advanced Studies

This is a little difficult to study because we do not speak German. And the English-language sources we have found do not go into great detail. As best we can figure out, students who completed the basic AHS program were sent to a Gebietsführerschule (Area Leader School) for their final training. This may have occurred while they were stiill stdents at their AHS rather thn after graduation. It looks to have been a short 2 week progrm at a separate location. We have not seen a detailed desctiption of this. Perhaps readers will know more. We welcome comments. We have found albums from boys who attended the Gebietsführerschulen. They look to be the older boys who would have graduated. This is something we hope to pursue a information becomes available. The graduates were prepared to enter the university or other post secondary training at Poltical Institutes and Order Castles. AHS graduates would have priority treatment to enter the post-secondary institution of choice. The top graduates qualified to attend the 3-year Ordensburgen. After this they be eligible for Party positions. Hitler saw this process with its Teutonic mythology as creating a "violently active, dominating, brutal youth ... indifferent to pain, without weakness and tenderness."

Sources

Nizkor Project, "Nazi Conspiracy & Aggression Individual Responsibility Of Defendants: Baldur Von Schirach (2653-PS).

Overy, Richard. The Penguin Historical Atlas of the Third Reich (Penguin Group: London 1996).

Ruhle, Gerd, Ed. The Way of the German Youth: Fifth Year, 1937 (Hans Eugen Hummel, Berlin NW 7.).

Shirer, William L. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich (Simon and Schuster: New York, 1960).

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