Hitler Youth Activities: Unknown Activities

trommlers
Figure 1.--This looks to us moke like some kind of gathering at summer camp. It is clearly as our reader points out a summer scene. Just what they are all gathered together for, I am mot sure. Perhaps they are going to sing some HJ songs. I would also date the photograph a little later than 1934.

We have collected several images of Hitler Youth activities that we can not readily identify. They clearly show some sort of activity going on, but we are not positive just what. Hopefully HBU readers will be able to offer some insights as to just what is going on.

Image One: DJ Gathering

A reader writes, "Here is a photo of very young German boys being recruited into the Hitler Youth. I was struck by how young most of the boys seem to be. They all wear short pants and most seem to have their knee socks rolled down to their ankles, which was a popular style in the summer, I think. The photo dates from 1934 shortly after Hitler came to power." The boys here are clearly in the junior DJ division. I don't think, however, that this is a recruiting activity or even an induction ceremony. I think induction was a public ceremony held in the towns or cities on the Führer's birthday, April 20. This looks to us moke like some kind of gathering at summer camp. It is clearly as our reader points out a summer scene. Just what they are all gathered together for, I am mot sure. Perhaps they are going to sing some HJ songs. I would also date the photograph a little later than 1934 or 35, pthaps 37 or 38 although there is no way of being precise. A reader writes, "I saw the two drummers facing each other and it reminded me of the movie 'Drumline' In that particular movie if one of the practicing band members wanted to take the place of one of the drummers already in the band, they had to challenge them to a drum off. In the picture all eyes seem to be focused on the two drummers, very much the same as in the Drumline movie. It may also be that the boys, being so young, are being taught how to play the drums to determine which of them will lead their squad on marches and parades. Of course, there may be other answers for what is happening in the picture but the two scenarios above are all that I can think of." I am not sure that is what is going on here, in part because HJ units had a group of drummers. I would not, however, rule it out. Perhaps there were ranks involved. And I do not yet have a good understanding of hat is happening. The drummers do seem to be eyeing each other. Another reader writes, "You write that you are not sure why these boys are gathered together, but that they perhaps are going to sing some HJ songs. I think that is probably what is happening. When you look carefully at the picture you see that they are singing, accompanied by the trommlers (drummer boys)." The source dates this photograph as 1934. The Hitler Youth at this time was just beginning to be a mass organization. Thus the songs and ritual would have been new to most boys.







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Created: 2:48 AM 2/10/2007
Last updated: 7:15 PM 2/10/2007