Hitler Youth: Background--Overview


Figure 1.--Indoctrinating children in National Socialist idelogy was a key goal of the NAZI Government once Hitler assumed control over the German state. Hitler and other NAZIs leaders saw the indoctrination of young Germans as of critical importance. The Hitler Youth was not just a German version of the Boy Scouts. There were key differences. The most important was that in the HJ unlike Scouting, the parents were not involved.

Indoctrinating children in National Socialist idelogy was a key goal of the NAZI Government once Hitler assumed control over the German state. Hitler and other NAZIs leaders saw the indoctrination of young Germans as of critical importance. He understood that a majority of Germans had not supported his seizure of power. He believed that he could win over some of those that were not with him, but others he could never convince. Thusd it was essential to win over German youth. He velievd that he could win over the vast majority of the new generation. In the same year that Hitler seized power, the NAZIs organized German youth organizations into two branches of the Hitler Youth (Hitler Jugen), one branch for boys and one for girls. Membership was eventually made compulsory and all boys had to report to a neigborhood office to have his racial background checked and be registered for membership. There was then a typically elaborate introduction ceremony on the Fehuerer's birthday. The Hitler Youth was not just a German version of the Boy Scouts. There were key differences. The most important was that in the HJ unlike Scouting, the parents were not involved. HJ adult leaders were committed NAZIs and their goal was to mold the new generation in the principles of National Socialism regardless of the parents attitudes. Involving parents in the organization would have impeded this process. Hitler from the beginning saw the Hitler Youth movement as a tool not only to win over the new generation, but to harden boys for their future role of soldiers. He wanted a generation of "victorious active, daring youth, imune to pain." There was to be no "intelectual" training for the boys of the New Order, he saw intelectual pursuits as damaging to German youth.







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Created: 8:57 AM 5/29/2006
Last updated: 8:57 AM 5/29/2006