Hitler Youth: Chronology

Figure 1.-Here we see a Hitler Youth boy in uniform. The photograph was taken before the Hitle Youth had become a compulsory national youth group. Hitle seized power (January 1933). Notice that the HJ arm band is not yet part of the uniform. Most of the boys in the Hitler Youth (especially the younger boys) at the time had parents who were in the NAZI Party or with right-wing political leanings. Note the haircut. Close cropped haircuts like this also suggest a family with a right-wing or military background. The picture was taken in Sonnenfeld which I believe is in Bavaria.

NAZI youth organization began in 1922. The first youth formaion was the Jungsturm Adolf Hitler (Adolf Hitler Boys' Storm Troop), organized by the SA in 1922. The name was changed Hitlerjugend (Hitler Youth) in 1926. The Hitler Youth were officially formed at the second Reichsparteitag (National Party Day) on July 4, 1926. The HJ was originally a strictly boys' movement. The Party decided in 1928 to also admit girls, into a separate organization that in 1930 was named the Bund Deutscher Madel (League of German Girls--BDM). Boys remained, however, the primary focus of the HJ and the bulk of the membership. Hitler in 1931 appointed Baldur von Schirach Reich Youth Leader (Reichsjugendfuhrer). Schirach set about to unite the various NAZI youth organizations under a single authority. These included, in addition to the BDM, the Schulerbund (NS--League of Nazi Students) and the Deutsches Jungvolk (German Young Folk), which inducted youngsters as young as 10 years. Schirach achieved his goal when he was appointed Jugendfuhrer des Deutschen Reiches (Youth Leader of the German Reich) in June 1933. Shortly after seizing power in 1933, Schirach organized a NAZI takeover of the German Youth Ministry and explained that the workers, except for the anti-NAZI expelled were now employed by the Hitler Youth. Most of the existing German Youth organizatons were either banned or incorporated into the Hitler Youth. The HJ by 1935 was a huge organization with over 60 percent of the country's youth participating. Most boys by 1935 had to join the Hitler Youth, although membership was not officially compulsory until 1939. In 1942, physical training became more rigorus. Many basic military skills were incorporated such as camafloge, crossing rivers, digging fox holes laying down, ect. Hitler Youth Leader Arthur Axmann on Hitler's birthday (April 1944) presented him with a newly formed division--the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend. The Division was composed of HJ youth born in 1926, meaning that they were 17-18 years old. The senior NCOs and officers were mostly SS veterans from the Eastern Front. The Division played a prominent role in the Normandy fighting.

Early Years (1922-33)

NAZI youth organization began in 1922. (One observer reports 1923.) The first youth formaion was the Jungsturm Adolf Hitler (Adolf Hitler Boys' Storm Troop), organized by the SA in 1922. The organization followed the same organuzation as the SA--divided into distrists or gaus. The Hitler Youth were officially formed at the second Reichsparteitag (National Party Day) on July 4, 1926. The HJ was originally a strictly boys' movement. The nameat this time was changed to the Hitlerjugend (Hitler Youth). The Party decided in 1928 to also admit girls, into a separate organization . Girls units had already been formed at the local level. The girls organization was in 1930 named the Bund Deutscher Maedel (League of German Girls--BDM). Boys remained, however, the priamry focus of the HJ and the bulk of the membership. Participation by girls was limited. Girls were not attracted by the strong masuline ethos of the movement. Hitler in 1931 appointed Baldur von Schirach Reich Youth Leader (Reichsjugendfuhrer). Schirach set about to unite the various NAZI youth organizations under a single authority. These included, in addition to the BDM, the Schulerbund (NS--League of Nazi Students) and the Deutsches Jungvolk (German Young Folk), which inducted boys as young as 10 years old. Schirach achieved his goal when he was appointed Jugendfuhrer des Deutschen Reiches (Youth Leader of the German Reich) in June 1933.

Third Reich (1933-45)

President Hindenburg appointed Adolf Hitler Chancellor (January 1933). Hitler and the NAZIs proceeded to seize power. Shortly after Hitler was appointed Chancellor, Schirach organized a NAZI takeover of the German Youth Ministry (1933). He explained that the staff, except for the anti-NAZIs expelled were now employed by the Hitler Youth. Most of the existing German Youth organizatons were either banned or incorporated into the Hitler Youth. The HJ by 1935 was a huge organization with over 60 percent of the country's youth participating. Mamy boys by 1935 had joined the Hitler Youth, although membership was not officially compulsory until 1936. Enforcement of the compulsory regulation st first varied. At that time the first Hitler Youth Law was promulgated. Many boys were anxious to participate, but it was often possible to avoid participation at first without severe consequences. Both Pope Benedict and his brother, for example were able to avoid participation and their father was a police officer. The NAZI Government promulgated two additional Hitler Youth Laws in 1939 and 41. The additional laws in were in part designed to strenthen the mandatory participation in the HJ. An observer writes, "Opinions differ as to when the 'mandatory' status actually began to be strictly enforced. The general opinion is that it was with the third Hitler Youth Law of 1941 that made it difficult to avoid participation." [Crawford] Artur Axmann who served on the Eastern Front repaced Schirach as HJ leader (1940). The physical training became more rigorus in 1942. Many basic military skills were incorporated such as camafloge, crossing rivers, digging fox holes laying down, ect. Hitler Youth Leader Arthur Axmann on Hitler's birthday (April 1944) presented him with a newly formed division--the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend. The Division was composed of HJ youth born in 1926, meaning that they were 17-18 years old. The senior NCOs and officers were mostly SS veterans from the Eastern Front. The Division played a prominent role in the Normandy fighting.

Allied Occupation (1945- )

The Western Allies reached the Reich in late 1944. First cities in areas of France annexed to Germany like Metz fell and then cities in Germany proper west of the Rhine fell. The Allies crossed the Rhine (March 1945). The Soviets entered Rast Prussia (late 1944) and crossed the Oder for the climatic battle of Berlin (April 1945). The NAZIs surrendered (May 8, 1945). This meant that a youth organization of over 7 million children ceased to exist. The reaction of the children varied. Some children, mostly boys resisted the occupation. This reaction, however, seems limited for an organization that had so effectely steeled millions of boys for war.

Sources

Crawford, Chris. E-mail message, June 5, 2005.