Hitler Youth: Youth Group Holdouts (1933-39)

Figure 1.--The Catholic youth organizations were the primary groups resisting incorporation into the Hitler Youth. Some natioinalist groups also resisted. We are not sure what groups is involved here in 1934. There is some information on the back that may provide some clues. Click on the image for more informationm.

Baldur Von Schirach was the leading NAZI in destroying Germany's independent youth organizations and in building the NAZI youth movement. Schirach was unable in 1933 to seize control of every German youth organizatioin and its assetts. The Catholic Centre Party before disbanded under NAZI pressure (July 5, 1933) obtained guarantees over catholic education and youth groups. There were also some natioinaslist groups that remained independent, but only for a while. This is a rather complicated topic which we do not fully understand at this time. The basic hold outs were the Catholics. The Catholics were more skeptical of the NAZIs than the Protestants. This reflected the Catholic attitudes toward government both in Imperial Germany and the Weimar Republic. The Catholic Center Party had been a major political party. Hitler while his hold on power was still tenous in the early years was willing to moive carefully against the Catholics. And this was reflected in the exception made for Catholic youth groups. Many nationalist groups eagerly joined the HJ after the NAZI seizure of power. A few apparantly remained independent for ashort period. There were many different groups of varying size so the details here are quite complicated.

Baldur Von Schirach

Baldur Von Schirach was the leading NAZI in destroying Germany's independent youth organizations and in building the NAZI youth movement. Schirach was arguably the most successful organizers of youth group's in history. In the space of a few years he had shaped German youth into young men willing to prosecute the most destructive war in history as well as to engage or acquiesce in the most brutal atrocities in modern European history. The boys he helped trained remained loyal to the end, in many cases joining in the hopeless often suicidal defense of their towns and villages even though the War was lost.

Seizure of German Youth Movement

Hold Outs

Schirach was unable in 1933 to seize control of every German youth organizatioin and its assetts. This is a rather complicated topic which we do not fully understand at this time. There were many different groups of varying size so the details here are quite complicated.

Catholic organizatioins

The Catholic Centre Party before disbanded under NAZI pressure (July 5, 1933) obtained guarantees over catholic education and youth groups. The Catholics were more skeptical of the NAZIs than the Protestants. This reflected the Catholic attitudes toward government both in Imperial Germany and the Weimar Republic. The Catholic Center Party had been a major political party. Hitler while his hold on power was still tenous in the early years was willing to moive carefully against the Catholics. And this was reflected in the exception made for Catholic youth groups. There was also an international aspect to the NAZIs relatioin with the Catholics. There was (and still is) an international treaty ("Konkordat") between the Vatican in Rome and the German state. Hitler did not want to break the Konkordat when he first took over. His wanted to demonstrate that he was a resonable leader while the Germany military situation was still weak. Once firmly in power, however, Hitler moved to renegotuiate the Konkordat.

Nationalist groups

There were also some natioinaslist groups that remained independent, but only for a while. The basic hold outs were the Catholics. Many nationalist groups eagerly joined the HJ after the NAZI seizure of power. A few apparantly remained independent for a short period.

NAZI Strategy

Hitler was a stunningly successful politician. One of his tactics was to divide the opposition. This approach is evident here. He paid considerable defference to the Catholics in Germany, at least during the early years of the NAZI regime. The initial actions were aimed at Communists and then Socialists. By not acting against the Catholics as well he reduced the potential opposition. Of course once the Communists and Socialists were dealt with, he could then move against Catholic organizations. Hityler used this tatic repeatedly. He also used it in his foreign policy, the best example being the NAZI-Soviet Non-Agression Pact. Ironically whle Hitler was an effective politican, he had no respect for politicans or political skills. What he wanted to be was a great war commander. Here his abilities were proved to be much more limited.

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