Hitler Youth: Leadership

Figure 1.--These German and Italian youth leaders gathered in Berlin for cleebrations associated with the signing of the Pact of Steel between the two countries in May 1939. Hitler Youth leaders can be identified by the HJ diamon pin on their caps and the striped HJ arm band.

One of the characteristics of the Hitler Youth was youth leadership. Boys were taught to both follow and lead. The opportunity to lead other boys was highly prized and theur was considerable competition. Leadership rank was conveted by different colored lanyards. The HJ youth leaders were very tightly controlled by adult leaders who made sure that the youth leaders conformed with the NAZI Party program. We have very limited information about who these adult leaders were and how they were selected. Nor do we have a good idea yet as to just how they interacted with the youth leaders. We have begun to collect information on the question of leadership and will archive that information here.

Youth Leaders

One of the characteristics of the Hitler Youth was youth leadership. Boys were taught to both follow and lead. The opportunity to lead other boys was highly prized and theur was considerable competition. Leadership rank was conveted by different colored lanyards.

Adult Leaders

The HJ youth leaders were very tightly controlled by adult leaders who made sure that the youth leaders conformed with the NAZI Party program. We have very limited information about who these adult leaders were and how they were selected. Nor do we have a good idea yet as to just how they interacted with the youth leaders. We have begun to collect information on the question of leadership and will archive that information here.