Hitler Youth Membership: 1933

Figure 1.--Membership in the HJ skyrockleted after the NAZI's seized power (January 1933). Membership expanded about 20 times to 2,292,041 youth in this first year of NAZI rule. The boys were often variously unifoirmed as the organization struggled to organize the mny new recruits.

Membership in the HJ skyrockleted after the NAZI's seized power (January 1933). Membership expanded about 20 times to 2,292,041 youth in this first year of NAZI rule. This not only reflected increasing support for the Party and and access to Government resources, but the incorportation of many youth groups in to the HJ. Thus the erly members included not only NAZI suppoters, but the members of other youth groups folded into NAZI ranks. Hitler promoted Bauder von Schirach from Party youth leader to the first Reichsjugendführer (Reich Youth Leader). Schirach set about turning the HJ into a mass organization, pouring his energy and newly available government funds into the effort. Most other youth groups were either abolished or merged with the HJ, their previous social, political, and religious afiliations ended. This was the fastest way of expanding the HJ as the boys did not have to be recruited. Another factor was the DJ, the junior division. Until 1933, the HJ was mostly teemagers, often older teenagers. In the public mind thet were strongly associated with the SA, NAZI Stormtrooper street ruffians. The uniform even looked like the SA uniform. The HJ was originally a SA unit. With power the HJ acquired more legitimacy. Parents were more willing to allow their younger children to join. The same was true of girls who began to join the BDM in large numbers for the first time.