Hitler Youth Laws: 1936

Figure 1.--Membership in the Hitler Youth was optional through 1936, meaning the first 4 years of the NAZI era. The children of NAZUI supporters were signed up. Others seeing the advantages to identifying with the NAZI Party also signed up their children. The children were often pressured by peers to join. There were , however, many people who did not like Hitler abd the NAZIS and did not want their children influenced by them. The 1936 despite the vague wording made membership mandatory. Parents could thus get into trouble if they prevented their children from joining.

The NAZI Government promulgated the First Hitler Youth Law December 1, 1936. Until this law was promulgated, membership in the Hitler Youth was optional. The children and families could decided for themselves whether or not to join. Some children were pressured to join by peers, but did not have to join. The principal provision of the law was to make membership in the Hitlerjugend mandatory for all eligible German youths. The Law was very simple. It proclimed, "The future of the German people depends on its youth. Therefore, all of the German youth must be prepared for its future duties." The law was notable for its brevity, but stated, "All German youths within the borders of the German Reich will be incorporated into the Hitler Youth." This essentially made membership compulsory, but did not explicityl say so. Nor did the Law establish any penalties for non-complince. Based on the law, the HJ proceeded on the basis that all children, both boys and girls, should enter the HJ at age 10. Most families had already and membership did not increase substantially in 1937, although membership did increase about 2.5 million in 1938 and 39.

Early Choice

Until this law was promulgated, membership in the Hitler Youth was optional. The children and families could decided for themselves whether or not to join. Some children were pressured to join by peers, but did not have to join.

Promulgation

The NAZI Government promulgated the First Hitler Youth Law December 1, 1936.

Provisions

The principal provision of the law was to make membership in the Hitlerjugend mandatory for all eligible German youths. The Law was very simple.

German text

Gesetz über die HJ vom 1. Dezember 1936.

Von der Jugend hängt die Zukunft des deutschen Volkes ab. Die gesamte deutsche Jugend muss deshalb auf ihre zukünftigen Pflichten vorbereitet werden. Die Reichsregierung hat daher das Gesetz beschlossen, das hiermit verkündet wird:

§ 1 Die gesamte deutsche Jugend ist in der Hitler-Jugend zusammengefasst.

§ 2 Die gesamte deutsche Jugend ist außer im Elternhaus und der Schule in der Hitler-Jugend körperlich, geistig und sittlich im Geiste des Nationalsozialismus im Dienst am Volk und zur Volksgemeinschaft zu erziehen.

§ 3 Die Aufgabe der Erziehung der gesamten deutschen Jugend in der Hitler-Jugend wird dem Reichsjugendführer der NSDAP übertragen. Er ist damit Jugendführer des Deutschen Reiches. Er hat die Stellung einer obersten Reichsbehörde mit dem Sitz in Berlin und ist dem Führer und Reichskanzler unmittelbar unterstellt.

§ 4 Die zur Durchführung und Ergänzung dieses Gesetzes erforderlichen Rechtsverordnungen und allgemeinen Verwaltungsvorschriften erlässt der Führer und Reichskanzler.

English translation

Law on the Hitler Youth from 1 December 1936.

The future of the German people depends on its youth. The German youth must therefore be prepared for their future responsibilities. Therefore the Government of the Reich has prepared the following law which is being published herewith::

§ 1 All German youth is organized into the Hitler Youth.

§ 2 The German Youth besides being reared within the family and school, shall be educated physically, intellectually, and morally in the spirit of National Socialism to serve the people and community, through the Hitler Youth.

§ 3 The task of educating the German Youth through the Hitler Youth is being entrusted to the Reich Leader of German Youth in the NSDAP. He is the “Youth Leader of the German Reich”. The position of his office is that of a higher governmental Agency with its seat in Berlin, and is directly responsible to the Fuehrer and the Chancellor of the Reich.

§ 4 All regulations necessary for the execution and completion of this law will be issued by the Fuehrer Chancellor of the Reich.

Berlin, 1 December 1936

The Fuehrer and Chancellor of the Reich Adolf Hitler

The Secretary of State and Chief of the Reich Chancellery Dr. Lammers

Impact

The law was notable for its brevity, but essentially made membership compulsory, but the wording is vague. It did not explicityl say the children had to join. Nor did the Law establish any penalties for non-complince.

Expansion

Based on the law, the HJ proceeded on the basis that all children, both boys and girls, should enter the HJ at age 10. Most families had already and membership did not increase substantially in 1937, although membership did increase about 2.5 million in 1938 and 39.