In the early years of National Socialism,
the party organized youth organizations for boys and girls. However,
during the 1920s there were a number of youth organizations, competing
for membership. Only a few thousand youth took part in the Nazi organizations.
In 1931, when the Nazi Party began to gain momentum, Baldur von Schirach
was appointed the Reich Youth Leader. He aimed at bringing all youth
organizations under the control of the Hitler Youth.
In June 1933, only a short time after Hitler had come to power, Hitler
appointed von Schirach Youth Leader of the German Reich. Within two years,
Schirach had tightened the organization of youth under Nazi leadership;
some 60% of German Youth were affiliated with the Hitler Youth.
The Hitler Youth admitted youth at the age of ten, and membership in
the organizations fell into two age brackets: boys 10-14 years were in
the Jungvolk; boys 14-18 were in the Hitler Youth. They were organized
along military lines with squads, platoons and companies. Girls were
organized in the League of German Girls (Bund Deutsche Maedel; BDM).
From the time a boy entered the Hitler Youth until he became a soldier
or a member of the SS, he received a total education in Nazi ideology.
Loyalty to the Hitler Youth took precedence over loyalty to one’s
family. Girls in the League of German Girls were trained to be mothers
of genetically healthy children, who would be thoroughly educated in
Nazi ideals.
A doctoral dissertation written in 1940 described the ideology of the
Hitler Youth:
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Racial teaching is the point of departure of all
National Socialist teaching; from it the consequences of National
Socialist youth education derive. Corresponding to the will of
the Fuhrer the strengthening and toughening of one’s physical
capacity is the first as well as the highest duty of the young
generation. In order to acquire physical strength, continuous struggle
is required, a struggle which alone will produce those racially
fittest to survive. Self-confidence obtained through struggle and
victory must be acquired by every member of the Germanic racial
community from the earliest days of his childhood. His entire education
must be planned with the aim of giving him the conviction of superiority
over others. The young must accustom themselves at an early stage
to acknowledge the superiority of the stronger and to subordinate
themselves to him. |
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As quoted in H.W. Koch, The Hitler Youth: Origins
and Development 1922-1945,
p. 116. |
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