Youths in Nazi Germany

Nazi Youth Policy - Aims

Hitler hoped that German children would be patriotic (love of one’s country) supporters of a strong Germany. To control the young, the Nazis created a number of youth organisations.

Youth Organisations

Boys aged 10 to 14 were part of the Young German Folk.
Girls aged 10 to 14 were part of the Young Girls.
Boys aged 14 to 18 were part of the Hitler Youth.
Girls aged 14 to 18 were part of the League of German Maidens.
- Membership for all was compulsory for children aged 10 in 1936.

The aim for boys

Hitler wanted to prepare boys to be future soldiers and political leaders.
- Boys wore military uniforms and their activities focused on physical exercise and political indoctrination (teaching people to accept beliefs without questioning).
- Such activities included sports, singing, shooting, learning military drills, and camping.

The aim for girls

Hitler wanted to prepare girls to be future mothers.
- Girls wore a uniform as well. Their activities also focused on physical exercise and learning skills like cooking, which are usually associated with 'homemakers'.
Girls did do sports and singing, as well as cleaning, cooking, and baking.

Nazi Youth Policy - Education

Hitler and the Nazis implemented changes in schools and the curriculum to win the support or to control the German youth.

Nazi teaching

As well as the Hitler Youth, the Nazis wanted to control children through education.
- To make sure that children were indoctrinated (taught to accept) into the Nazi ideology (set of beliefs), all teachers were forced to join the Nazi Teachers’ Association.

The Nazi curriculum

The curriculum was tailored (adapted) to help shape children as Nazis.
- By 1935, all textbooks had to be approved by the Nazis to make sure they fit the Nazi message.
Physical Education became a priority to make sure children were fit and healthy.
History was used to teach children about the rise of the Nazis.

Racism in the curriculum

Race Studies was used to teach children about ‘eugenics’.
- This meant that Aryans was a superior race and should grow, whereas other inferior races should stop reproducing.
The aim was to produce a ‘perfect’ human race.

Success of youth policy

It’s difficult to know the exact success of these policies.
In general, most children were enthusiastic supporters of the Nazi regime.
- Some of the activities in the Hitler Youth were fun and enjoyable.
- The emphasis on physical education did mean that children were healthy.
- The Nazis succeeded in indoctrinating (teaching people to accept) ideas, such as anti-Semitism (strong dislike of Jews).

Can children be loyal?

But how can we establish genuine loyalty and support from children?
While 90% of children were part of the Hitler Youth by 1939, this meant that 10% resisted the Nazis.
- These groups included the Edelweiss Pirates and Swing Youth.
Children resented (felt bitter about) the focus on military drills.
Parents did not like the amount of time children spent with the Hitler Youth.

1The Weimar Republic 1918-1929

1.1World War One

1.1.1WW1

1.1.2The Weimar Republic

1.1.3Early Challenges to Weimar

1.1.4Reparations & the Ruhr

1.1.5Weimar Recovery

1.1.6Weimar Living Standards

1.1.7Weimar Culture

1.1.8End of Topic Test - WW1 & Weimar

1.1.9Grade 9 - The Weimar Republic

2Hitler's Rise to Power 1919-1933

2.1Early Development of the Nazi Party

2.1.1Hitler & the Beginnings of the Nazi Party

2.1.2End of Topic Test - Start of the Nazi Party

2.2The Munich Putsch & the Lean Years

2.2.1The Munich Putsch

2.2.2The Lean Years, 1923-1929

2.2.3End of Topic Test - Putsch & Lean Years

2.2.4Grade 9 - Hitler's Rise to Power

2.3The Growth of Support for the Nazis

2.3.1The Impact of the Great Depression

2.3.2End of Topic Test - Great Depression

2.4How Hitler Became Chancellor

2.4.1Article 48 & Political Turmoil

2.4.2von Papen & Hindenburg's Pact

2.4.3End of Topic Test - Chancellory

2.4.4Grade 9 - How Hitler Became Chancellor

3Nazi Control & Dictatorship 1933-1939

3.1Creating a Dictatorship, 1933-1934

3.1.1The Rise of Hitler

3.1.2End of Topic Test - Dictatorship

3.2The Police State

3.2.1The Police State

3.2.2Repression & Concentration Camps

3.2.3The Nazis & Religion

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Police State

3.2.5Grade 9 - Dictatorship and Police State

3.3Controlling & Influencing Attitudes

3.3.1Propaganda & Censorship

3.3.2Nazi Art & Culture

3.3.3Church Opposition & Social Conformity

3.3.4Youth Opposition & the July Plot

3.3.5End of Topic Test - Controlling Attitudes

3.3.6Grade 9 - Controlling Attitudes

4Life in Nazi Germany 1933-1939

4.1Life in Nazi Germany

4.1.1Women in Nazi Germany

4.1.2Youths in Nazi Germany

4.1.3Employment & Living Standards

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Life in Nazi Germany

4.2The Persecution of Minorities

4.2.1Nazi Racial Beliefs

4.2.2The Persecution of the Jews

4.2.3The Death Camps

4.2.4End of Topic Test - Persecution

4.2.5Grade 9 - Life in Nazi Germany

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