What was it like for Children in Nazi Germany? Part 2

History 101:
What was it like for children in Nazi Germany? Part 2
in this part we will be exploring how the Hitler youth shaped millions of children's lives in Nazi Germany:

Hitler Youth boys

The Hitler youth was the next system that the Nazis utilised to brainwash millions. It was started in the early 1920's but only gained real ground in the younger generation by 1933. Membership by the mid 30's was virtually compulsory. Parents of non attenders came under suspicion of block leaders*. Most parents knew that their kids were being brainwashed, like at school, however they had no choice but to send them their. The Hitler youth taught many different things but children mainly participated in outdoor activities such as hiking, camping and team based sport. For boys, Later on in the thirties, drills became increasingly focused on military training however many young people began to resent the hard physical training they were put through. For example at Hitler Youth camping trips boys practiced throwing hand grenades and jumping through fires. Girls, on the other hand did the cooking washing up! This was supposedly preparing them for their full time job of being a mother and staying at home, this being the Nazis main ideal role for ALL women.

Again the Nazis carried on the indoctrinating of youths when the young were taught about the need for Germany to expand its borders and to make Germany great again.There were also lectures on race and the 'problems of Jews in Germany'. This increased brainwashing at the Hitler Youth and school catastrophically effected youths lives for the worse and turned millions of children into mini Nazis, spouting racial abuse and saluting to Hitler in marches. Its exactly what the Nazis wanted of course! If the Nazis couldn't win over the current Generation they were sure winning over the next one! The Hitler Youth inspired many young people. This might have been through the special brown uniforms the children were given or on the vast Nazi marches, which the Nazi youth took a important participation in. If many young children were enjoying the Hitler Youth and the free lessons in fixing bikes, signalling and more, surely the every child was a Nazi? 

Wrong! There was much unrest in the Hitler Youth. After 1938 many members of the Hitler Youth became increasingly fed up with the incessant propaganda about Germany being a strong great country! Many young people now started to join opposing youth groups like the Edelweiss Pirates because they didn't agree with the extreme racial views. one Lady recalled her disagreement; "One night as we lay under the sky after a long cycling tour, a friend said quite suddenly and out of the blue: Everything would be fine but this thing about the Jews is something i just can't swallow". It seemed that the constant propaganda and anti-semitism seemed to not work with many of the older members and turned many youths away! This was a key issue of the Nazi youth however by 1939 8 million children in Germany were members of the Hitler Youth, So had the brainwashing worked?

Hitler Youth marching

Yes, to a certain extent! millions of children were now, as I call, thinking and doing Nazi subconsciously or not. This posted popularity for the Nazis big time and if it was not for the war, may have solidified their position of power in Government for years to come. So what was it like for children? Not to bad if you were on the right side of the fence so to say. As long as you were not a minority, socialist, communist or opposed to Hitler then your time may have been very enjoyable as a youth in Nazi Germany. Free Hitler Youth sessions where you learn important skills and spend time with your friends doing fun activities. It was also seen as free childcare by many parents and enabled them to work. School may have been fairly normal, just learning different topics tarnished with Nazi ideals however at that age how were you to no Nazi from non-Nazi? Was it Nazism even distinguishable to a young person as a negative thing if it may have been bringing you so much pride and happiness?

*Block leaders- people who were informers to the Nazis and were stationed on every road or block of flats, hence the name block leaders.

Thanks for reading! Thats another mini series complete, hope you enjoyed! going to be much more regular for the next two weeks on History 101 so stay tuned for more blogs. Also please suggest ideas for new series.

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