The Young in Nazi Germany

• In 1936, all boys aged between 10-18 had to join the HJ (Hitler Jugend) and girls joined the BDM (Bund Deutscher Madel)
• Hitler believed that children were the future of the nation, so he wanted them to be brought up as Nazis from an early age.
• The Hitler Youth was set up to indoctrinate young people into the Nazi ideology
• The Hitler Youth was set up by Baldur von Schirach
• The Hitler Youth aimed to create loyal Germans who would serve their country when they grew older
• Children were taught about the importance of loyalty to the Fuhrer and the need to obey orders without question
• They also learned about the superiority of the Aryan race and the inferiority of Jews and other races
• Schirach was appointed Reich Leader of the Hitler Youth on May 25th 1933
• By 1940, there were over 7 million members of the Hitler Youth
• Schirach's main aim was to create a new generation of Germans who would grow up with loyalty to the Nazi party
• Boys who didn't want to join the Hitler Youth could still attend school but they would not receive any extra benefits such as free meals or uniforms
• The Hitler Youth taught members about National Socialism through songs, games, and activities such as camping trips
• Members of the Hitler Youth wore uniforms with swastikas on them
• By 1942, there were over 5 million members of the Hitler Youth
• They also learned how to use weapons such as rifles and pistols
• Boys were encouraged to become soldiers and girls were trained to look after families
• Boys aged between 10 and 14 joined the Jungvolk (Junior Boys) and girls joined the Bund Deutscher Madel (League of German Girls)
• From ages 14-18 boys became members of the Hitler Jugend (HJ) and girls joined the League of German Maidens
• Boys joined at age 6 or 7 and girls at age 10
• By 1940, there were over 8 million members of the Hitler Youth
• In 1936, the Hitler Youth became compulsory for all boys aged between 10-18 years old
• Hitler believed that children needed to be indoctrinated from an early age so that they would become Nazis as adults
• In 1936, Schirach introduced compulsory membership of the Hitler Youth at the age of ten
• The Hitler Youth had its own newspaper called 'Der Pfadfinder', which contained articles about the Fuhrer and his achievements
• Hitler Youth groups included the Jungvolk (ages 10-14), the HJ proper (ages 14-18) and the Deutsches Mädelbund (Girls)