Life for youth

• Patriotic


  Love of one's country
• Nazi youth organisations


  • Young German Folk (boys 10-14)
  • Young Girls (girls 10-14)
  • Hitler Youth (boys 14-18)
  • League of German Maidens (girls 14-18)
• Membership for all was compulsory for children aged 10 in 1936
• Aim for boys


  To prepare boys to be future soldiers and political leaders
• Activities for boys


  1. Wearing military uniforms

  2. Physical exercise

  3. Political indoctrination

  4. Sports

  5. Singing

  6. Shooting

  7. Learning military drills

  8. Camping
• Aim for girls


  To prepare girls to be future mothers
• Activities for girls


  1. Wearing a uniform

  2. Physical exercise

  3. Learning skills like cooking

  4. Sports

  5. Singing

  6. Cleaning

  7. Cooking

  8. Baking
• Nazi teaching


  All teachers were forced to join the Nazi Teachers' Association to ensure children were indoctrinated into Nazi ideology
• Changes to the Nazi curriculum


  1. All textbooks had to be approved by the Nazis

  2. Physical Education became a priority

  3. History was used to teach about the rise of the Nazis

  4. Race Studies was used to teach about 'eugenics' and the idea of a 'superior' Aryan race
• The aim was to produce a 'perfect' human race
• 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 ideas, such as anti-Semitism
• 90% of children were part of the Hitler Youth by 1939, but 10% resisted the Nazis
• Groups that resisted included the Edelweiss Pirates and Swing Youth
• Children resented the focus on military drills
• Parents did not like the amount of time children spent with the Hitler Youth