Hitler Youth Research Paper

Born in Germany amidst one of the darkest times in recent history, the “Hitler Youth” was formed with the intent of turning the country’s young citizens into its future Nazis. The Hitler Youth were taught to be dedicated to the cause of the community and the nation above themselves, even to the point of sacrificing their lives. Hitler expresses his reliance in the young people of his nation explicitly, crying, “Give me the Youth and I have the future” (qtd. in McKissack 6). Though textbooks and documentaries have tracked to some extent the occupations the youth were engaged in, the ambitions and incentives that caused youth to willingly or un-willingly become involved are harder to define, and rely predominately on those few former Youth who

Girls were divided similarly by age, involved in Jungmadel (JM) from ages 10-14, and Bund Deutscher Madel (BDM) from ages 14-21 (Mouton 65-66). At age seventeen they were given the opportunity to enter the Faith and Beauty group, “which promoted physical grace through instruction in dancing, hygiene, and charm” (Mouton 66). Declared Hitler in his autobiography, “Mein Kampf”, “The one absolute aim of female education must be with a view to the future mother” (qtd. in Hughes and Mann 54). In addition, specifies Mouton, girls were taught that they were entrusted with “preserving, promoting, and nurturing German culture in general”

Heck explains that each level submitted to a higher level of authority, which in turn submitted to an even higher level, “end(ing) with Adolf Hitler”, at the very top (Ayer 36). He details that the Youth “accepted it as a natural law that a leader’s orders must be obeyed without question, even if they appeared foolish or harsh (Ayer 36). This relinquishment of individual rights is illustrated in the vows children took on their initiation into the Youth, declaring: “I swear to devote all my energies and strength to the Savior of our country, Adolf Hitler. I am ready and willing to give up my life for him, so help me, God.” (qtd. in Bartoletti 24). Home groups required youth leaders and as a result many boys and girls became superiors over their fellow members. Though not far removed from the ages of the juveniles they guided, these boys and girls held a peculiar power and influence over the subordinates they led, perhaps in some part because of the emphasis Nazi leaders placed on adherence to party directives above any other authority. Reports a former Hitler Youth: “The leader of the group that I belonged to was a boy who was seventeen. He was my mentor in every respect…He exerted more influence over me than any person, parent, teacher, or anyone else of the older generation” (qtd. in Bartoletti 27). Though the Hitler Youth advertised the “youth must be led by youth” (Bartoletti 27) notion that prevailed in home meetings,