Under the rule of Adolf Hitler, the Nazi Party rapidly increased its control over Germany during the 1930s. During their rise to power, the Nazis persuaded millions of Germans to abandon their traditional Christian beliefs and replace them with a doctrine of German superiority and hatred for Jews and other ethnic and cultural minorities. German youth were drawn into the Nazi movement through the creation of a group known as Hitler Jugend, or Hitler Youth. As a member of the Hitler Youth, a German youngster participated in games and athletic competitions and enjoyed the camaraderie of other young people. While exposed to a sense of conformity and nationalistic and militaristic ideas, members of the Hitler Youth were also indoctrinated in Nazi propaganda.
The Hitler Youth was a highly structured organization made up of a hierarchy of
subgroups. It was extremely militaristic and relied heavily on the Nazi party's strong influence. Divided according to age, each group was led by slightly older children. Young boys in the Hitler Youth wore a very specific uniform that helped to distinguish members from non-members. Within the girls’ group, there was also a uniform requirement: a blue skirt, a white blouse, and a brown jacket.
Whenever there was a Nazi rally or some other public gathering, both boys and girls Hitler Youth groups would march in formation. These rallies became parade-like, with great fanfare and drum playing. Sometimes schools even cancelled classes so the children could take part in these events. Whenever the national anthem was played, the youth always sang it while displaying the Hitler salute. These actions and expectations show the importance the Nazis placed on indoctrinating the youth. The Hitler Youth laid the groundwork for future generations of Germans to continue Hitler’s plan for a German Empire by involving so many of Germany’s young minds. Ultimately, the real strategy behind all the organized activities for the young boys was to prepare them for the military. Young girls, meanwhile, were to develop the attributes necessary to raise the next generation of the “master race” and perpetuate Hitler’s plans for German domination.
The Hitler Youth encouraged physical fitness for both boys and girls. Leaders taught that physical fitness was not a private matter left to the individual; instead it was part of the Nazi ideology. As a result, athletic activities like the high jump, ball playing, and spear and disc throwing had much greater meaning. Children in the Hitler Youth believed fitness and sports were sacred in their lives because they had a larger purpose: the youth must be fit one day to serve their nation as soldiers.
Love and loyalty toward the Fatherland were also central to Hitler Youth doctrine. As the children grew older and maintained membership in the Hitler Youth their training changed. Many teenage boys were taught to kill without remorse. To develop these feelings, one requirement was to have each boy bring a favorite pet to a Hitler Youth meeting. There he was required to kill it. This gruesome and inhumane tactic helped develop boys trained to believe that their obedience to Hitler should outweigh their attachment to anyone or anything else. The Hitler Youth messages to girls were more subtle. Girls learned idyllic songs about flowers, forests and streams, fostering a love of the Fatherland. The lessons for both boys and girls inspired devotion, especially when the propaganda slogans were set to music. For example, a verse from a popular song included the words: “Whether I return from war hardly matters, what really counts is that my Fatherland is free…Now let the flag fly in the great rosy dawn, let it light our new victory, or burn us to death.” Every song and group activity of the Hitler Youth focused on instilling a sense of pride that could be converted to intense national loyalty. The Hitler Youth helped solidify young people’s willingness to live and die for Hitler.
