As in Britain, where Col Baden Powell started the Boy Scouts in 1907, scouting and youth movements became popular in Germany. Most adults understood; camping was great fun!
![]()
![]()
League of German Girls went on walks while mothers worked
Facing History
The Youth League of the Nazi Party began in 1922, a year before Hitler & his Party marched on Berlin to overthrow the German federal government and create a unified Greater German Reich. But the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch Munich failed and Hitler was gaoled for high treason. The government provisionally banned all Nazi organisations, including the youth league, but the teens continued in secret. After the ban was lifted, the now official youth organisation became the Hitler Youth in July 1926.
As the Nazi Party was gaining popularity, the men wanted to increase their influence over Germany’s youth. When the Nazis formally came to power in Germany in 1933, there were many political, social and religious youth groups in existence, often wearing scouting uniforms. But the Hitler Youth remained the only group educating and training male youth in Nazi principles. By then Hitler Youth membership had increased to 2+ million (30% of teens 10-18)
In 1931, politician Baldur von Schirach became solely responsible for directing all youth activities in Germany (until 1940 when he became Vienna’s Nazi Party chief). His movement was made up of different sections for boys and girls. At 10, a boy was registered, investigated for racial purity and, if qualified, inducted. At 13 the youth became eligible for the Hitler Youth, living a life of dedication, fellowship and Nazi conformity, with minimal parental supervision. At 18 he became a member of the Nazi Party and served in the state labour service and armed forces. The Hitler Youth was the Showcase Of The Regime.
Two leagues appeared for girls: 1] Young Girls was for those aged 10-14 and 2] the League of German Girls trained those aged 14-18 for comradeship, domestic duties and motherhood. The girls partook in collective physical activities, rather than competitive individual games, to demonstrate the value of working together eg gymnastics.
In 1933, political youth groups were quickly incorporated or suppressed. Apolitical and religious youth groups did last well into the 1930s but then the dissolution of youth groups became part of a formal society-wide process.
By 1935 the Hitler Youth included 60% of Christian boys. Because racial purity was critical, Jewish German boys were not allowed to join. And by July 1936, it became a state agency that all young Aryan Germans were expected to join. This was not a problem for the boys who had mostly lived in poverty at home; now they had the chance to enjoy travel, camping, sports and marching. They loved it. The Nazis flattered these youth and paid them attention, a rare and wonderful experience for young teens.
Later the Nazi regime compelled young people to join and significantly increased membership. By 1937, membership in the Hitler Youth grew to 5.4 million; by 1940, 7.2 million.
They taught children to be both racially conscious and physically fit. Note the brisk military-style hikes, singing the numerous Nazi marching songs they had memorised. And as a symbol of the nation’s future, Hitler Youth were invited to Nazi Party rallies and marches with flags. Fittingly Leni Riefenstahl made a film Triumph of the Will, showing Hitler greeting Hitler Youth boys at the 1934 Nuremberg Rally.
Indoctrinating young people with Nazi ideology and imposing conformity was critical for the modelling of German society. So the Hitler Youth was modelled after its adult counterpart, the SA paramilitary. But how vigorously were The Hitler Youth lads taught Nazi ideology and policy? Very! By dominating the boys’ lives, the organisation demanded a significant time commitment: meetings and camps after school, leaving little time left for church and family events. Plus lectures, slogans, songs and constant anti-Semitic chants.
![]()
Hitler Youth class in the Odenwald School: rifle instruction.
History Place
![]()
Hitler Youth march before their leader, Baldur von Schirach saluting, and other Nazi officials including Julius Streicher. Nuremberg, 1933.
![]()
Hitler Youth members at Nuremberg Nazi rally
listening to a speech by Adolf Hitler, 1935.
![]()
Hitler Youth helped civilians in their destroyed cities
In 1943 the Waffen-SS formed a special division made up of Hitler Youth. This division consisted of older boys, first deployed to France and Belgium where morale was high among the young troops, especially when Himmler visited. The endless but reckless bravery of the boys shocked the British and Canadians who fought them.
When Germany was clearly losing the war, the Nazi regime faced manpower shortages and destroyed cities, creating even worse housing and scarce supplies. In raids, the regime used teens to operate anti-aircraft rifles. And teens helped displaced civilians with relief activities eg in soup kitchens.
With the May 1945 surrender, the Hitler Youth was outlawed. But by then millions of teens had spent their key years as members of Hitler Youth organisations, perhaps leaving an impact on C20th German society. An excellent read is The History Place.
Hitler Youth encouraged comradeship and physical fitness, hiking and singing.
Facing History
Facing History
Facing History
The Youth League of the Nazi Party began in 1922, a year before Hitler & his Party marched on Berlin to overthrow the German federal government and create a unified Greater German Reich. But the 1923 Beer Hall Putsch Munich failed and Hitler was gaoled for high treason. The government provisionally banned all Nazi organisations, including the youth league, but the teens continued in secret. After the ban was lifted, the now official youth organisation became the Hitler Youth in July 1926.
As the Nazi Party was gaining popularity, the men wanted to increase their influence over Germany’s youth. When the Nazis formally came to power in Germany in 1933, there were many political, social and religious youth groups in existence, often wearing scouting uniforms. But the Hitler Youth remained the only group educating and training male youth in Nazi principles. By then Hitler Youth membership had increased to 2+ million (30% of teens 10-18)
In 1931, politician Baldur von Schirach became solely responsible for directing all youth activities in Germany (until 1940 when he became Vienna’s Nazi Party chief). His movement was made up of different sections for boys and girls. At 10, a boy was registered, investigated for racial purity and, if qualified, inducted. At 13 the youth became eligible for the Hitler Youth, living a life of dedication, fellowship and Nazi conformity, with minimal parental supervision. At 18 he became a member of the Nazi Party and served in the state labour service and armed forces. The Hitler Youth was the Showcase Of The Regime.
Two leagues appeared for girls: 1] Young Girls was for those aged 10-14 and 2] the League of German Girls trained those aged 14-18 for comradeship, domestic duties and motherhood. The girls partook in collective physical activities, rather than competitive individual games, to demonstrate the value of working together eg gymnastics.
In 1933, political youth groups were quickly incorporated or suppressed. Apolitical and religious youth groups did last well into the 1930s but then the dissolution of youth groups became part of a formal society-wide process.
By 1935 the Hitler Youth included 60% of Christian boys. Because racial purity was critical, Jewish German boys were not allowed to join. And by July 1936, it became a state agency that all young Aryan Germans were expected to join. This was not a problem for the boys who had mostly lived in poverty at home; now they had the chance to enjoy travel, camping, sports and marching. They loved it. The Nazis flattered these youth and paid them attention, a rare and wonderful experience for young teens.
Later the Nazi regime compelled young people to join and significantly increased membership. By 1937, membership in the Hitler Youth grew to 5.4 million; by 1940, 7.2 million.
They taught children to be both racially conscious and physically fit. Note the brisk military-style hikes, singing the numerous Nazi marching songs they had memorised. And as a symbol of the nation’s future, Hitler Youth were invited to Nazi Party rallies and marches with flags. Fittingly Leni Riefenstahl made a film Triumph of the Will, showing Hitler greeting Hitler Youth boys at the 1934 Nuremberg Rally.
Indoctrinating young people with Nazi ideology and imposing conformity was critical for the modelling of German society. So the Hitler Youth was modelled after its adult counterpart, the SA paramilitary. But how vigorously were The Hitler Youth lads taught Nazi ideology and policy? Very! By dominating the boys’ lives, the organisation demanded a significant time commitment: meetings and camps after school, leaving little time left for church and family events. Plus lectures, slogans, songs and constant anti-Semitic chants.
History Place
Boys practised military drills and learned to use weapons. They also laboured on farms and did competitive boxing. Many boys enjoyed the physical challenge, competition and camaraderie. But others found the constant focus on preparing for war alienating.
In March 1939 a new decree mandated all under 18s to join the Hitler Youth which was now the only legal youth movement in Germany; and punished those who disobeyed. By war's start, a generation of teens was ready to fight and to occupy foreign territory, conscripted into the civil defence and in the militia, the Home Guard. Or they used their knowledge to serve the German war effort in other ways.
In March 1939 a new decree mandated all under 18s to join the Hitler Youth which was now the only legal youth movement in Germany; and punished those who disobeyed. By war's start, a generation of teens was ready to fight and to occupy foreign territory, conscripted into the civil defence and in the militia, the Home Guard. Or they used their knowledge to serve the German war effort in other ways.
listening to a speech by Adolf Hitler, 1935.
Holocaust Museum
In 1943 the Waffen-SS formed a special division made up of Hitler Youth. This division consisted of older boys, first deployed to France and Belgium where morale was high among the young troops, especially when Himmler visited. The endless but reckless bravery of the boys shocked the British and Canadians who fought them.
When Germany was clearly losing the war, the Nazi regime faced manpower shortages and destroyed cities, creating even worse housing and scarce supplies. In raids, the regime used teens to operate anti-aircraft rifles. And teens helped displaced civilians with relief activities eg in soup kitchens.
With the May 1945 surrender, the Hitler Youth was outlawed. But by then millions of teens had spent their key years as members of Hitler Youth organisations, perhaps leaving an impact on C20th German society. An excellent read is The History Place.