Background
The German Workers’ Party (DAP) was a very prominent political party in Germany. They didn’t feel that the youth was a very good part of the organization. Hitler believed differently regarding the importance of the youth. The youth could be a very key player in dominating the world someday. With Hitler’s power and great influence the DAP changed to National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP) or the Nazi Party. One of the first things Hitler did was create the first NSPAD youth organization called the Jugendbund. The Jugendbund main focus was to have the German youth believe in the Nazi ideas. In years to come The NSPAD was the most popular youth group and was chosen for be the official youth group of the Nazi Party. The name was changed to Hutlerjugend or Hitler Youth. They Hitler Youth were started with several thousand within ten year it was approximately 7.3 million. The enrollment of Hitler Youth became mandatory for all children at the age of ten. Purpose The purpose of Hitler Youth was for political strategy and a strong foundation on which he wanted to build his ideal nation. The youth would spread the Nazi ideology and strengthen his party. Hitler could make sure the young Germans would submit to his authority and follow his instruction. Hitler wanted to create an Aryan super race. Hitler would produce a genetically great race by selective breeding and ethnic cleansing. Hitler needed to provide the youngest German with his belief and training they would need to grow into the super human he wanted for his master race through procreation. Hitler could also weed out those he considered unfit for the new Germany. Function There were three distinct sections for Hitler Youth. Each section was designed to continue the heavily Nazi-influenced education the children were already exposed to. The boy section was divided into two sections younger ages ten to fourteen called the Deutsches Jungvolk (German Youth) and the older ages fourteen to eighteen. The enrollment for all boys in the Hitler Youth meant training for military service. The training was basic that included lessons in weaponry, semaphore, and hiking. They were also taught to adopt Nazi ideals to they could grow in to loyal, obedient soldiers. At the age of fourteen they were moved up and received additional training and indoctrination. The age eighteen they graduated from Hitler Youth and we immediately enlisted in the military of drafted in the Reich Labor Service. The Reich Labor Service was for those who remained on the home front. The girls were the third section and all ages were in this section. The girls were called League of German Girls. Women were not expected to serve in the armed forces so they didn’t focus on the military style training. The girls were focused on grooming for their role in supporting and sustaining the people off the battlefield. They were required to participate in group athletics and emphasized a less vigorous form of physical training to maximize fitness and health in their future role as a mother. The adult leaders of Hitler Youth hope to make a strong, healthy army of young women ready to bear and raise the first generation of the Aryan super human race. Fall As WWII wore on the battle increasingly turned against Germany the Nazi officials need more manpower. At that time they turned to Hitler’s’ Youth for support. The boys in Hitler’s Youth younger than sixteen were being used to defend Germany’s borders from the Allied Forces. In the final days of war thousands of Hitler’s Youth were lost in battle. They were even using the youngest to protect the borders. After the Allied forces won the Hitler Youth officially disbanded. The organization influence continued for year. The Free German Youth was modeled after the Hitler Youth. They just replaced the Nazi ideas with the communist beliefs. |