Hitler Youth Activities: War Work

Figure 1.--After the disaster before Moscow (December 1941), German military fortunes changed drmatically. The NAZIs had to utilize available manpower resources and thist included the Hitler Jugend (HJ). In 1943 as the Allied strategic bombing campaign intensified, HJ boys and even some girls were recruited to be Flakhelfers as depicted here in this NAZI poster. This was only one of the ways in which the HJ supported the War. "Wir alle helfen mit!" means "We all help with the War! "Kriegseinsatz der Hitler Jugend" means "War time activities of the Hitler Youth".

The Hitler Youth after the outbreak of the war in 1939 began a variety of war work. At first it was home froint duties much like the Scouts in Britain, collecting scrap metal, warm clothing for soldiers on the Easter Front, charity donations, or other similar activities. Hitler Youth were also involved in farm work. We believe that there was also farm work before the War, but as more and more men were drafted into the military during the War, more workers were needed. We note accounts of HJ farm workers both living with farm families as well at HJ camps. We also have reports of children from the right-wing yoth groups in occupoied countries doing farm work. These children supplmented the slave labor from occupied countries Eventually other activites such as air raid wardens were taken up. Eventually Hitler Youth boys were involved in fighting fires and police work. By 1944 normal Hitler Youth activities were disrupted by the fact that older Hitler Youth boys who had leadership roles were being recruited into the army and SS units--in some cases special Hitler Youth units.

Charity Collections

The Hitler Youth after the outbreak of the war in 1939 began a variety of war work. At first it was home froint duties much like the Scouts in Britain, collecting scrap metal, warm clothing for soldiers on the Easter Front, charity donations, or other similar activities. The NAZI Winter Relief was the major charity effort, but ghis was expanded during the War.

Farm Work

Hitler Youth were also involved in farm work. We believe that there was also farm work before the War, as the NAZIs attached great importance in establishing an attachment to the land. This became increasingly important as more and more men were drafted into the military during the War, more workers were needed. We note accounts of HJ farm workers both living with farm families as well at HJ camps. NAZI publications were full of peaceful scenes like this to promote the image of German youth living healthy, useful lives on the land in the service of their country. We also have reports of children from the right-wing yoth groups in occupied countries doing farm work. Many farmers also slave lanorers and prisoners of war from France, Yugoslavia, Poland, the Ukraine, and other countries who usually lived on the premises. A Dutch reader writes, "Some children of Dutch Nazis during 1941 and '42 were sent to Germany in their summer vacation (4 weeks). They were staying with selected German families, often farmers, where they were expected to help a little on the farm, since most of the men were in the Wehrmacht and their women had to do all the work. This was particularly during the summer leading to harvest time. These children supplmented the slave labor from occupied countries

Civil Defense

Hitler Youth boys as the War continuefd eventually took other activites such as air raid wardens. Eventually Hitler Youth boys were involved in fighting fires and police work. The ininital British air raids were on a relatively small scale, generally within the ability of the fire services to deal with. This began to change in 1942. Bomber Command began to build up in forces with improved air =craft types. This included the Avril Lancaster-arguably the nest bomber of the War until the arrival of the massive Boeing B-29. Also in 1942 the American 8yj Aot Force began arriving in Britin and after ininital operations mostly in France was ready by the end of the Year to join Bomber Command in the strategic bombarment of Germany. Roosevelt and Churchill meeting in Casabalanca announced both unconditional surrender and the around-the-clock bombardment of Germany (January 1943). The Americans bombed by day and the British by night. The Luftwaffe fught fiercly to defend German cities for all of 943, but the afrival of long-range escorts meant the destruction of the Luftwaffe (December 1943). This left German cities fr the rest of the War primarily defended by FLAK. The primary limit on Allied bombardment was the need to support the D-Day landings. The resulting pomding of German cities was beyond the capablities of the fore and emergency services. HJ boys played an increasigly important role on CD operations. Older boys served as actual firemen. Youngr boys not banning FLAK batteries helped to assist the surviving civilans and to recover some of their possessions.

Aufraeumungsarbeit

A HBU contributor writes about his HJ experience, "Most of what we did was "Aufraeumungsarbeit". That is, we had to clear rubble of the bombed out sections, search the cellars and basements - flooded and ready to collapse.- for survivors and dead. It was not fun by any imagination." [Lojewski] >br>

Refugees

The NAZI creted a massive flow of refugees throughout Europe. As the War turned against Germany, more and more Germans were turned into refugees. This began with the Allied bombing raids as the Allied methodically destroyed one Getman vity after another (1943). The problem was relativey minor until the Inited States jouned the Briish in the around-the-clock bombing of Germany. Hitler Youth boys and girls were among those attempting to assist the mass of refugees. At first the number was limited. Another massive refugee problem was created as the resurgent Red Army after Stalingrad (January 1943) began to drive west. Germans in Eastern Europe began joining the retreating Wehrmacht collums. And eventually the Red Army reached the eastern rovinces of the Reich. Millions of Germans were desperately trying to reach the saftey of the rapidly shrinking Reich (1944). The refugee stream continued to stream west (1945). There was, however, no comparable stream east when the Western Allies entered the Reich.

Military Service

Normal Hitler Youth activities by 1944 were disrupted by the fact that older Hitler Youth boys who had leadership roles were being recruited into the army and SS units--in some cases special Hitler Youth units. Many Hitler Youth boys did more than just home front war work, but actually saw military service. The Hitler Youth was important in the German military effort. It no only prepared boys for military service, providing physical and ideological conditioning, but also was a conduit for chaneling the boys into the various service branches. But once accomplished the boys were no longer HJ members. Some boys acutually participated in the War as active HJ nembers. This was accomplished in sevedal ways: 1) anti-air craft batteries, 2) Volkssturm (the People's Stotrm or Home Guard), and 3) other ways. Whole military units were formed from Hitler Youth boys. I'm not sure if the boys in these units continued to be HJ members once their military unit was formed.

Sources

Lojewski, Frank A. E-mail message, December 1, 2004. Frank has provided us more details about his HJ experiences.