Figure 1.--Here is an issue of the British "Picture Post". We do not yet have the date, but was probably during the War, perhps 1944. Nor do we know how the cover image was developec by the article in the magazine. The editors seem to be suggesting that British children were not brought up to be in rigid discipline of the Hitler Youth. Notably the British boy is not wearing a Scout uniform. The German boy is all too serious. Not the cheerful, healthy looking freedom loving British youngster whose dress code is relaxed and non military. The edidition was trying to show why the Britiish people why they were fighting. At the time not many British people would have known little about the Hitler Youth, but would have seen images suggesting rigid military discipline.

Youth groups played important roles in the War. This varied substantially among the different beligerant countries. Generally youth groups were involved on the home front in a range of support activities. The Hitler Youth went far beyond this. Several different youth groups were involved. The group most involved in the War was the Hitler Youth. The Hitler Youth was designed from the outset to prepare boys for War. Both the activities and ideological preparation was oriented toward War. Mesured on this basis, the NAZIs were very effective. After boys apptraoched miklitary afe, the HJ was organized so as to direct boys into the various service branchs. While still HJ members the boys played a variety of direct and support roles in the War. One SS armored division was formed from HJ boys. The Italian Balilla seems to have been far less effective. Other Fascist youth groups modeled on the HJ were organized in NAZI-occupied Europe. The Soviet Young Pioneer Movement was much less developed at the time of the war. Scout Movements existed in most other countries and played a variety of support roles in the countries not occupied by the Soviets or NAZIs. The NAZIs usually just prohibited Scouting. The Soviets in some cases actively sought out adult Scout leaders and arrested them.

German Hitler Youth

Generally youth groups were involved on the home front in a range of support activities. The Hitler Youth went far beyond this. Several different youth groups were involved. The group most involved in the War was the Hitler Youth. The Hitler Youth was designed from the outset to prepare boys for War. Both the activities and ideological preparation was oriented toward War. Mesured on this basis, the NAZIs were very effective. After boys apptraoched miklitary afe, the HJ was organized so as to direct boys into the various service branchs. While still HJ members the boys played a variety of direct and support roles in the War. We note extensive support activities during the War. We also note actual military service. This was something thst could be done while still living at home. HJ boys and even girls played a major role in manning the ant-aircraft batteries. One SS armored division was formed from HJ boys. HJ boys were also heavily involved in the Volksstrum.

Italian Balilla

The Italian Balilla seems to have been far less effective than the Hitler Youth in preparing boys for war. The Italian Army was unprepared for war in terms of equiopment. But the Italian soldier was even less well preparec for the War. The average Italian soldier had few greivances with the British and even less with the Americans. The Balilla did not perpetuate the either the nationalist ardor, racial hatred, or greivance that the Hitler Youth so successfully impanted in German youth. One part of the Balilla program was military training.

Fascist Youth Groups in Occpied Countries

Other Fascist youth groups modeled on the HJ were organized in NAZI-occupied Europe. This varied from country to country. The Germans in the West were interested in winning over the local population, esprecially in the countries deemed to have Aryan populations. In the east there was much less interest and the governing policy was purely exploitive, bordering on genocide.

Soviet Young Pioneers

The Soviet Young Pioneer Movement was much less developed at the time of the war.

Scouting Movement

Scout Movemrents existed in most other countries and played a variety of support roles in the countries not occupied by the Soviets or NAZIs. France had a very large Scoting movement organized into different associations. The Germnans occupied France (June 1940), but there was an unoccpied zone in the south for 2 years. Britain also had a very substantial Scouting movement. America had the world's largest Scouting movement. There were many other countries with Scouting movements, both in occupied and unoccupied countries. The NAZIs usually just prohibited Scouting. The Soviets in some cases actively sought out adult Scout leaders and arrested them.

Sources

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HBC

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Created: 9:17 PM 7/18/2008
Last updated: 9:17 PM 7/18/2008