Figure 1.--Here are three of Duke Earnst-August's children (Federika, Christian, and Guelph Henry) in their Hitler Youth Uniforms. Their older brother was apparently to old for the HJ. I'm not sure when this portrait was taken, probably about 1933 or 34. This portrair proved to be very embarassing to Frederika and her Husband King Paul after Workd War II because if the abti-German feeling in Greece .

The relationship between the Duke abd the NAZIs is somewhat murky. The children jouned the Hitler Youth. Frederica joined the BDM. The boys joined the DJ and went on to participate in the HJ. We are not entireky sure why. We note that the children were photographed in their Hitler Youth uniforms and the portrait distributed commercially. At first membership was voluntary. The Duke and Victoria Louise may have seen this as a way of currying favor. Many German aristocrats though the NAZIs offered the possibility of restoring their lost principlities. We have no information on the Duke's politics at this time. Losing a duchy mist noy have endeared him to the Weimr Republic. Nor so we yet have information on Victoria Louise's opinions. We do know that they sent Frederika to school in Englnd, suggesting a less than ringing enforsement of the NAZIs. She subsequently married Prince Paul in Greece before the War. (After the War, the portrait of Frederika and her brothers in HJ uniforms proved embarasing.) Historians differ as to the Dukes aditude toward the NAZIs. Some claim that he was anti-NAZI. Others suggest that he was an early financial backer. We simply do not have have any definitive information at this time. His sons were of military age during World War II. We have few details about them at this time. They were forcibly discharged from the Armed Forces , presumably as a result of the Prinzenerlass (1940). His eldest son Ernst August was arrested by the Gestapo (1944). I'm not sure what the circumstances were.

Created: 5:14 AM 7/30/2008
Last updated: 5:14 AM 7/30/2008