** Hitler Youth: Organization--Deutche Jugend








Hitler Youth Groups: Deutche Jungvolk


Figure 1.--This is a meeting of the younger boys in the Deutche Jungvok. They may be a group of new recruits. Notice the older Hitler Jugend boys who wears the long pants winter uniform. We are not sure when this photograph was taken, perhaps about 1940.

Boys at the age of 10 were conscripted into the Dutsche Jungvolk (DJ. As Jungvolk the boys had to swear an oath, basically saying that they were willing to give up their lives for Germany and Hitler. Membership at 10 was after the NAZIs seized power in 1933 not at first mandatory, but strongly incouraged. Social pressure was put on the boys in a number of ways. Some parents did not approve. Often boys did not understand their parents disapproval. Some boys had enough sence to leep quiet about their parents disapproval. Other boys, after all they were only 10 years old, did not understand what was involved. Eventually membership was made mandatory. The boys wore the brown shirts and black short pants that are so associated with the Hitler Youth.

Membership

Boys at the age of 10 were conscripted into the DJ. As Jungvolk the boys had to swear an oath, basically saying that they were willing to give up their lives for Germany and Hitler. Membership at 10 was after the NAZIs seized power in 1933 not at first mandatory, but strongly incouraged. Social pressure was put on the boys in a number of ways. Some parents approved, some did not. I'm not sure just what was the general attitude of the poarents. Often boys did not understand their parents disapproval as their friornds and teachers were often so fervent. Some boys had enough sence to leep quiet about their parents disapproval. Other boys, after all they were only 10 years old, did not understand what was involved. Eventually membership was made mandatory.

Meetings

We are not sure how often the Deutch Jungvolk met. Perhaps it was weekly. Some boys remember spending a lot of times marching around and lining up. I not sure what else ocurred at these meetings, such as games like Cub and Scout meetimgs. Certainly there were games at summer camp. I'm less sure about the weekly or periodic meetings. Presumably there were political and racial lectures. I not sure what form this indoctrination took.

Discipline

I believe that discipline varied greatly from group to group. Some bous, even younger boys, were tightly disciplined. Notice how the boys in some groups stand stiffly to attention, even rigidly extending their fingers (figure 1).

Leadership

Hitler Youth boys helped lead units of younger boys. This is quite similar to Scouts who served in Cub units. Sometimes they were allowed to dress differently to stress their leadership roles. The younger Deutche Jugend boys also had leadership roles. HBU still, however, has few details on this.

Uniforms

The DJ boys wore the brown shirts and black short pants that are so associated with the Hitler Youth. Notice that none of the new 10-year old recruits wear the shoulder attavhment to their belts. They all, however, have their caps neatly folded on their belts.







HBU






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Created: Decemner 9, 2000
Last updated: 4:48 PM 5/16/2021