Hitler Youth Personal Account: Unidentified German Boy


Figure 1.--We do not know who this German boy was, but this intimate family snapshot gives us an intreaguing look into his life. He looks to be about 10 years old. He is pictured with his adoring mother in what looks to be a new Hitler Youth uniform.

We do not know who this German boy was, but this intimate family snapshot gives us an intreaguing look into his life. He looks to be about 10 years old. He is pictured with his adoring mother in what looks to be a new Hitler Youth (HJ) uniform. There are no patches on the uniform yet and he does not have his HJ armband, thus perhaps he has not yet become a member. He does have his belt buckle, although his hand is covering it so we can not make it out. His mother looks rather aprehensive and is hanging on to him. The boy looks very pleased with himself and happy to be wearing his uniform. Note the rifle he is holding. Hitler Youth boys did not normally have weapons--especially at home. Perhaps his father just brought it out to have him pose with it. As so often with the unidentified image HBC has aquired, we can only conjecture about this boy. Does wearing the uniform make her proud? We do not know, but she does not seem to have any objection to it. We had the impression that Hitler's birthday (April 20) was the date that 10 years old were inducted into the Hitler Youth--in essence "given to the Führer". Her the vegetation suggests that it is well into the summer. Perhaps I am wrong about the induction date. Perhaps he is has been a member for several months. Or perhaps the family are enthusiastic NAZIs and brought the boy his uniform before he is enducted. The snap shot is undated. We think it may have been taken during the World War II or at least the late 1930s, but there is no way to be sure. We wonder why he was photographed with his mother and not his father. Perhaps he took the photograph, fathers were more likely to take photographs than mothers. Then again perhaps he is at the front. They look to be in the garden. Is that their house in the background? It looks very grand. Hopefully our German readers can provide some insights here.

The Boy

We do not know who this German boy was or anything about his family, but this intimate family snapshot gives us an intreaguing look into his life and we have decided to include it in the personal experiences section even without a name. The boy is pictured with his adoring mother in what looks to be a new Hitler Youth (HJ) uniform. It is images like this that bring home to us the impact of the NAZIs and the War on the individual lives of the people involved.

Age

The boy looks to be about 10 years old. This was te age that boys joined Deutche Jugend (DJ) or youth division of the HJ.

Chronology

The snap shot is undated. We think it may have been taken during World War II (1939-45) or at least the late 1930s, but there is no way to be sure.

Location

A HBC reader writes, "The architecture looks similar to grand homes (manor homes and castles) along lake Constance. I cannot be sure whether that helps or not. I would guess this is near the Swiss border, however this is purely a guess."

Home

They look to be in the garden. Is that their house in the background? It looks very grand. Even so mother keeps a garden. This may be another indication that the photograph was taken during the War.

Uniform

This boy looks very smart in his uniform, except that his shoes are not polished. We are surprised his mother did not insist on that. There are no patches on the uniform yet and he does not have his HJ armband. Also his cap does not have the HJ pin. Thus perhaps he has not yet become a member. He does have his belt buckle, although his hand is covering it so we cannot make it out. I had thought that the belt buckle was given out at the induction ceremony. Also note the cocky angle at which he wears his cap. We wonder who fixed the cap like this, the boy or his mother. This is not the sort of thing mothers usually understand. We suspect it was the boy himself who saw how the HJ boys wore their caps. It is another indication we think that he is keen to join.

Parents

His mother looks rather aprehensive and is hanging on to him--almost clutching him in fact. The boy looks very pleased with himself and happy to be wearing his uniform. Note the rifle he is holding. Hitler Youth boys did not normally have weapons--especially at home. Perhaps his father just brought it out to have him pose with it. As so often with the unidentified image HBC has aquired, we can only conjecture about this boy. Does wearing the uniform make her proud? We do not know, but she does not seem to have any objection to it. Thinking further, the rifle seems the key to understanding this photograph. Surely it must convey how the Hitler Youth was viewed in this household. It is a strong indication that his parents did not see the HJ as American and British parrents saw the Boy Scouts, but rather as group of future soldiers for the Führer. We wonder why he was photographed with his mother and not his father. Perhaps he took the photograph, fathers were more likely to take photographs than mothers. Then again perhaps his father is at the front.

Induction

We had the impression that Hitler's birthday (April 20) was the date that 10 years olds were inducted into the Hitler Youth--in essence "given to the Führer". Here the vegetation suggests that it is well into the summer. Perhaps I am wrong about the induction date. Perhaps he is has been a member for several months. Or perhaps the family are enthusiastic NAZIs and brought the boy his uniform well before he was inducted.

Personal Comments

A German reader comments, "With regard to this photograph, it seems to me that the picture has been taken about 1935, that is before my time as a "Pimpf" (little boy belonging to the "Deutsche Jugend", the children-organization of the Hitlerjugend from 10 to 14). The black triangle on the left arm is lacking, may be this habit was introduced later. I did not have this black cap, I saw it very seldom. I have a very weak remembrance that this was so to say oldfashioned when I became a Pimpf in 1943. I don´t know the house in the background but it should be possible to find out where it stands, and thus find out who the persons were. Note the black neckerchief with the leather knot around it at the neck, this was typical, I also had it. On the shirt there are two brown leather buttons. Below the left leather button there seems to be an obliquely striped colored vertical band on the pocket, I don´t remember what it is, may be the shirt was home made and formerly had another pattern. [HBC note: Rgere is a verical pleat in the pocket, the diagonal nabd look to me just like shaded areas asa result of a wrinkle in the cloth.] Look at the very old and used shoes. They are dirty which points to village life. I do not believe the lady is his mother, she seems to be a little too old for such a young child." [HBC note: Yes the woman does look a little old to be his mother. Of course some choldren arrive a little late. Perhaps the woman is his grandmother.]






Navigate the Historic Boys' Uniform Web Site:
[Return to the Main Hitler Youth individual experience page]
[Return to the Main Hitler Youth page]
[Activities] [Biographies] [Chronologies] [Countries] [Essays] [Garments] [Organizations] [Religion] [Other]
[Introduction] [Bibliographies] [Contributions] [FAQs] [Questions] [Unknown images]
[Boys' Uniform Home]





Created: December 19, 2002
Last updates: December 26, 2002