Figure 1.--These German Scouts (Pathfinders) were photographed in 1932. This was a year before the Scouts were incorporated into the Hitler Youth after the NAZIs seized power.

The Boy Scouts (Pfadfinderen) before the War had to compete with Wandervogel. The Wandervogel movement was weakened by the War. As in many other European countries, separate Scout associations were fornmed by different groups, primarily on religious lines. Scouting does not appear to have been as popular in Germany as in other European countres. After World War I, many other competing youth groups formed. Many religious groups founded youth movements or sposored Scout units. In addition, several of the political parties, not just the NAZIs with the Hittler Youth, had their own competing youth movements separate from Scouting. Scouting was probably impaired by the English image the organiztiion had among many Germans. The Communists who had many adherents in the 1920s, taking their cue from the Soviets did not approve of Scouting. Scouting even before this was a largely middle-class movemnent. After the mid-20s the Hitler Youth movement gained in popularity. Scouts were not without political involvenent. We notice a group of German Scouts tried to visit the Kaiser in his Dutch Doorn reguge (1922). The former-Crown Prince came out and sang Monarchist songs with the boys. [German Boy Scouts] We are unsure just how strong Monarchist sentiment was in Scouting. Given the middle-class orientation, it msay have been fairly strong. The Souts changes the uniform after the War to amore standard European look, including the Lemon-squeezer hat and short pants. There were differences in the uniform among the different associatins. With the coming to power of the NAZIs in 1932, the Scouts and almost other competing youth groups were abolished and boys had to join the Hitler Youth. Many facilities of the Scouts and other youth groups were seized by the Hitler Youth, a practice they followed in areas with German populatiions incorporated into the Reich. An intreaguing study of Scouting in occupied countries during the War is available.

Post-War Scouts

The Boy Scouts (Pfadfinderen) before the War had to compete with Wandervogel. The Wandervogel movement was weakened by the War. Germany developed a vibrant youth movement. The Scours were somewhat handicapped by the cfact that they had an English image. The Scouts had been founded in England and while began to develop an international program. Still the Scouts had an English taint to themn among many Germans. The Scouts remained an apolituical group in the supercharged political enviroment of Weimar. Many political groups founded youth auxileries, like the NAZIs' Hitler Youth movement.

Different Associations

As in many other European countries, separate Scout associations were fornmed by different groups, primarily on religious lines. Germany had a mixed religious makeup. Protestats dominted the north and Catholics the south. There were both secular geroups with mixed memberships as well as exclusive denominational groups. The Caholic Scout assocition appears to have been the largest. We note a Mormon (LDS) association. LDS Scouter Helmuth Günther Hübener (1925–42) would be one of the youngest NAZI opponents to be sentenced to death by the Volksgerichtshof and executed. There was a Jewish associstions. There were also some ethnic associations such as Polish Scouts. Imperial Germany included large areas in the east with lsrgely Polish populstions as well as areas of mixed Polishg-German populations. (This of coirse is the result of the 18th century Polish Partitions. Some if these areas under the Versailles Treaty became part of the new Polish Republic, but during the Prussian and Imperial Eras there had been considerable mixing. Many Poles mifrated west to work in the coal mines and factories of the Ruhr. Some of the German Scout associsations were very small. We do not, however, have much information on the various associstions. We have been able to find information on the modern associations, but very little on the assoicuations during the Weimar era. This continues to be the case in Germany today. We are not sure, however, how many of the modern associatuins are contunuations of the associations operating during the Weimar era.

Popularity

Scouting does not appear to have been as popular in Germany as in other European countres. After World War I, many other competing youth groups formed. German youth have many different groups to choose from, unlike America and many other countries where thec Scouts were the only youth group of any importahce.

German Youth Movement

Weimar had a large, vibrant youth movement. Many religious groups founded youth movements or sposored Scout units. In addition, several of the political parties, not just the NAZIs with the Hittler Youth, had their own competing youth movements separate from Scouting.

Influences

Wonndervogel influence German Scouting and all other German youth mpvements. A smaller group that influenced German Scouting was the Deutsche Jungenschaft founded by Eberhard Koebel (about 1929). German Scouting of course adopted the basic model set by Naden Powell, but Koebel added some unque chsracteristics.

Limitations

Scouting was probably impaired by the English image the organiztiion had among many Germans. The Communists who had many adherents in the 1920s, taking their cue from the Soviets did not approve of Scouting. Scouting even before this was a largely middle-class movemnent. After the mid-20s the Hitler Youth movement gained in popularity, especially at the end of the decade.

Politics

Scouting was a largely apolitical movement. German Scouts were not, however, without political involvenent. We notice a group of German Scouts tried to visit the Kaiser in his Dutch Doorn reguge (1922). The former-Crown Prince came out and sang Monarchist songs with the boys. [German Boy Scouts] We are unsure just how strong Monarchist sentiment was in Scouting. Given the middle-class orientation, it may have been fairly strong. Or this could have been more of a patrioltic than political manifestation.

World Jamborees

We notice German Scouting cintingents at the vsrious World Scouting Jamborees trgough 1932. his ended abruptly after the NAZIs seized power (1933). Not only were there no longer Germjan couts go zttend thge Jamboress, but foreign Scouts were not invited to attend HJ evebnts in Germany.

Uniforms

The Souts changed the uniform after the War to amore standard European look, including the Lemon-squeezer hat and short pants. The hats were expensive so not all the boys had them. Scouts tended ti have badges on their shirt which was not the case of all groups. The barious associtions had different uniforms. Thus there was no stanhdard Scout iniform. It us difficult to ientify youth Groups in the Weimar era, but usually if some had a Baden-Powell lemon-squeezer hat, they were a Scout group.

NAZI Seizure of Power (1933)

With the coming to power of the NAZIs, the Scouts and almost other competing youth groups were incorporated into the Hitler Youth (HJ) or banned (1933). Scouts in most instances were incorporated enmasse into the HJ. Somr sources report tht Scouts werecstill operating until 1935. We re not ure if this refers to the Catholic Scouts or if not all the couts groups were taken over in 1933. Some small local grouos msy have continued to opeate. The facilities of the Scouts and other youth groups were seized by the Hitler Youth, a practice they followed in areas with German populatiions incorporated into the Reich. An intreaguing study of Scouting in occupied countries during the War is available. While the boys were incorporated into the HJ, Scout leaders were not. The HJ wanted reliable NAZIs as adult leaders. Some Scout units continued to operate into 1934, but by ythis time it was becoming dangerous to flaunt NAZI rulings. Catholic Scouts were permitted to operate a little longer, but it became incrasingly difficult as time went on. Scout groups might be attacked by HJ groups which were usually larger. Ecentually all children were required to join the HJ at age 10 years (1936). Some Scout leaders were arrested. Józef Kachel, head of the Polish Scouting Association in Germany was interned in Buchenwald.

Relations with British Scouts

Although the NAZIs banned Scouting in Germany. That did not prevent them from trying to depict the HJ as German Boy Scouts when it suited their purposes. Apparently they made an effort to chrm aging Boy Scout leader, Lord Baden Powell, to accpt them as German Scouts. Baden-Powell who was focused on expandoing the Scouting novement repoe=ryedlky responded favorably to the NAZI charm offensive. We are not sure just what the NAZI goal was here. It could hve been to ally British fears of Germany. Or it could be to increase familiarity with Nritsin which would be useful in any future war. It is not enttirely clear just what was goung on, but MI-5 began to get concened when bron-shirted HJ cyclists with cneras began appearing on British roads (1937). Secret MI-5 documnts were declassified (2010). HJ leaders wined bd dined Baden-Poweell. German Ambassador Joachim von Ribbentrop,made a case for the two organisations to be put in 'closer touch'. British newspapers began calling the touring parties of Hitler Youth boys (No girlks were involved) as 'spyclists' instructed to gather information on British infrastructure. MI-5 ordered police and Special Branch officers to report on the activities of the boys which they described as two-wheeled 'fifth columnists'. The boys were well received in Britain. They were reported from Surrey to Aberdeen. They were taken in and fed by grouos like Rotary Clubs and local Scout groups. Baden-Powell's according to the MI-5 documents was enthusias for the idea . Several countries (Germany, Greefce, Italy, Romnind the SDoviet Union) had banned SCouting, this was an opportunity to reverse the pricess. aden-Poeell met with Hartmann Lauterbacher, the chief of staff of the HJn November 1937.

Sources

Milmo, Cahal. "Operation Dib-dib-dib: how Nazis tried to infiltrate the Boy Scouts: National Archives reveal how MI5 was alarmed by Hitler Youth 'spyclists' surveying Britain's bridges and rivers, Indeoendent (MArch 8, 2010).

"German Boy Scouts Sing Hymns to Kaiser," New York Times (April 16, 1922), p. 24.