Figure 1.--This is a set of collecting cards prepared in NAZI Germany depicting Hitler and his movement. This photograph is one of countless images of Hitler with children taken by Heinrich Hoffman, his personal photographer. Hitler had a special interest in children in part because he saw thge need to mold young people to rue his 1,000 year Reich. Ther was, however more than this or the propaganda value. He eems aattracted to the beauty and innosence of children,not in a purient pedophile sense, but fulfilling some unknown psychic need.

Adolf Hitler is one of the most photographed men of the 20th century. His personal photographer, Heinrich Hoffmann had virtually unlimited access. Amd there are countless images of him with children. This includes not only children greeting him on his travels around Germany as well as more intimate encounters at the Berghof. This of course made for good propaganda in the German media, but he seems to have genuinely enjoyed contact with young children. The NAZI bigwigs brought their kids to the Berhof when socializing with Hitler. And Hitler encouragd the visits. The Goebbels children were frequent visitors. He seems to have genuinely enjoyed their company. They seem to have helped him relax. He did not have to be careful as to what he said around them. Perhaps readers will have some idea as to the psychological processes at play. Apparently the innosence of childhood even appeals to evil among us. We don't see Hitler actually playing with them, at least in Hoffman's photographs. The children, of course instructed to be on their best behavior, seem to have been presented to Hitler and then allowed to play on their own. Hitler made it very clear as to how German children should be raised. Once in power he wrote, "My program for educating youth is hard … weakness must be hammered away. In my castles of the Teutonic Order, a new youth will grow up, before which the world will tremble. I want a brutal, domineering, fearless and cruel youth. Youth must be all that. It must bear pain. There must be nothing weak and gentle about it. The free, splendid beast of prey must once again flash from its eyes…That is how I will eradicate thousands of years of human domestication…That is how I will create the New Order."

Hiter Youth

Adolf Hitler openly stated, "He alone, who owns the youth, gains the Future!" And he set out own Germany's youth. As no other world leader before or after, Hitler set the NAZI Party on a course to own the country's youth. He knew that there was only so much he could do with adults. Inexperienced youth people prevented from receiving confk=licting messages cold be molded. Other national leaders might visit a Boy Scout camp or receive youth delegation. But no other leader founded and controlled a youth movement precisely for that purpose--the Hitler Youth. And it was notjust show and propaganda. Before Hitler, Germany was a highly paternalistic society. Hitler as a boy was knocked around a good bit and often brutally by his father. He loved his mother in part because she at times protected him. Children and teen agers were expected toe he line and do what their parents told them, especually their father. There were only limited experiences ouside the home, except for school and church. Hitler and the Hitler Youth set out to change this. The HJ set out to change this. The HJ began to play a major role in a child's life. Paricipation was mandatory. And a major part of the organization was to form attitudes and opinions that were nrmally formed at home. A very important aspect of the HJ program was youth leadershp. Young people without consideration of xocial class were given real authority--something virtally unknown in Germany or for that matter other countries. Young people responded to that and it was an important reason that the oganization was so successful.

Encounters

Adolf Hitler is one of the most photographed men of the 20th century. His personal photographer, Heinrich Hoffmann had virtually unlimited access. Amd there are countless images of him with children. This includes not only children greeting him on his travels around Germany as well arranged encounters with Hitler Youth groups. Thee were especially intimate encounters with youngr children at the Berghof. This of course made for good propaganda in the German media, but he seems to have genuinely enjoyed contact with young children. But it is interesting that the photographs are almost all of him greeting the children--not playing with him. He seems to hsve liked to have the children around while he chatted with his intimates, but there is no evidence that he every actually played with them or actually engaged with them in any real way. He accepted their fllowers or patted them on the head, but that was it. there was no real engagement.

Children at the Berghof (1937-44)

The NAZI bigwigs brought their kids to the Berhof when socializing with Hitler. And Hitler encouragd the visits. The Goebbels children were frequent visitors. He seems to have genuinely enjoyed their company. They seem to have helped him relax. He did not have to be careful as to what he said around them. Perhaps readers will have some idea as to the psychological processes at play. Apparently the innosence of childhood even appeals to evil among us. We don't see Hitler actually playing with them, at least in Hoffman's photographs. The children, of course instructed to be on their best behavior, seem to have been presented to Hitler and then allowed to play on their own. Those that remember the experience seem to have found memories of their Uncle Wolf. We suspect that it was more of a nice place to play and they probably got treats. Eva Braun was apparently kind to the children. I don't see them playing with Blondie. We note one Holocaust denier referring to the photogrphs as evidence that Hitler was not the evil mpnster depicted. But this was not unusual, many NAZIs has tender relations with their children, including those directly involved with the Holocaust. It seems to us incomprnensible, but was quite common. Most of these intimate images are with younger children.

Children's Attitudes toward Hitler

Hitler and his Propaganda Minister, Joseph Goebbels, sought to create an environment in which Hitler would be virtually worshipped. As far as we can tell, they were largely successful. The images of children greeting the Führer at countless public events are starrk and horrifying testamony to their success. We see in their faces the same kind of fervor that we see with modern rock stars. We see nothing like this with any othe national leader. The emotions reflected on their faces are nothing short of terrifying. And in the final months of the War, it was poorly-armed German boys, including pre-teens who were some of the Führer's most devout fighters as the Soviets and Allies drove deep into the Reich. Nothing could not forcefully demonstrate the vitually religious devotion of many young people to Hitler. Even with Stalin and his Cult of Personality we do not see this fervor. The only connection of a world leader with children remotely like this is that beween Mao and his Red Guards.

Asessment

One has to ask, why are their so many photographs of Hitler with children? No other world leader we know of was so often photographed with children. We think this is an accurate reflection of Hitler's public and private life and not a manufactured propaganda illusion. Perhaps the release of these images was done for propaganda purses, but not the time that Hitler devoted to encounters with children. His peronal photographer Heinrich Hoffmann simply captures what was occurring. As far as historians know, Adolf Hitler did not have any children of his own or even sexual relations with women. Throughout his life, he did not have close relationships with women. Even his relationship with Eva Braun does not seem to have been a normal reltionship. She appears to have loved him. He must have been fond of her, must he never seems to have expressed or demontrated love. All that must have affected his attitude toward children, but we are not sure just how. Perhaps this played into the reason why Hitler did not marry and have any children of his own. There has been considerable speculation on this topic, none of which can be really be confirmed or verified.

Vision

Hitler made it very clear as to how German children should be raised. Once in power he wrote, "My program for educating youth is hard … weakness must be hammered away. In my castles of the Teutonic Order, a new youth will grow up, before which the world will tremble. I want a brutal, domineering, fearless and cruel youth. Youth must be all that. It must bear pain. There must be nothing weak and gentle about it. The free, splendid beast of prey must once again flash from its eyes…That is how I will eradicate thousands of years of human domestication…That is how I will create the New Order."

Created: 6:48 AM 9/4/2014
Last edited: 5:59 AM 10/13/2014