German Youth Groups: Chronology

Hitler Youth
Figure 1.--Some German youth groups are easy to identify from their uniforms, such as the Hitler Youth, Boy Scouts, abd Young Pioneers. The German Youth movement, especially during the Weimar era, was extremely varie and included alarge number of groups, msny quite small. Small groups had more difficulty having destinctive uniforms because they were not large enough to make it economic for manufacturers to produce uniform garments. Thus it is difficult to identify the groups from the uniforms in available snapshots which do not identify the group. This boy at forst glance looks like a Hitler Youth boy, but note there is no scarfe, patches, or knive. This could be because it is a very early HJ photograph. Ot he could belong to a different youth group. He could well be a Wandervogel boy. Notice the prominant posing with the countryside, this was a theme that was left important for the HJ.

Organized uniformed youth groups began in Germany during the mid 1890s when Wandervogel began to form. It was officially chartered in 1900 and had an imense influence on the development of German youth groups. Scouting also appeared in Germany in the 1900s, but never had the influence that it had in American, England, and other European countries. The first generation of boys joining youth groups was shatered by World War I. After the War a defeated and demoralized Germany searched for its soul. Wandervogel split into a great multitude of sectarian and often higly politicized groups, including the Hitler Youth which was formally formed in 1926. The German youth movement during the Weimar era was very extensive and vibrant,perhaps the most importat in Europe. It was extremely varied. There was not national youth group like the Scouts in Britain and America. Many German youth groups duing the Weimar era were both sectarian and highly politicized. Many boys participated in the different groups. Upon seizing power, the NAZIS absorbed or abolished all youth groups except for the Catholic youth association which was allowed to operate for a few years before also being disbanded and absorbed. The NAZIs effectively used the Hitler Youth movement to mold a new generation of Germans and prepare them for war. After World War II, Scouting was restablished in West Germany. The Russians did not permit Scouting in East Germany and instead the German Communists organized the Pioneers. The Pioneers disappeared after German unified and state subsidies were terminated. The rapidity wiuthbwhich it disappeared show the weakness of the movement abd lack of any real commitment. Scouting continues in Germny and there are still Wandervogel units located throughout the country. In addition to the chronological dececade by decade discussion, we have also prepared c=hroinologies for the major individual German youth groups. We are working on chrinologies g the Hitlker Youth, Scouts, Wndervigel, Young Pioneeers and other groups as information becomes available. There are many other German youth groups,including quite small ones, but HBU has only limited information on most of these groups.

Chronolgical Trends

Organized uniformed youth groups began in Germany during the mid 1890s when Wandervogel began to form. The Wandervogel in Germany and the Boys' Brigade in Britain were the two earliest youth organiozations. The Wandervogel until the NAZI takje over and promotion of the Hitler vYouth woyld be German's most influential youth group. Therecwas an innosence and esthetic dimrnsion to Wandervogel that was largely lost in the youth organizations which feveloped in the 20th century. Wandervogel was officially chartered in 1900 and had an imense influence on the development of German youth groups. Scouting also appeared in Germany in the 1900s, but never had the influence that it had in American, England, and other European countries. The first generation of boys joining youth groups was shatered by World War I. After the War a defeated and demoralized Germany searched for its soul. his cwa clearly visible in the youth movement. The inosence of the early Wandervogel movement ws lost. Wandervogel split into a great multitude of sectarian and often higly politicized groups. Many politicalmparties formed youth groups. The NAZIs formally formed the Hitler Youth movement (1926). The Socialists and Communists also formed youth moivement. The German youth movement during the Weimar era was very extensive and vibrant, perhaps the most importat in Europe. It was extremely varied. There was no unified national youth group like the Scouts in Britain and America until the NAZI takeover. The Scouts existed and were apolitical as in other countries. Many German youth groups duing the Weimar era were both sectarian and highly politicized. Many boys participated in the different groups. Upon seizing power, the NAZIS absorbed or abolished all youth groups except for the Catholic youth association which was allowed to operate for a few years before also being disbanded and absorbed. The NAZIs effectively used the Hitler Youth movement to mold a new generation of Germans and prepare them for war. After World War II, Scouting was restablished in West Germany. The Russians did not permit Scouting in East Germany and instead the German Communists organized the Pioneers. The Pioneers disappeared after German unified and state subsidies were terminated. The rapidity wiuthbwhich it disappeared show the weakness of the movement and lack of any real commitment. Scouting continues in Germny and there are still Wandervogel units located throughout the country.

Group Chronologies

In addition to the chronological dececade by decade discussion, we have also prepared c=hroinologies for the major individual German youth groups. We are working on chrnologies of the Hitlker Youth, Scouts, Wandervigel, Young Pioneeers and other groups as information becomes available. There are many other German youth groups,including quite small ones, but HBU has only limited information on most of these groups. Hopefully our German traders will have informnation to add to this section.






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Created: 4:10 PM 10/28/2008
Last updated: 5:14 AM 6/7/2012