German Nationalist Youth Groups: Wandervogel Contrast with Other Groups


Figure 1.--

Wandervogel in some superficial ways looked like Scouting. Baden Powell for a time briefky saw it as a German Scouting movement. There were, however, major differences. Like wise there were some shared tenants and similarities with other German youth groups, including right wing groups like the Hitler Youth. There were some basic inconsistencies in the thought of Hoffman and the Wandervogel movement which lead to the splintering of the movement into many diverse groups after World War I (1914-18)

Contrast with Scouting

Idealizing nature

Both Wandervogel and Scouting idealized nature. Wandervigel boys went on weekend retreats, where they would hike and learn to survive on their own in the wilderness--just like Scouts. The Wandervogel philosophym however, was more profound that the appraoch in Baden Powell's Scouts. The Scouts did not reject their urban society or view their society as corrupt. They were in fact incouraged to be good citizens. Hoffman believed that German society was corrupt. He thought that only by an awareness of pre-industrial forms of life would man, and then society as a whole, appreciatethe good in the past and use it to alleviate the the abominations of the present. The Wandervogel in essence rejected bourgeois culture and big-city civilization, seeking out instead an encounter with and shared adventure in nature.

Youth culture

The approach to youth contrasted sharply in the two groups. Wandervogel strove for an alternative culture specifically for young people. A key element in the Wandervogel was the absence of adult direction. The boys involved tended to be older than Baden Powell's Scouts and they were incouraged to organize and plan activities themselves. As such youth itself was idealized. Hoffman picked up on the philosophy of German education, Gustav Wyneken, who coined a term "Jugendkultur". Scouting on the other hand was a highly organized effort with adult leaders setting the goals and activities. There were leadership roles for boys in Scout units--but only within a very carefully organize structure controlled by adults. There was in Wandrvogel an element of self assertion toward adults that was clearly not incouraged in Scouting. Respect for adults, parrents and teachers, were an important element in Scouting that was clearly not present in Wandervogel.

Nordic romanticism and volk culture

The Wandervogel and Scouts both emphasized patriotism. Scouting soon development a decidely international approach. The movement became one incouraging exchanges and meetings with boys from other countries. There was no movement toward international brotherhood among the Wandervogel. In fact the British origins and continued British associations withbScouting probably is one reason Scouting was less successful in Germany than other countries. Wandervogel was highly nationalistic and drew inspiration from German's idealized Nordic roots. Folk songs sang while hiking or around camfires were a mainstay of the Wandervogel as was folk dancing.

Anti-semitism

HBU is not sure about the level of anti-semtism in Scouting. As very few Jews lived in England, it was probably not a serious contention. There were substantial numbers of Jews in America. Some Scout groups were organized by churches, but often schoolsd organized Scout groups making it difficult for anti-semutism to be institutionally promoted. As Scouting spanned international boundaries a pan-religious appraoch had to be adopted. An out growth of the strong thread of idealizing the Nordic roots of Germany and volk culture was an anti-semetic sentiment. Jews were not welcome and many Wandervogel groups rejected any contact with similar Jewish Blue and White groups.

Non-political

Both Scouting and Wandervogel were apolitical. The defeat of Germany in World War I, however, made it difficult to prevent political involvement by youth groups. Wandervogel in fact lost much of its membership to politicized youth groups.

Humanism

There was an intelectual dimenson to Wandervogel that never developed in Scouting. A strong element of Wandervogel was a romantic rebellion against parental and educational authoritarianism. The Wandervogel rejected what they saw as a rotting society and stressed a idealized, romantic individualism. In fact, Scouting was a para-military organization clearly observable in the uniform. Wandervogel had uniforms of a sort, but with none of the para-military trappings of Scouting.

Poetry

The love of poetry was another distinuishing aspect of Wandervogel. This reflected the romantic orientation of the movement. Scouts on the other hand were never noted for their appreciation of poetry.

Sports

Wandervogel and Scouting also differed in their appraoch to sport. Wandervigel also gave considerable attention to sport. Organized sporting events of soccer and other various competitions kept the interests of the children. Scouting while promoting outdoord game, never gave attention to organized sport.

Masucline ethos

Hoffman taught at an all boys grammar school (academically selective secondary school). At firsrt Wandervogel was just for boys. One girls were permitted that were kept separate from the boys and relegated to a secondary role in the movement--an appraoch similar to that of the NAZIs in their youth movement. Scouting took a similar approach. Girls were not allowede to join and had to form a separate group--the Girl Guides, albeit organized by Baden Powells wife. Most countries for years kept the two groups separate and some still do--notably the United States.


Figure 2.--The Hitler Youth drew from both Scouting and Wandervogel in crearing its program. While the Hitler Youth had the Nordic and volk culture of Wandervogel, the Hitler Youth in many ways were the antithesis of the Wanderogel.

Contrast with the Hitler Youth

Idealizing nature

The Hitler Youth organized the outdoor outings and camping that the wandervogel had so popularized. But the goal was not to comune with nature. The idea was to build the boys physically so they were prepared to wage war uin a new militarized Germany. The Hitler Youth motto was "Blood and soil". The soil so honored was not bucoloic nature, but rather the Nordic Fatherland. The free spirited hiking and camping of the Wandervogel were in the Hitler Youth turned into marching and militaruize lining up and roll calls

The Hitler Youth in the early days echoed Hoffman's philosophy that German society was corrupt. But the NAZIs were not what he had in mind. Hoffman thought that only by an awareness of pre-industrial forms of life would man, and then society as a whole, appreciate the good in the past and use it to alleviate the the abominations of the present. The NAZIs were not after a shared adventured in nature. Rather they idealized Germany's indistrial prowers. Major industrialists contributed to Hitler's rise tompower. The NAZIs for their part sought to expand German industry as the countrt prepared for war. Once in power of course, the NAZI's no longer permitted youth groups to critically discuss their society of Government.

Youth culture

The approach to youth also contrasted sharply in the two groups. Wandervogel strove for an alternative culture specifically for young people. A key element in the Wandervogel was the absence of adult direction. Of course, the Hitler Youth were controlled at every step by authoritarian adult leaders. This was the antithesis of the Wandervogel approach. The NAZIs also idealized youth, but the youth sdomidealized were not the independent-minded Wandervogel boys, but rather the obedient Hitler Youth, trained to obey orders and showing no sympathy with smaller and weaker boys. The intelectual element of the wandervogel was completely lacking if not rejected by the Hitker Youth. The element in Wandervogel of self assertion toward adults would have been an anethma in the Hitler Youth--at least adults on NAZI leadership roles. This did no prevent the Hitler Youth from adopting the notion of "youth led by youth" and incorporating into its core ideas. There were in fact important leadership roles for boys, but they were only allowed to lead within a ideological structure created by the NAZIs. The boys and their youth leaders had no say in the goals and value of the group--in sharpmcontrast to Wandervogel.

Nordic romanticism and volk culture

The Wandervogel and Hitler Youth did take similar appraoches toward patriotism. Bpoth mpvements were highly nationalistic and sought to draw inspiration from German's idealized Nordic roots. Folk songs sang while hiking or around camfires were a mainstay of the Wandervogel as was folk dancing. Of course cheey folk songs around the campfire in the Hitler Youth became more militant and belicose. As for dancing, even folk dancing was not incouraged. The boys activities were directed to more body building pursuits. The Nordic folklore, especially pheons to Nordic war heros and legends became a mainstay of the Hitler Youth.

Anti-semitism

An out growth of the strong thread of idealizing the Nordic roots of Germany and volk culture was an anti-semetic sentiment. Jews were not welcome in the Wandervogel. For the NAZIs and Hitler Youth, ant-semtism was more than an an outgrowth of their Nordic volk interests. Anti-semitism was for Hitler an abiding pashion and the Hitler Youth was used to inculcate Hitler's vitulent anti-semitism in young Germans.

Non-political

While Wandervogel was apolitical, the Hitler Youth was created as an arm of the SA Stormtroppers--the para military force of the NAZI Party. The Hitler Youth was this from the begining a highly politicized group.

Humanism

There was an intelectual dimenson to Wandervogel that never developed in the Hitler Youth. In fact the humanism of Wandervogel was ciompleletly counter to the ethos and purpose of the Hitler Youth. The strong romantic rebellion against parental and educational authoritarianism of Wandervogel would have been viewed as almost trasonable by the NAZIs. The Wandervogel rejected what they saw as a rotting society and stressed a idealized, romantic individualism. The Hitler Youth saw youths as creature of the state which had to sibordinate their lives and aspirations to the building of New Order and by 1939 to waging war. Wandervogel had uniforms of a sort, but with none of the para-military trappings of the Hitler Youth.

Poetry

The love of poetry was another distinuishing aspect of Wandervogel. This reflected the romantic orientation of the movement. The Hitler Youth, needless to say, were not noted for their appreciation of poetry.

Sports

Wandervogel and the Hitler Youth also differed in their appraoch to sport. Wandervigel also gave considerable attention to sport. Organized sporting events of soccer and other various competitions were an important part of Wandervogel. The Hitler Youth promoted body building exercizes. They also concoted wide games, but ones in which group[s of boys virtually waged war on each other. Smaller and weaker boys were often brutalized in what was viewed as toughening up experiences.

Masucline ethos

Hoffman taught at an all boys grammar school (academically selective secondary school). At firsrt Wandervogel was just for boys. One girls were permitted that were kept separate from the boys and relegated to a secondary role in the movement--an appraoch similar to that of the NAZIs in their youth movement. The Hitler Youthj took a similar approach. Girls were not allowede to join and had to form a separate group--the ????.






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Created: September 16, 2000
Last updated: September 16, 2000