Hitler Youth Activities: Field Trips

Figure 1.--Here we see a HJ unit on a field trip. We are not sure what the site was, but the upturned sword on the monument suggests it is a military site, perhaps a World war I cemetary. The absence of a swastica suggests it was not a NAZI monument. You can see a village in the background.

We know that the HJ organized a range of trips for their members. This was done at the local level, athough there may have been guidelines from the central office. We do not have any details at this time on the nature of these trips. The photographic record provides some information about the trips. DJ boys may have taken field trips similar to Boy Scout Cubs, meaning trips generally close to home. There there was a difference in age as Cubs began at age 8 and the HJ at age 10. Thus the DJ was mealong with smewhat older members. We do not have much information on these trips such as what the popular destinations were. We know from cubbing that trips were commonly made to museums and zoos. This appears to have also been the case for the DJ. We do have one portrait of an unidentified DJ boy at the Berlin Zoo in the 1930s. The age range of the DJ was different than Cubs, thus field trips may not have been as common as was the case for Cubs. We think that field trips of a more patriotic nature mat have been more common for the DJ, meaning visits to sites of importance to military history. This may have included castles, battle sites, milutary shirines and other sites. We notice some boys taking boats, perhaps as an excurioins or as part of biking and hiking trips. We are less sure about the older HJ boys. They certainly may have been involved in trips furrther from home and of a more phyically demanding nature such as bike rides. They woild have been less likely to go on visits to museums and zoos like the younger boys. There is an important sociological factor here. Germany in 1933 was a still class-based society. Many German boys, especially working-class boys had no opportunity for vacations and trips. The HJ was a leveling experience. Their family background mafe little difference and there were trips and activities that would have been normally open to working-class boys.

Local Organization

We know that the HJ organized a range of trips for their members. This was done at the local level, athough there may have been guidelines from the central office.

Types of Trips

We do not have any details at this time on the nature of these trips. We have begun to piece together some information based on the photographic record which provides some information about the trips. We do not have much information on these trips such as what the popular destinations were. We know from cubbing that trips were commonly made to museums and zoos. This appears to have also been the case for the DJ. We think that field trips of a more patriotic nature mat have been more common for the DJ, meaning visits to sites of importance to military history. This may have included castles, battle sites, milutary shirines and other sites. We notice some boys taking boats, perhaps as an excurioins or as part of biking and hiking trips. We are less sure about the older HJ boys. They certainly may have been involved in trips furrther from home and of a more phyically demanding nature such as bike rides. They woild have been less likely to go on visits to museums and zoos like the younger boys.

Levels

The types of trips were in part dependent on the age of the boys. DJ boys may have taken field trips similar to Boy Scout Cubs, meaning trips generally close to home. There there was a difference in age as Cubs began at age 8 and the HJ at age 10. Thus the DJ was mealong with smewhat older members. We do have one portrait of an unidentified DJ boy at the Berlin Zoo in the 1930s. The age range of the DJ was different than Cubs, thus field trips may not have been as common as was the case for Cubs.

Social Class

There is an important sociological factor here observable with the HJ and the tripss they organized. Germany in 1933 was a still class-based society. Many German boys, especially working-class boys had no opportunity for vacations and trips. The HJ was a leveling experience. Their family background made little difference and there were trips and activities that would have been normally open to working-class boys. we see boys on biking trips and boating excusions. These were things that woukld have been beyond the means of many working-class boys. This is important because a substantial segment of the German working class suported Socialist even Communist parties. Some of the adults may have changed over time, but it is likely that most just learned go keep their mouths shut. Their children are a different matter. There political allegiances were not fixed. And the HJ was just the beginning of the NAZIs gaining their support. Educational and job opportunities were also opened that before the NAZIs woulkd not have been available to working-class boys. Seeing the impages of HJ activities with the boys dressed alike, it is not possible to tell what their social-class backgrounds were. This was all part of the leveling of class barriers during the Third Reich.