Hitler Youth: Chronology--The Third Reich (1933-45)

Figure 1.--HBere we see some older HJ boys in 1937. They look to be about the age that they would do Reich Labor Service. Hitler had reintroduced conscription in 1935. One of the HJ functions was as a conduit into the military.

President Hindenburg appointed Adolf Hitler Chancellor (January 1933). Hitler and the NAZIs proceeded to seize power. Shortly after Hitler was appointed Chancellor, Schirach organized a NAZI takeover of the German Youth Ministry (1933). He explained that the staff, except for the anti-NAZIs expelled were now employed by the Hitler Youth. Most of the existing German Youth organizatons were either banned or incorporated into the Hitler Youth. The HJ by 1935 was a huge organization with over 60 percent of the country's youth participating. Mamy boys by 1935 had joined the Hitler Youth, although membership was not officially compulsory until 1936. Enforcement of the compulsory regulation st first varied. At that time the first Hitler Youth Law was promulgated. Many boys were anxious to participate, but it was often possible to avoid participation at first without severe consequences. Both Pope Benedict and his brother, for example were able to avoid participation and their father was a police officer. The NAZI Government promulgated two additional Hitler Youth Laws in 1939 and 41. The additional laws in were in part designed to strenthen the mandatory participation in the HJ. An observer writes, "Opinions differ as to when the 'mandatory' status actually began to be strictly enforced. The general opinion is that it was with the third Hitler Youth Law of 1941 that made it difficult to avoid participation." [Crawford] Artur Axmann who served on the Eastern Front repaced Schirach as HJ leader (1940). The physical training became more rigorus in 1942. Many basic military skills were incorporated such as camafloge, crossing rivers, digging fox holes laying down, etc. Hitler Youth Leader Arthur Axmann on Hitler's birthday (April 1944) presented him with a newly formed division--the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend. The Division was composed of HJ youth born in 1926, meaning that they were 17-18 years old. The senior NCOs and officers were mostly SS veterans from the Eastern Front. The Division played a prominent role in the Normandy fighting.

1933

President Hindenburg appointed Adolf Hitler Chancellor (January 30, 1933). That night NAZI Storm Troopers celebrated the appointment by conducting a massive torchlight parades. Hitler Youth units then mostly composed of older teenagers passing under the windows of the Chancellery where the new Chancelor and President Paul von Hindenburg watched. Hitler and the NAZIs proceeded to seize power. Hitler aided by Göring and Hiummler obtained dictatorial powers. The key act was the passage of the Enabling Act by the now Nazi-controlled Reichstag. Hitler's seizure of power meant the NAZI Party youth group, the Hitler Youth, now was backed by the power of the German state. The NAZIs launched Gleichschaltung (forced coordination) in which all German institutions and organizations were either Nazified or disbanded. Germany had perhaps the nmost vibrant youth movement in Europe with several hundred highly diverse organizations loosely overseen by the Youth Ministry. The youth movement had become highly politicized in the inter-War era, although some groups like the Boy Scouts remained staunchly apolitical. Hitler Youth Leader Baldur von Schirach now sought to eliminate all 400 of the other competing youth organizations throughout Germany and consolidating selected groups unf=dervhis keadership. Schirach orcestrated a NAZI takeover of the German Youth Ministry (1933). He explained that the staff, except for the anti-NAZIs and Jews expelled were now employed by the Hitler Youth. Most of the existing German Youth organizatons were either banned or incorporated into the Hitler Youth. Schirach ordered 50 older Hitler Youths to storm the Berlin offices of the Reichs Committee of German Youth Associations (April 3, 1933). This was an organization overseeing nearly 6 million German children participating in a diverse array of youth programs. The HJ boys instructed the Reich Committee staffers working at the time were instructed to continue working and were simply informed they they now worked for the Hitler Youth Organization. With this single stroke, most of the Germany youth organizations were under Schirach's control. For some of the groups this was not a problem. The conservative and nationalist youth groups for the most part enthusiatically joined the Hitler Youth. Schirach disbanded the the Communist and Socialist organizations and seized their property and offices. The Jewish organizations were expelled from the Reich Committee, but not immedistely disbanded. Various non-political Protestant groups were pressured by Schirach to join. Most quickly yielded. HJ groups raided the Socialist Workers' Youth offices. Groups not joining the HJ were prevented from gatheing are engaging in organized activities. HJ groups attacked groups trying to continue operating. And the police as well as SA Storm Troopers intervened if they successfully replused HJ attacks. They were charged with constituting a 'public nuisance'. By the end of theyear, almost all other youth groups in Germany ceased to exist. The sole exceotion much to Schirach's disgust was the Catholic Youth Organization. They had the support of the Catholic Church and its internationl organization. And the NAZI Government signed the Reichskonkordat with the Vatican (July 20, 1933). Hitler at this stage of his rule did not want a major break with the Vatican. He was trying to project a moderate image. And many Germans, including loyal NAZIs were Catholic. Thus Hitler pledged to protecting Catholic institutions in Germany. High ranking NAZIs still went to Sunday mass and Hitler Youths boys served as altar boys. Hitler was more than pleased with Schirach's achievements. He appointed him Jugendführer des Deutschen Reiches (Germn Youth Leader) (June 13, 1933). Schirach was in total control of the German youth movement, with the temporary exception of the Catholic organizations. Schirach dissolved the old Reich's Committee of German Youth Associations (July 1933).

1934: Year of Training

Schirach announced that 1934 would be "The Year of Training". He announced in a sppech "Whoever marches in the Hitler Youth is not a number among millions but the soldier of an idea. The individual member's value to the whole is determined by the degree to which he is permeated by the idea. The best Hitler Youth, irrespective of rank and office, is he who completely surrenders himself to the National Socialist world view." Schirach developed a close working relationship with Reich Labor Leader Robert Ley. They promoted vocational training and initiated the annual National Vocational Competition for Hitler Youth. Many German youth s finished school in their early teens and did not go on to secondary school. These teens learning trades were judged and rewarded. Winners in each category were honored by personally meeting Hitler. The Hitler Youth appearance at the annual Nuremberg Pary Congress. An entire day would be devoted to the HJ. The appearance was documented in Leni Riefenstahl classic propaganda film, 'Triumph des Willens' (Triumph of the Will). The centerpice of the film was a 10-minute sequence depicting Hitler's emotional appearance before the enthralled assembly inside the sports stadium. His remarks were punctuated with constant shouts of "Heil." Hitler told the assembled HJ members "Regardless of whatever we create and do, we shall pass away, but in you, Germany will live on." The NAZI regime introduced the Landdienst (Reich Land Service) (October 1934). The Landdienst was created by Artur Axmann, who headed the National Youth Directorate. This “back to the land” ideal was originally created back in 1924 by the right-wing Artamanen movement, but was incorporated into the NAZI party structure as the leaders of that movement willingly joined the NAZI party. Their slogan was 'Blood and Soil'. Urban youth were given the opportunity to live and work on a farm. An element of the NAZI ethos was an attachment to the land. The German farmer tilling the soil was lauded above all German workers. HJ and BDM members were encouraged to participate and assist in bringing in the harvest. In doing so they would learning the value of hard labor and the virtue of the simple life.

1935: Year of Physical Training

The HJ by 1935 was a huge organization with over 60 percent of the country's youth participating. Mamy boys by 1935 had joined or been incorporated into the Hitler Youth. Schirach declared 1935 would be 'The Year of Physical Training'. One of tge goals of the Hitler Youth ws to improve physical fitness of German youth. To furrther this goal, Schirach initiated the second major annual HJ event –- the Sports Competition. Medals were awarded to youths who performed rigorous athletic drills and achieved strict physical fitness standards. Every summer, a day would be designated as the "Day of the State Youth" for conducting these events. Hitler saw physical fitness as more important than education which he sawas memorizing "dead facts". He had discussed this in Mein Kampf, writing "a less well-educated, but physically healthy individual with a sound, firm character, full of determination and willpower, is more valuable to the Volkish community than an intellectual weakling." School schedules were adjusted to accomodate at least 1 hour of physical training in the morning and 1 hour each afternoon. This was a major change for the highly academic German school system. Before the NAZIs most schools devoted only aout 2 hoursweekly to phyical education. Hitler was particularly impressed with boxing and encouraged boys to take up the sport. This was done primarily as a HJ activity. Hitler saw it as encouraging aggressiveness among the German youth he was molding. Fr Hitler, tough physical training would instill confidence and that "this self-confidence must be instilled from childhood into every German. His entire education and training must be designed to convince him of his absolute superiority over others." Hitler was dubios about the ability of the schools to inculcate National Socialism. He wanted German schools to promote nationalist thought. He also wanted to teaching boys of the need to sacrifice themselves for the Fatherland. Special school assemblies were held in school halls with heroic themes and needcto be ready to die for tge Fatherland. Such ideas were, however, more easily promoted in the HJ than the schools. Especially in the early years there wee many teachers who were not NAZIs or favirably disposed toward National Socialism. The HJ was from the beginnjng led by faithful follwers evotec to Hitler and Natinal Socialism.

1936: Year of the Jungvolk

Schirach set out in 1936 to enroll every 10-year-old throughout thecReich into the Hitler Youth. This was to be a present for Hitler on his 47th birthday. Schirach desinated 1936 as the Year of the Jungvolk'. He devised ways of presuring the childen. NAZI teachers presured them in school. Existing HJ children presured them after school at home and at play. HJ units would march thriugh the neigborhoods recruiting youth. Meetings were held for parents. Many boys were anxious to participate, but it was often possible to avoid participation at first without severe consequences. Both Pope Benedict and his brother, for example were able to avoid participation and their father was a police officer. Hitler's Birthday was a national holiday in Germany with many special celebrations. This year a ceremony was held at the Marienburg Castle of the Teutonic Order. Psgentry included the glow of torchlights, solemn beating of drums by HJ boys, and fanfare of trumpets. Here and at other locations througout Germany, 10-year-old boys entered the the HJ junior division--the Jungvolk. They swore a solen oath: "In the presence of this blood banner which represents our Führer, I swear to devote all my energies and my strength to the savior of our country, Adolf Hitler. I am willing and ready to give up my life for him, so help me God." Those present then sang the Hitler Youth anthem--'the Fahnenlied' (Banner Song) which Schirach had personally composed. Hitler decreed "The Law concerning the Hitler Youth" (December 1, 1936). Membership was not officially compulsory until 1936. The new law required all young Germans (excluding Jews who as a result of the Nuremberg Laws were no longer German citizens) to join the HJ. The law explain that they would would "be educated physically, intellectually and morally in the spirit of National Socialism" through the Hitler Youth program beginnjng at age 10 years. This law also effectively ended the Catholic Youth Organization exemption. The Catholic Youth Organization as a result of the Reichkoncodat were able to legally operate, albeit under continued organized and ad hoc harassment. There was now a legal basis for prosecuting parents who prevented or even discouraged their children from joining the HJ. Fines and prison sentences were possible. Enforcement of the compulsory regulation at first seems to have varied somewgat.

1937

The HJ established a rifle school (1937). An estimated 1.5 million boys were trained in rifle shooting and parucipated in military field exercises. over 50,000 boys earning a marksmanship medal that required near perfect shooting at a distance of 50 meters.

1938

Hitler's successes caused him to advance the schedule he had planned. Hev expanded the Reich by absorbing neighboring Austria through the Anschlus (April 1938) and the Czech Sudetenland (October 1938). Both were populated by ethnic Germans ethnic Germans. As a result, Hitler Youth membership increased to 8.7 million. The last Nuremberg Party Congress was held (Seoptember 1938), just before the Munich Cionference. The theme Grossdeutschland (Greater Germany) and was the largest ofall the annual rallie. An estimated 0.7 million members of the various Nazi Party organizations participated. The Hitler Youth Day was Saturday, September 10th. A contingentof 80,000 Hitler Youths marched into the city stadium and performed military-style parade maneuvers. They had been practicing for an entire year. At the end they spelled out the name 'Adolf Hitler' in the grandstand. Hitler ppeared to a thunderous oivation. He spoke to them about his own youth and painful adolescence. He concluded with "You, my youth, are our nation's most precious guarantee for a great future, and you are destined to be the leaders of a glorious new order under the supremacy of National Socialism. Never forget that one day you will rule the world!" The seizure of the Sudetenland was fiollowed by Kristallnacht (the Night of Broken Glass) (November 1938). It was an old fashioned Pogtrom. SA Storm Troopers, the SS, and older Hitler Youths attacked Jews throughout the Reich. Police stood by and crowds watched as Jews were beaten in their shops and homes. Shops were looted and possessions in homes were smashed. Pets were killed. Men and teenagers were dragged off to bpridons and concentratiin camps. Synagogues were burnd. NAZI thugs including HJ boys took special pleasure in desecrating sacred religious scrolls. Many Hitler Youth boys in uniform participated in the violence voluntarily often because they were reklated to or knew SA men. This was all apparently done without direction from Schirach in Berlin. Learning of the extent of their particupation, he called a meeting of all high level group leaders and ordered them not to participate in such 'criminal actions'. By this time the violence was largely over. >

1939

Schrach had by early 1939 largely achieved hus goals. There were 7.3 million members, over 80 percent of eligible youths andcan even larger proprtion of the boys within the Greater Reich. This made it the largest youth organization in the world. Even the Young Pioneers in the Siviet Union had not reached that level. Hitler invaded what remained of Czechioslovakia (March 1938) making a mockery of the Munich Accords and almost assuring his next aggression woukd mean war. The NAZI Government promulgated an additional Hitler Youth Laws (March 25). It was primarily designed to strenthen the mandatory participation in the HJ. An observer writes, "Opinions differ as to when the 'mandatory' status actually began to be strictly enforced. Warnings ere added to parents that their children would be taken from them and placed in orphanages unless they enrolled.

1940

Artur Axmann who served on the Eastern Front repaced Schirach as HJ leader (1940).

1941

The general opinion is that it was with the third Hitler Youth Law of 1941 that made it difficult to avoid participation." [Crawford]

1942

The physical training became more rigorus in 1942. Many basic military skills were incorporated such as camafloge, crossing rivers, digging fox holes laying down, etc.

1943

The Kinderlandverschickung (KLV) wasthe German World War II program ti get children out of the cities targeted by Allied bombers into safe areas in the countryside. We are not sure just when the evacuations began, but belueve that somne children were evacuated as early as 1940. . The children had to go to rural areas on "holiday" but really they should be out of the cities and towns that had difficulties feeding them and were being bombed by the Allies. The bombing begn from a fairky early point, but was miniml until 1942 when British Bomn=ber Command began to Avo Lancasters. The intensity incresed signifucantly when the Amerucan Eighth Air Force joined BtheRAF with around the clock bonmbing of Germany's indutrial cities (1943). The children were evacuated ith their teachers, but the KLV faciities were run by HJ leaders. BDM girls were especially important, in part because many older HJ boys were conscrioted for military sertvice. About 2.5 million children were send to 9,000 camps until end of World War II. Strangely, unlike the extensive discussion of the British evacuation of children (1940-41), the German KLA evacuation and camps are little discussed. HJ boys and girls played a major role in manning the anti-airctraft batteries that were implanted around German cities and constituted a major part of German air defenses. The FLAK batteries werecat first manned by Luftwaffe men, but as the war went against Germny, Luftwaffe men were redeployed ad the HJ became a major component bof the Flk crews..

1944

Hitler Youth Leader Arthur Axmann on Hitler's birthday (April 1944) presented him with a newly formed division--the 12th SS Panzer Division Hitlerjugend. The Division was composed of HJ youth born in 1926, meaning that they were 17-18 years old. The senior NCOs and officers were mostly SS veterans from the Eastern Front. The Division played a prominent role in the Normandy fighting. The Volkstrum was organized (October 1944). It was the militia composed of boys as young as 16 years and men up to age 60 years. SS Reich Führer was initially given command. But unlike the boys drawn into the maelstrom proved a comolete failure. Many HJ boys younger than 16 joined the fight. Hitler Youth boys, along with old men, were hastily trained, ill-equipped and not terribly well led were the major recruits for the Volkstrum in the closing months of the year. The HJ boys, however, went into battle with a fervor even beyond that of the Waffen SS. Many accounts exist of battle hardeneded Wehrmacht and and SS troops who met these boy soldiers on the way to battle. Their advise was almost often "Its over. Go home!" Some ardent NAZIs organized HJ units with even young teenagers to face the advancing Allied armies. The boys armed with a few anti-tank weapons like Panzerfauts and perhaps a machinegun if one could be foundwent into battle. Often they performed amazingly well, even when given hopeless assignments.

1945

HJ boys woukd olay an nimportant role in the climatic battle fir Brlin (April 1945).

Sources

Crawford, Chris. E-mail message, June 5, 2005.