Hitler Youth (HJ)

Young people were a particular focus of attention in the Nazi state. For this reason, the youth organization of the Nazi party, the Hitler Youth (HJ) – originally established in 1926 – was successively expanded after the Nazis seized power in 1933 with the aim of registering as many German boys and girls as possible between the ages of 10 and 18, while other youth organizations were dissolved or banned. The party sought to train young people in the HJ “through consistent political instruction to become genuine, strong National Socialists” (Nazi Party Organization Manual, 1937). The HJ was organized according to the ‘Führer principle’ and was directed by Reich Youth Leader (Reichsjugendführer) (up until 1940: Baldur von Schirach). It consisted of four sub-organizations: the HJ itself for young males aged 14 and over, the League of German Girls (BDM) for girls of the same age, Deutsches Jungvolk (‘German Youngsters’) and the Jungmädelbund (Young Girls’ League) for 10-14-year-olds.

In December 1936, the party youth organization became the official state youth organization by law: anyone who did not join the HJ from this point onwards had to fear disadvantages, such as being denied access to university. In 1939 a ‘youth service obligation’ was introduced by decree – de facto compulsory membership. Membership throughout the Reich increased from 2.3 million in 1933 to 8.7 million in 1939. The HJ itself, i.e. the sub-organization for boys, was divided regionally into 35 areas, each with around 20 ‘banners’ in 1937. Area 19 (Hochland) was responsible for Munich and was based at Dachauer Straße 9. The Munich office was at Schellingstraße 14.

The Hitler Youth initially offered young people an opportunity to escape everyday routine at home and school. With community camps and adventure trips, and with subordinate organizations such as equestrian, motor and aviation divisions, the HJ catered to young people’s spirit of adventure and their enthusiasm for sports and technology. But the focus was of course on educating young people in the spirit of Nazi ideology, inculcating in them an unconditional faith in the Führer and fanatical Germanism. Youngsters listened to propaganda broadcasts and speeches by the Führer at weekly home evenings, while qualities that were important to the Nazi regime such as obedience, discipline, toughness and physical fitness were trained through marches, sports competitions and pre-military field games. The primary purpose of this was to prepare the boys for their future deployment as soldiers. During the Second World War, the activities of the HJ were geared entirely towards civilian and military war deployment, including the recruitment of older boys as anti-aircraft helpers, for the People’s Storm (Volkssturm) and an SS ‘Hitler Youth’ armored division.