The Holocaust Remembrance Day

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Recommended: Propaganda during WW 1

With Holocaust Remembrance Day on April 28th, our nation and our world are mainly remembering the horrors of World War II from the point of view of the victims. During this solemn time, however, it is also important to remember those naïve contributors to Hitler’s war effort: the children of the Hitler Youth. In Austria and other countries controlled by the Third Reich, eligible children were required by law to join the Hitler Youth or the League of German Girls. A child’s eligibility depended on whether or not they fit specific race, age, and physical criteria. Despite these restrictions, the Hitler Youth organization became popular over the course of the war. Peer pressure and the praise children received for being members helped this youth group expand. Adolf Hitler was therefore able to use these groups as a way to spread propaganda and increase his own power. Children in the Hitler Youth were taught to hate Jews and anyone who opposed the Nazi war effort. Though many members of the Hitler Youth were extremist Nazis, others were merely mislead children who had been swept unwillingly into a war they knew nothing about (The Hitler Youth). This report will describe the effects of World War II on Austrian children and explain the purpose and procedures of the Hitler Youth organization. It will utilize books, online sources, and firsthand accounts pertaining to the subject.
World War II was the result of a combination of many factors, including the Treaty of Versailles, communism, and the Great Depression. These and other elements left Europe susceptible to the rise of dictators such as Adolph Hitler. Once Hitler became dictator, he established the Third Reich, the name of the Nazi regime in Germany (Gaynor and Esler 553). Hitle...

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...imply wanted to avoid being punished for not joining the group. If the Holocaust taught us anything, it is that there is a good aspect in every group, every person, and every situation. Once you search for and find that one positive piece, major conflicts can be resolved. Displaying understanding and acceptance toward another human being will earn you understanding and acceptance in return.

Bibliography
Gaynor Ellis, Elisabeth, and Esler, Anthony. World History: The Modern Era. United States of
America. Pearson Prentice Hall, 2009.
“The Hitler Youth: An Effective Organization for Total War” Military History. December 2006.
Online. http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/articles/effectiveorganization.aspx 16
Mar 2014.
“The Nazi Party: Hitler Youth” Jewish Virtual Library. Online. http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Holocaust/hitleryouth.html 17 Mar 2014.

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