The Success of the Nazis in Indoctrinating the Young People of Germany

The Success of the Nazis in Indoctrinating the Young People of Germany

Hitler knew from the outset that the gaining the faith of the German

youth would be key if he were to obtain his goal of the ‘1,000 year

Reich’. The children were the future and Hitler's enormous plans for

Germany could not come to life if the youth opposed him. Hitler

controlled every aspect of their lives, schools were warped and after

school youth movements were introduced to influence the youth the

into supporting the Nazis when they grow up.

The Hitler Youth was set up in 1926 and by the time Hitler became

chancellor it had some 50,000 members although the indoctrination

wasn’t clear until long after he came to power. With the German Young

Boys, the League of Young Girls, the Hitler Youth and the League of

German Maidens, there was something for everyone. Children saw the

groups as a chance to be free from the restrictions of parents,

school or church. Hitler played on this, making each child feel a

sense of self-worth and pride, the Hitler youth became the single most

important influence in many children's lives. The children had to

take an oath of loyalty to their Fuhrer. As well as giving them

something to do, the Hitler Youth mixed all social classes together,

everybody was treated the same and dressed alike. For many of the

poorer youth, the camping trips to the countryside gave them an

exciting change and a chance for the holiday. Children were

brainwashed. Some turned in their own parents for badmouthing Hitler.

In March 1039, the Hitler Youth became compulsory for all children.

By now, however, the novelty had worn off for many children and as the

emphasis on military drills, etc. increased, so did the rebellion.

The Edelweiss flower was chosen to symbolise resistance to Hitler.

The ‘Edelweiss Pirates’ wore the flower as a metal badge on their

collars. The upper and middle class youths hung about, drinking,