The young people in Germany held a big part of Hitler's plans for the new Nazi Germany. Hitler aimed to indoctrinate the young people of Germany, forming a young, fit, obeying army of Aryan Germans - a perfect start to his 1000 Year Reich. Hitler believed that 'those that have the youth on their side control the future,' and that 'A young German must be as swift as a greyhound, as tough as leather, and as hard as Krupp's steel. ' If Hitler could indoctrinate these ideas into all young Germans then he could easily form a German society that would perform in war and serve the Nazi Germany State.
In the early years of Hitlers Nazi power over Germany he created an unique relationship with the young people of Germany. Hitlers main aim in these years was to win over the young people of Germany, making them true Nazi believers and the base for his 1000 year Reich army. Hitler gave the young people of Germany a new role. When the Weimar Republic controlled Germany young people were seens as chaotic rebels that had no controling authority.
Hitler wanted to change this so that the young people of Nazi Germany were an organised, obeying civilisation.Hitler introduced Youth Rallies in Germany where organised marching, the presentation of new weapons and long, insirational speeches were made. He then introduces Youth Movements, such as the Hitler Jugend and the BDM (Bund Deutscher Amdel), which increased in popularity from 100,000 attendants in 1932 to 3. 5 million attendants in 1934 and by 1939 they were compulsory. Nazi Germany soon held the largest Youth Movements in the World - Hitler saw these as the future of Germany.
The next part of Germany that Hitler looked at to nurture his young followers was the German schools. Schools were 'Nazified' with the introduction of new subject like 'Race Science' which informed young Germans that they were the superior Aryan race and that the Jews were a lesser being that could be controlled by Aryan Germans. This was enforced by the fact that Jews were seperated from other children initially and then excluded, teachers were controlled by Nazi organisations and text book were rewritten.Old subjects - ie Maths, Geography and History - were rewritten too, with main topics being the ideas of Lebensraum, war and battles. Hitler saw school as a good preperation for war and an ideal place for his young people to be indoctrinated. Hitler rewrote the role for the girls of Germany.
Hitler said that a German Madel had three jobs - known as the three K's - Kinder, Kuche and Kirche. Their role in a German household was to produce the next generation of Aryan Germans (Kinder - children), to cook food in the Kurche(Kitchen) and to go to Kirche (Church).Women were limited to simple dress (no modern clothing), no makeup and a general 'peasant' appearance. They were seen as a comrade for their political or military husband.
Young girls would learn that this was their role from an early age in the Youth Movements set up by Hitler such as the Jung Madel (ages 10-14), the BDM (ages 14-18) and the Faith and Beauty (ages 18+). Hitler also redefined the role of boys in Germany. German boys were 'bred for war' under Nazi rule. They were made to feel important and organised in Youth Movements.
Also Youth Movements taught the boys necessary skills to become future soldiers. Firstly they were taught nazi theory - this gave them the ambition to carry out the tasks that they did in WW2 as they truly beived that this was right because they had been taught this from a young age. Also Summer camps were attended by boys in Nazi Germany - here they would play war games and learn about team work and being fit. Hitler was breeding soldiers from young ages and teaching them to be tough and useful in a war situation.
There was, however, some opposition to Hitlers indoctrination of the young people in Nazi Germany. Firstly, groups of young people refusing to follow Hitlers strict Nazi regimentation were fromed during the 1930's. An example of this is the Edelweiss Pirates. These young people, mainly between the ages of 14 and 18, had either evaded the Hitler Youth by leaving school (which was allowed at 14) or avoided the Reich Labour Service and military service that was compulsory by 1939.These young people were renowed for mocking Nazi control and organisation, not following their 'roles' set put by Hitler and listening to American Jazz music, which Hilter saw as black, anti-Aryan music.
The Nazis had a harsh response to the Edelweiss Pirates and similar groups. Individuals identified by the Gestapo as belonging to the various anti-Nazi resistance groups were often sent to consentration camps, prison or even killed. In November 1944 a group of thirteen people were publicly hanged in Cologne. In conclusion Hitler affected the lives of young people in Nazi Germany in many different ways.
He set up Youth Movements that indoctrinated the youths into believing the Nazi theories were correct and they were a superior Aryan race. He also set out new roles for boys and girls making each feel that they were important and had a job to do to help Nazi Germany. Lastly he redesigned schools and curriculums so that his breed of soldiers and companions were ready for the war and, though met by some resistance, when helped by the SS achieved his german population that were 'as swift as a greyhound, as tough as leather, and as hard as Krupp's steel. '
