how did WW2 affect young people Flashcards
Why did the youth groups become less popular during the war?
Because they became much more focused on preparing young men for war - and they did less of the fun stuff (e.g. games/sport)
Which two groups did the Nazis become worried about?
The Swing movement and the Edelweiss Pirates
Who made up the Edelweiss Pirates?
Were the Edelweiss Pirates an organised movement?
Working class teenagers
No - they were various different groups in different cities (e.g. ‘The Roving Dudes’ in Essen) but the Nazis grouped them as one
they were generally between 14 and 17 this is because School was compulsory in Germany until 14, but military service did not start until 17.
Who made up the Swing movement?
what did they do?
Mostly middle class teenagers
They went to parties, listened to English and American music, and sang English songs and danced to banned jazz music
they accepted jews
Those in the Swing movement often wore their hair long and were unkempt. This was very unlike the smart and well-presented young Nazis.
what was evacuation in world war 2?
a government policy to move children from cities to the countryside to protect them from bombing raids
What was Operation Pied Piper (1939)?
A British evacuation program that moved over 1.5 million children, pregnant women, and disabled people to rural areas
How did evacuation affect young people?
Separated from families, causing emotional distress
Some children were treated well, while others suffered neglect or abuse
Many experienced different lifestyles (e.g., rural life vs. city life)
How did evacuation affect education?
Many schools closed or relocated due to bombing threats
In rural areas, classrooms were overcrowded due to evacuee children
How did evacuation affect children in Nazi-occupied Europe?
Jewish children faced deportation to concentration camps
Kindertransport (1938-1939): Over 10,000 Jewish children were
evacuated to Britain
Many became orphans due to the Holocaust
How was propaganda used to influence young people?
Posters, radio broadcasts, and school lessons promoted patriotism
In Nazi Germany, Hitler Youth and League of German Girls taught Nazi ideology
In Britain, schoolchildren were encouraged to “Dig for Victory” (grow food) and help the war effort
How did World War II change work opportunities for young people?
Many teenagers left school early to work in farms, factories, or offices
In Britain, young people joined the National Service to help with farming and industry
In Germany, teenagers were forced into labor camps as the war progressed
What roles did young people have in wartime industries?
Factory work: Making weapons, uniforms, and aircraft parts
Farming: Working on farms to replace adult workers (e.g., Land Girls in Britain)
Messenger services: Delivering messages during air raids
How were young people involved in military service?
In Britain, boys as young as 17 could join the military
In Germany, the Nazis recruited teenagers for the army and Hitler Youth divisions
The Volkssturm (1944) forced boys as young as 12 to fight in Germany’s last defense
How did rationing affect young people?
Food, clothing, and fuel were strictly limited.
Children grew up eating substitute foods (e.g., powdered milk, spam)
Many wore hand-me-downs or homemade clothes due to fabric shortages.
How did children entertain themselves during wartime?
Toy production stopped, so children played with handmade toys
Blackout rules meant no outdoor games at night
Some children helped spot enemy planes as part of the war effort
How did the war affect young people emotionally?
separation anxiety due to evacuation
fear and trauma from bombings (e.g. the Blitz in Britain)
many lost parents or siblings in the war
What were some coping mechanisms for children?
letters home from evacuees
schools and youth groups provided moral support
government propaganda reassured children that victory was near
What happened to children after the war ended?
many evacuees returned to cities to to find homes destroyed
orphans were placed in foster care or government institutions
food shortages continued in many countries
How did the war shape the future for young people?
many had lost years of education, delayed careers
the experience made them more independent and resilient
some became involved in post war reconstruction efforts
What was the Hitler Youth?
A Nazi youth organization that aimed to indoctrinate German boys and girls with Nazi ideology and prepare them for military or domestic roles
it was created in 1926 but became compulsory in 1936 for all children 10-18
What activities did the Hitler Youth do?
Military training: Drills, weapon handling, war games.
Physical fitness: Marching, athletics, camping trips
Ideological education: Nazi propaganda lessons in schools
Community service: Helping with farms and war industries
How did the League of German Girls (BDM) differ?
focused on domestic skills - cooking and childcare - and physical training
taught loyalty to hitler and traditional gender roles
What was the Blitz?
the sustained german bombing campaign on british cities between september 1940 and may 1941
the worst cities hit were London, Coventry, Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow
How did Allied bombing campaigns affect German youth?
Dresden (1945): Tens of thousands, including children, died in firestorms
Many children were orphaned due to bombings
Schools closed or operated in underground shelters
Some Hitler Youth members were forced into firefighting and rescue work
