Nazi policies towards the young

Question 1

The aims of Nazi policies concerning the young

Answer 1

Since Hitler wanted to create the ‘Thousand Year Reich’, he needed to win the support of the future generations.
What Nazis believed was best for Germany:
- all young Germans should be brought up to be proud Germans who supported a strong, independent Germany, the Nazi Party and its policies.
- all girls and boys should be brought up to be strong and healthy so that girls can be mothers and boys can fight in the army

Question 2

Nazi youth groups for boys

Answer 2

Youth groups for all age groups - 6-10 (Little Fellows), 10-14 (German Young people), 14-18 (Hitler Youth)

Question 3

Nazi youth groups for boys - Hitler Youth - Political training

Answer 3

• had to swear an oath of loyalty to the Führer
• had to attend residential courses to learn about Nazi ideas
• had a schedule of lessons for each year group, including ‘German Heroes’ and ‘The evil of the Jews’
• had to report anyone who was disloyal to the Nazis, including parents and teachers

Question 4

Nazi youth groups for boys - Hitler Youth - Physical training

Answer 4

• regular camping and hiking expeditions

- ran regional and national sports competitions

Question 5

Nazi youth groups for boys - Hitler Youth - Military training

Answer 5

• practiced skills useful to troops e.g. map-reading, signalling
• trained in small-arms shooting
• separate divisions for specialist training e.g. naval training

Question 6

Nazi youth groups for boys - Hitler Youth - Character training

Answer 6

• activities stressed the need for comradeship and loyalty, but also competition and ruthlessness
• members punished for bad behaviour e.g. plunged into cold water

Question 7

Nazi youth groups for girls

Answer 7

Youth groups for all ages - 10-14 (Young Maidens), 14-21 (League of German Maidens)

Question 8

Nazi youth groups for girls - League of German Maidens

Answer 8

• political and physical training just like for boys
• trained to cook, iron, etc
• taught the importance of ‘racial hygiene’, and how to pick an Aryan husband

Question 9

Nazi control of the young through education

Answer 9

1933 - all children went to school until 14; voluntary after 14. Girls and boys went to separate schools run by council/church.
1934 - Bernhard Rust made Education Minister. Saw schools as a way of controlling young people and ‘creating Nazis’.

Question 10

Nazi control of teachers

Answer 10

Apr 1933 - ‘politically unreliable’ teachers forced to resign. Jews forbidden from teaching in non-Jewish schools.
1936 - Nazi Teachers’ League established:
- all teachers forced to join to learn what to teach e.g. Nazi propaganda
- had to enforce Hitler salute before every lesson
- reported by Gestapo or students if not followed

Question 11

Nazi control of the curriculum

Answer 11

• New subject - Race studies (how to classify racial groups/Aryans are superior)
• Traditional subjects - ‘Nazified’ e.g. anti-semitic views/pro-Nazi content included. PE doubled, so took up 1/6 of lesson time. Girls taught needlework, cooking.