Youth groups in Nazi Germany

Question 1

What was the name of the main Nazi youth group for boys (aged 14-18)?

Answer 1

The Hitler Youth

Question 2

What was the name of the main Nazi youth group for girls (aged 14-18)?

Answer 2

The League of German Maidens

Question 3

What did the Hitler Youth aim to prepare young boys to join?

Answer 3

The army or the Reich Labour Service

Question 4

Give FIVE aims the Nazis had for both boys and girls

Answer 4

1) Be obedient
2) Idolise Hitler
3) Be physically fit
4) Sacrifice themselves for the national good
5) Strengthen the racial purity of the German nation

Question 5

How many children were part of Nazi youth groups in 1932? How did this compare to Protestant youth groups?

Answer 5

100,000 in Nazi Party youth groups

6 times less than the Protestant youth groups (600,000)

Question 6

Which youth groups were NOT banned by Hitler when he became Chancellor in 1933?

Answer 6

Nazi groups and Catholic groups (protected by the Concordat)

Question 7

What did the Hitler Youth take over by 1936?

Answer 7

All sports facilities for young people

Question 8

When was it made compulsory for young Germans to join Nazi youth groups?

Answer 8

March 1939

Question 9

Give TWO examples of political activities members of the Hitler Youth did

Answer 9

1) Swearing an oath of allegiance to Hitler
2) Attending residential courses where they were told about Nazi ideas

Question 10

Give THREE examples of lesson titles for members of the Hitler Youth

Answer 10

1) “German heroes”
2) “Adolf Hitler and his fellow-fighters”
3) “The evil of the Jews”

Question 11

Who were Hitler Youth members expected to report to the party?

Answer 11

Anyone who was disloyal to the Nazis (including their teachers and parents)

Question 12

Give TWO activities the Hitler Youth did to make young Germans as fit and healthy as possible

Answer 12

1) Regular camping and hiking expeditions
2) Regional and national sports competitions

Question 13

Give THREE examples of military training in the Hitler Youth

Answer 13

1) Map-reading
2) Signalling
3) Small-arms shooting

Question 14

Give THREE examples of separate military divisions of the Hitler Youth for specialist training, and the number of members in each

Answer 14

Naval Hitler Youth (45,000)
Motor Hitler Youth (60,000)
Flying Hitler Youth (74,000)

Question 15

Give the exact oath members of the Jungvolk (boys aged 10-14) would swear

Answer 15

“I devote all my energies and strength to the Saviour of our country, Adolf Hitler. I am willing and ready to give up my life for him, so help me God.”

Question 16

Give THREE examples of character training for members of the Hitler Youth

Answer 16

1) Plunged into ice-cold water
2) Lengthy exercise in wintry weather
3) Harsh punishments for errors or disobeying orders

Question 17

What was the purpose of the character training in the Hitler Youth?

Answer 17

To build young Germans who obeyed orders

Question 18

Give TWO political activities for members of the League of German Maidens

Answer 18

1) Rallies
2) Oaths of allegiance

Question 19

Give TWO examples of physical activities for members of the League of German Maidens

Answer 19

1) Camping
2) Marching

Question 20

What training did members of the League of German Maidens receive that the Hitler Youth did not?

Answer 20

How to be a housewife: cooking, ironing, making beds and sewing

Question 21

Who were the Edelweiss Pirates?

Answer 21

Working-class young Germans in big German cities

Question 22

Why did the Edelweiss Pirates oppose the Nazis?

Answer 22

They hated the military discipline of the Nazi youth groups and the general lack of freedom in Nazi Germany

Question 23

What fashions did the Edelweiss Pirates adopt?

Answer 23

Long hair and American-style clothing (white/checked shirts and white socks)

Question 24

What would the Edelweiss Pirates do if they came across Hitler Youth members?

Answer 24

Taunt or even attack them

Question 25

How did the Edelweiss Pirates break away from Nazi restrictions?

Answer 25

By going on long hikes in the countryside

Question 26

What was the main limitation of opposition from the Edelweiss Pirates?

Answer 26

It was cultural (clothes, music and behaviour) rather than political

Question 27

How many members of the Edelweiss Pirates were there by 1939?

Answer 27

Only 2,000

Question 28

Who were the Swing Youth?

Answer 28

Teenagers from wealthy, middle-class German families in big towns

Question 29

What culture did the Swing Youth admire?

Answer 29

American culture

Question 30

Give an example of a swing band whose music the Swing Youth listened to

Answer 30

The Glen Miller Orchestra

Question 31

What was the favourite dance of the Swing Youth?

Answer 31

Jitterbug

Question 32

How many people attended the Swing Youth’s illegal dances?

Answer 32

Up to 6,000

Question 33

What did Himmler say about any young people who listened to jazz music (like the Jazz Youth)?

Answer 33

They should be “beaten, given the severest exercise and then put to hard labour”