Nazi views on young people

Why was the younger generation so important to Hitler?

He wanted to have a Third Reich lasting for 1000 years, which meant that the next generation would need to have his same ideology

What organisations were boys and girls encouraged to join?

The Hitler Youth and the League of German Maidens at the age of 10

When was membership to these youth organisations made compulsory?

In 1936, for children aged 10 or over

What percentage of German boys were members?

90% by 1939

What was the aim of the Hitler Youth?

To prepare boys to be future soldiers

What activities did the Hitler Youth take part in?

Physical exercise and rifle practice, as well as political indoctrination

What did the Hitler Youth wear?

Military style uniforms

What was the aim of the League of German Maidens?

To prepare girls for future motherhood

What did girls in the League of German Maidens wear?

A blue skirt, a white blouse and heavy marching shoes

What activities did girls in the League of German Maidens take part in?

Some physical exercise, but mostly developing domestic skills like sewing and cooking

What were children taught to do?

Report their teachers or parents to leaders of the organisation if they criticised Hitler

What did youth who didn’t agree with the Nazis do?

Went to parties, listened to American jazz music and had Jewish friends

What youth groups opposed Hitler?

The Edelweiss Pirates

What did the Edelweiss Pirates do?

Went on camps and sang songs making fun of Hitler, and sometimes even physically attacked Hitler Youth groups

What did teachers have to join?

The Nazi Teacher’s Association