Evening star., 1942-03-22
Germun Youth and
the War
BIZ Frederic J. HdSktn.

| For almost two years the world has
been amazed at the strength and perse-
verance of the German Army. Composed
| of men who have grown to maturity
| since the First World War, American
| middle-aged men who knew the other
| German Army have expressed surprise
| at the fighting spirit and physical stam-
| ina Of todays German soldier as COM
pared to the German soldier in the other
war.
| There are many reasons why Ger
many today has one of the best equipped
armies in the world SO far as man power
Is concerned. But the basic reason seems
to lie in the German youth movement
which started before Hitler gained the
reins of control. Seeing that this youth
movement would advance the Nazi pur-
pose, Hitler seized upon it, and through
| the years has used it to its fullest extent.
And, too, because the movement blended
with the Hitler aims, the Fuehrer was
| taken into camp as most welcome
| member.
This youth movement in Germany
actually had its inception about 1912,
but had not gained sufficient momentum
to be of any service in the struggle be-
tween 1914 and 1918 Starting as local
movement in various places in Germany.
| it was welded into national body in
1892, an opportune time for Hitler to use
! the organization to further his cause.
Lacking some official name acceptable
to all Hitler suggested the term Hitler
jugend, meaning Hitler's young people.
That is still the name, and after Hitler
| came into power the movement took on
more definite political significance,
and today its aims are wholly TO pro-
| mote the Nazi regime.
| This Hitlerjugend, which sometimes il
referred to as Hitler youth, requires
complete obedience to the supreme
leader, who is, of course. Hitler, but also
to the will of other national leaders. AS
a corollary to this is the idea that youth
must be led by youth. but even so the
Hitler pattern and purpose fit well into
every program.
The organization is strongly national
istic, its nationallsm extending to Ger
man-speaking young people in other
| countries. The membership is taught
to cherish a reverence for the actual land
of Germany. The slogan of the move
ment is in the German tongue, "blut und
boden," meaning blood and soil. Each
member must never lose this love Of the
land and must realize the importance OF
its cultivation and protection.
An important part of this German
youth movement is the Nazi doctrine OF
racial purity, most vividly eXempllhed
in its anti-Jewish policy. Emphasis. too,
is placed on physical prowess and bodily
fitness rather than on intellectual
achievement. 1t is years ahead OF the
Physical Fitness Division of o. c. D. and
stripped of all frills. This emphasis on
the physical rather than the mental is
in wide contrast to the Germany that
gave to the world many of its fine arts
and accomplishments in science. And 1t
is believed also to be in great contrast
to the thinking Of host OF Germans
who reside in their homeland. The ac-
tual truth of this probably never Will be
known until Germany has another revo-
luton. and no revolution can come there
until the majority of the population is
willing to die, if need be, for the Ger
many of other and more peaceful years
to come to life again.
In 1882 this German youth movement
numbered only 250,OO0 members, but four
years later it claimed membership OF
more than 100000. The large majority
| of its members which include youth
from 8 to 18, are said to be attracted
mainly because of uniforms and march
ing, and also because membership In the
organization is required for appointment
to any position in public service.
For many years after the organization
of the movement. it was maintained that
it was purely voluntary. There were at
| the time several movements in Germany
composed solely of Catholic young peo-
| pie, and although it was claimed that
the Hitlerjugend was a free body and
open to all. the Catholics refused to join.
This brought about an impasse, and in
order to break it, a decree was issued
December l., 1886, declaring that all
youth within the borders of the Reich
we're considered members. Moreover, the
decree took on more authority by saying
that "all German youth, outside parents
homes and schools, are to be trained
bodily, mentally. spiritually. and morally
in the spirit of national socialism for
service to the nation and to the unified
people" A sweeping order. indeed. and
there is no doubt of its complete execu-
ton.
This German youth movement has q
thorough setup consisting OF such de-
partments as personnel, health, physical
training. social and political training.
culture, radio, press and propaganda. and
| the administration of finances. These
| departments exist not in name only, for
they function effectively and represent
one of the dynamic forces to buttress
the Hitler regime. In many respects 1t
is under an allied government
The most important Of all departments
Is that of social work, which deals with
welfare relief for members, legislation
pertaining to young people. work OF
youth in rural districts, and vocational
guidance so that all trained labor will
fit into the present order. In addition.
savings are pooled into bank accounts,
thrift encouraged. and loans made for
necessary or needy purposes, even for
crop production purposes to farmers
whose sons or daughters are members
of the organization. In almost every
way the movement seeks to extend its
influence and impress its Importance on