Hitler Youth

The **Hitler Youth** (**Hitlerjugend**) was the youth organization of the Nazi Party in Nazi Germany. At first membership was voluntary, but after December 1936 all non-Jewish boys in Germany aged 10-18 were required to join. The girls' branch of the Hitler Youth was called the League of German Girls. A child who was not in the Hitler Youth could be refused a high school diploma, a job, an apprenticeship, and/or entrance to university.

## Membership 
### The Hitler Youth Law 
At first, membership in the Hitler Youth was voluntary (though strongly encouraged). This changed in December 1936 with the *Gesetz über die Hitlerjugend* (Hitler Youth Law). The law required all "Aryan" boys aged 10-18 to join the Hitler Youth.

### Growth in membership 
Before the Nazis made membership mandatory in 1936, the Hitler Youth already had over 5 million members. After the Hitler Youth Law, membership grew very rapidly.

In 1935, 60% of boys in Germany belonged to the Hitler Youth. By 1939, 90% did. 

In 1940, eight million children were members of the Hitler Youth.

## Purposes 
### Teaching ideology 
One purpose of the Hitler Youth was to teach children Nazi ideas and values. These ideas were racist and antisemitic.

* "Aryan" people were better than Jews, Slavs, Soviets, and many other groups
* Jews were conspiring to destroy Germany, and were a threat to every German
* They had a duty to the Reich, and should be ready to give their lives for it
* They should be loyal to Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party before anyone else
* They should report anyone who disagreed with Hitler or broke Nazi rules (even if this meant reporting their own friends or parents)

#### "Education for death" 
A report written by the Supreme Headquarters Allies Expeditionary Force during the war concluded that the Hitler Youth was extremely dangerous: 

Many Hitler Youth activities involved physical fitness and military-style training.

### Creating loyal Nazis 
In his book *Mein Kampf*, Hitler wrote: “Whoever has the youth has the future.” With the Hitler Youth, he wanted to make children into loyal Nazis who would ensure the future of the Reich by:''

## Use 
### Non-military 
Hitler Youth members were used to achieve the Nazi Party's goals. For example, they:

* Spied on religious youth groups and classes
* Tried to keep people from attending church
* Delivered messages for the civil service
* Collected supplies like recyclable materials in order to help the Nazi war effort
* Helped to work on farms and build infrastructure (like roads)

### Military 
Many Hitler Youth entered the German Army. As members of the Wehrmacht were killed in the war, Hitler Youth members were expected to take their place. 

As the war became more desperate, the Nazis pulled younger children out of school to fight as child solders. They were often sent on missions they were not expected to survive, and if they refused to go, they were executed. On various occasions in 1945, Hitler Youth members formed death squads, participated in executions, and committed other wartime atrocities.
## Related pages 
* Nazi Germany
* The Holocaust
* Antisemitism

## References 
*http://www.wolfhildehitleryouthdiary.com

## Other websites 
*History of the Hitler Youth