Young People and Women In Nazi Germany

Germany’s Youth Most 16-year-olds were strong supporters of Adolf Hitler It is my great educative work I am beginning with the young. We older ones are used up … We are bearing the burden of a humiliating past … But my magnificent youngsters! Are there finer ones in the world? Look at these young men and boys! What material! With them I can make a new world. Adolf Hitler, Speech, 1939 Our state is an educated state … It does not let a man go free from the cradle to the grave. We begin with the child when he is three years old. As soon as he begins to think, he is made to carry a little flag. Then follows school, the Hitler Youth, the storm troopers and military training. We don’t let him go; and when all that is done, comes the Labor Front, which takes possession of him again, and does not let him go till he dies, even if he does not like it. Dr. Robert Ley, Chief of the Labor Front

Most 16-year-olds were strong supporters of Adolf Hitler

It is my great educative work I am beginning with the young. We older ones are used up … We are bearing the burden of a humiliating past … But my magnificent youngsters! Are there finer ones in the world? Look at these young men and boys! What material! With them I can make a new world.

Adolf Hitler, Speech, 1939

Our state is an educated state … It does not let a man go free from the cradle to the grave. We begin with the child when he is three years old. As soon as he begins to think, he is made to carry a little flag. Then follows school, the Hitler Youth, the storm troopers and military training. We don’t let him go; and when all that is done, comes the Labor Front, which takes possession of him again, and does not let him go till he dies, even if he does not like it.

Dr. Robert Ley, Chief of the Labor Front

Education Education strictly controlled All subjects – German language, history, Geography, Chemistry and Mathematics – must concentrate on military subjects, the glorification of military service and of German heroes and leaders and the strength of a rebuilt Germany. Chemistry will develop a knowledge of chemical warfare, explosives, etc, while Mathematics will help the young to understand artillery, calculations, ballistics German newspaper, editor’s opinion, 1939 The Jews are aliens in Germany. In 1933 there are 66,060,000 inhabitants of the German Reich of whom 499,862 are Jews. What is the percentage of aliens in Germany? Question from German Math textbook, 1933 Dailey Timetable for Girls’ School Sex Ed., or Ideology, or Domestic Science (one evening each) Evenings Sport 1:00 – 6:00 Eugenics or Health Biology 12:10 Domestic Science or Math 11:00 Recess, Sports, Special Announcements 10:25 Race Studies or Ideology 9:40 Geo & History or Singing 8:50 German 8:00

Education strictly controlled

All subjects – German language, history, Geography, Chemistry and Mathematics – must concentrate on military subjects, the glorification of military service and of German heroes and leaders and the strength of a rebuilt Germany. Chemistry will develop a knowledge of chemical warfare, explosives, etc, while Mathematics will help the young to understand artillery, calculations, ballistics

German newspaper, editor’s opinion, 1939

The Jews are aliens in Germany. In 1933 there are 66,060,000 inhabitants of the German Reich of whom 499,862 are Jews. What is the percentage of aliens in Germany?

Question from German Math textbook, 1933

Hitler Youth & League of German Maidens Lights out 10:00 Lunch 2:30 – 3:00 Songs & dancing; speeches 8:00 – 9:00 March to work; six hours farm work 7:30 – 2:30 Supper 7:00 – 8:00 Flag parade; speech by camp leader 7:00 – 7:30 Allocation of jobs to be done the next day 6:00 – 7:00 Breakfast 6:40 – 6:55 Political studies 5:00 – 6:00 Washing, bed making 6:20 – 6:40 Sports 4:00 – 5:00 Exercises 6:05 – 6:20 Rest 3:00 – 4:00 Arise (5:00 in summer) 6:00

Hitler Youth & League of German Maidens Youth profile Marched in parades Physically fit Leisure time devoted to Hitler & Nazis Cross-country runner Map reader Camper Maintained rifle (boys only) Generally more loyal to Hitler than to parents

Youth profile

Marched in parades

Physically fit

Leisure time devoted to Hitler & Nazis

Cross-country runner

Map reader

Camper

Maintained rifle (boys only)

Generally more loyal to Hitler than to parents

Hitler Youth & League of German Maidens Hitler looked over the stand, and I knew he looked into my eyes, and he said, ‘You my boys are the standard bearers, you will inherit what we have created.’ From that moment there was not any doubt I was bound to Adolf Hitler until long after our defeat. Afterwards I told my friends how Hitler had looked into my eyes, but they all said, ‘No! It was my eyes he was looking into.’ Hitler Youth after Hitler spoke in a rally It was a great feeling. You felt you belonged to a great nation again. Germany was in safe hands and I was going to help to build a strong Germany. But my father of course felt differently about it. [He warned] ‘Now Henrik, don’t say to them what I am saying to you.’ I always argued with my father as I was very much in favor of the Hitler regime which was against his background as a working man. Henrik Metelmann, Hitler Youth in the 1930s Children have been deliberately taken away from parents who refused to acknowledge their belief in National Socialism … The refusal of parents to allow their young children to join the youth organization is regarded as an adequate reason for taking the children away. A German teacher writing in 1938

Hitler looked over the stand, and I knew he looked into my eyes, and he said, ‘You my boys are the standard bearers, you will inherit what we have created.’ From that moment there was not any doubt I was bound to Adolf Hitler until long after our defeat. Afterwards I told my friends how Hitler had looked into my eyes, but they all said, ‘No! It was my eyes he was looking into.’

Hitler Youth after Hitler spoke in a rally

It was a great feeling. You felt you belonged to a great nation again. Germany was in safe hands and I was going to help to build a strong Germany. But my father of course felt differently about it. [He warned] ‘Now Henrik, don’t say to them what I am saying to you.’ I always argued with my father as I was very much in favor of the Hitler regime which was against his background as a working man.

Henrik Metelmann, Hitler Youth in the 1930s

Children have been deliberately taken away from parents who refused to acknowledge their belief in National Socialism … The refusal of parents to allow their young children to join the youth organization is regarded as an adequate reason for taking the children away.

A German teacher writing in 1938

Hitler’s Youth (NOT!) 1939: Membership in Hitler Youth mandatory Increasing focus on war effort & marching drills Anti-war movements began The ‘Swing’ Movement Middle-class teens Jews accepted, sex common, deliberately ‘slovenly’ The Edelweiss Pirates Working-class teens (typically 14-17 y.o.) Camped, sang mocking songs, fought Hitler Youth 1942 Gestapo broke up 28 groups, 739 kids total 1944 Cologne: EPs helped shelter army deserters, prison escapees Gestapo hanged 12 ring-leaders

1939: Membership in Hitler Youth mandatory

Increasing focus on war effort & marching drills

Anti-war movements began

The ‘Swing’ Movement

Middle-class teens

Jews accepted, sex common, deliberately ‘slovenly’

The Edelweiss Pirates

Working-class teens (typically 14-17 y.o.)

Camped, sang mocking songs, fought Hitler Youth

1942 Gestapo broke up 28 groups, 739 kids total

1944 Cologne: EPs helped shelter army deserters, prison escapees

Gestapo hanged 12 ring-leaders

Women in Nazi Germany ‘ No true German woman wears trousers’ German Newspaper Headline Nazi ideal was woman as wife and mother Most (G) women agreed Nazis sought increased birth rates Tax breaks for families w/ 4 children or more ‘ Gold Cross’ for eight children or more Propaganda stressed need for children German Maidens’ League & school reinforced 1933 birth rate: 15 per thousand 1939 birth rate: 20 per thousand

‘ No true German woman wears trousers’

German Newspaper Headline

Nazi ideal was woman as wife and mother

Most (G) women agreed

Nazis sought increased birth rates

Tax breaks for families w/ 4 children or more

‘ Gold Cross’ for eight children or more

Propaganda stressed need for children

German Maidens’ League & school reinforced

1933 birth rate: 15 per thousand

1939 birth rate: 20 per thousand

Women in Nazi Germany II Some women were famous Leni Riefenstahl: director/producer who made one of the greatest propaganda films - Triumph of the Will Gertrude Scholz-Klink: Head of Nazi Women’s Bureau Most women actively encouraged to stay home, not work in factories In 1942 war needs began to change idea of women not working in factories, but never switched like in USA, (R), (GB)

Some women were famous

Leni Riefenstahl: director/producer who made one of the greatest propaganda films - Triumph of the Will

Gertrude Scholz-Klink: Head of Nazi Women’s Bureau

Most women actively encouraged to stay home, not work in factories

In 1942 war needs began to change idea of women not working in factories, but never switched like in USA, (R), (GB)

Women in Nazi Germany III I went to Sauckel [the Nazi minister in charge of labor] with the proposition that we should recruit our labor from the ranks of German women. He replied brusquely that where to obtain which workers was his business. Moreover, he said, as Gauleiter [a regional governor] he was Hitler’s subordinate and responsible to the Fuhrer alone … Sauckel offered to put the question to Goering as Commissioner of the Four-Year Plan … but I was scarcely allowed to advance my arguments. Sauckel and Goering continually interrupted me. Sauckel laid great weight on the danger that factory work might inflict moral harm on German womanhood; not only might their ‘psychic and emotional life’ be affected but also their ability to bear children. Goering totally concurred. But just to be absolutely sure, Sauckel went immediately to Hitler and had him confirm the decision. All my good arguments were therefore blown to the winds. Albert Speer, Minister of Armaments & War Production

I went to Sauckel [the Nazi minister in charge of labor] with the proposition that we should recruit our labor from the ranks of German women. He replied brusquely that where to obtain which workers was his business. Moreover, he said, as Gauleiter [a regional governor] he was Hitler’s subordinate and responsible to the Fuhrer alone … Sauckel offered to put the question to Goering as Commissioner of the Four-Year Plan … but I was scarcely allowed to advance my arguments. Sauckel and Goering continually interrupted me. Sauckel laid great weight on the danger that factory work might inflict moral harm on German womanhood; not only might their ‘psychic and emotional life’ be affected but also their ability to bear children. Goering totally concurred. But just to be absolutely sure, Sauckel went immediately to Hitler and had him confirm the decision. All my good arguments were therefore blown to the winds.

Albert Speer, Minister of Armaments & War Production