The Hitler Youth: The Hilter Youth (1939-1939)

The Hitler Youth

The Hitler youth were trained to be dangerous and serve nothing but germany and train to be part of the nazi army. They loved to have fun, and did not care what others thought about them. By the time of the hitler youth at the age of 18 is when they must become storm troopers. However, this resulted in a shortage of trained leaders within the upper echelons of the Hitler Youth. The Youth commitee of the NSDAP then worked out an arrangement with the SA allowing valuble members to stay in the Hilter Youth past age 18.

By 1939 the Hitler Youth became the largest youth organization in the world with over 7.3 million strong within its rank. A new law was issued on March 25, 1939, conscripting any remaining holdouts into the organization

At this time, membership was small and consisted of patriotic marches more than the teaching of radical Nazi ideology, but by April of 1929, the Hitler-Jugend was declared the only official youth group of the Nazis, among dozens of other Nazi party groups.

Some Germans think Hitler is a madman, but others find reasons to support him. Hübener struggles with reconciling Nazi propaganda with his education as a Mormon. He does not understand why the Third Reich invades other countries or spreads anti-Semitic messages. Over time, Hübener watches a Jewish classmate be beaten and sees a Jewish neighbor taken away by Nazi soldiers. He also cannot understand why other Germans do not oppose such violent acts.

To the outside world, the Hitler Youth seemed to personify German discipline. In fact, this image was far from accurate. School teachers complained that boys and girls were so tired from attending evening meetings of the Hitler Youth, that they could barely stay awake the next day at school. Also by 1938, attendance at Hitler Youth meetings was so poor – barely 25% – that the authorities decided to tighten up attendance with the 1939 law making attendance