Analyzing Hitler's Methods for German Youth Indoctrination

This paper delves into the historical context and methods employed by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime to indoctrinate German youth during the interwar period and leading up to World War II. It examines the creation and role of the "Hitler Youth" organization as a key instrument in instilling Nazi ideology, including principles of racial supremacy, militarism, and obedience to the state. The paper discusses Hitler's philosophy of controlling the youth to secure the future of the Third Reich, the techniques used to shape young minds, and the impact of this indoctrination on German society. It highlights the significance of propaganda, education, and paramilitary training in the process, as well as the long-term consequences of this manipulation. The paper also explores the origins of the Second World War and the role of the Treaty of Versailles and other factors which led to the rise of Hitler. The paper references primary sources such as Hitler's speeches and Mein Kampf to understand the ideology behind the indoctrination of the German youth.

Running head: HITLER AND THE INDOCTRINATION OF THE GERMAN YOUTH
Hitler and the indoctrination of the German youth
Name of the Student:
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Abstract
This paper intends to shed light on the topic of “Hitler Youth” and its indoctrination of the
German youth. The First World War was described by many people as the “War to end all
War”. However, the treaty which settled the war was not happily accepted by the German
people. Therefore, within a very short time after the conclusion of the First World War,
dictatorial powers arose in Germany and Italy. In Germany, the rise of Adolf Hitler, the
dictator started a new era in the history of the nation. It is to be noted that Hitler used several
techniques as well as mechanisms to facilitate the course of his rise to power. One such
mechanism used by him was the concept of the indoctrination of the youths with the precepts
of the Nazi ideology and in order to achieve this particular objective he created the youth
organization called “Hitler Youth”. The organization gained so much prominence that by the
year 11940 it had more than eight million members. This organization and the Gestapo
formed the most important parts of the Nazi government and were used by the governmental
authorities for the purposes of spying on the society and even on the individual families to
which to the youths belonged.

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Introduction
“He alone, who owns the youth, gains the future.”
The above quoted lines of Adolf Hitler at a 1935 public speech clearly indicate the
philosophy behind his indoctrination of the German Youth. He further says, “I am beginning
with the young....With them I can make a new world” in another speech four years later too
drive home the point loud and clear to the Nazi officials and the need for the indoctrination of
the German youths (Indoctrinating Youth). It is significant to note that many historians
believe that the only way Hitler could hold such a dominating power over the nation of
German was by his almost complete indoctrination of the German Youth. The “Hitler Youth”
along with the Nazi Police became the most lethal weapon of Hitler and they were
responsible for reporting back any conspiracies to the Nazi police even the suspicious
behavior of their parents and family members. (Hart 40-78) It is to be noted that during the
zenith of the cult of Hitler the “Hitler Youth” had a membership of over eight million youths
which made it the third largest movement in the history of the Third Reich. In 1935,
commenting on the nature of the youths whom he wanted in the “Hitler Youth” he said, “A

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violently active, dominating, intrepid, brutal youth—that is what I am after. Youth must be all
those things. It must be indifferent to pain. There must be no weakness or tenderness in it. I
want to see once more in its eyes the gleam of pride and independence of the beast of prey....I
intend to have an athletic youth—that is the first and the chief thing....I will have no
intellectual training. Knowledge is ruin to my young men” (Indoctrinating Youth). This
statement of Hitler clearly articulated the preparation for the war for which he had been
preparing ever since the fall of Germany and Austria in the First World War (1914-1919).
Therefore, the “Hitler Youth” can be looked upon as the lethal weapon through which Hitler
wanted to reclaim the lost glory of Germany.
Discussion
In his book “Origins of the Second World War”, AJP Taylor states that the germs of
the Second World War (1939-1945) were contained in the “Treaty of Versailles” signed at
Paris in 1919 which officially concluded the First World War (1914-1919) (Taylor 10-43). It
is to be noted that the nations like England, France, Italy and others claimed the First World
War to be “the War which will end all wars” (Hart 4-56). However, on the contrary, it was
precisely the terms of the treaty which concluded this particular that prepared the groundwork
for the next major war. It is to be noted that as a part of the treaty Germany was to surrender
all her foreign colonies, surrender all her industrially rich areas like the Rhine Valley,
undergo disarmament, the boundaries of the nation were re-aligned and in addition to all
these the nation was also made to pay a huge amount as war indemnity (Bell 5-89).
Therefore, Hitler in response to this said on 18 September 1922, “It cannot be that two
million Germans should have fallen in vain . . . No, we do not pardon, we demand—
vengeance!”(The First World War). Therefore, it can be said that the rise of Hitler was an

5HITLER AND THE INDOCTRINATION OF THE GERMAN YOUTH
inevitable phenomenon and had he not risen to power someone or the other would have taken
his place.
Hitler in one of the meetings of the Nazi party said regarding the aim of the creation
of the “Hitler Youth”, “These young people will learn nothing else but how to think German
and act German. . . . And they will never be free again, not in their whole lives” (Richie 5-
71). Therefore, with this objective in mind Hitler created the “Hitler Youth” in the year 1922
as the fertile ground from which recruitments could be made to the Nazi policy as well as the
Nazi political party and also as the soldiers who could fight on behalf of the nation in the
event of a war (Kyle Frabotta, "The Mindset Of The Hitler-Jugend"). The organization had its
humble beginning in the year 1922 however soon the organization started gaining momentum
and by the year 1926 was called by the name of “Hitler-Jugend, Bund deutscher
Arbeiterjugend ("Hitler Youth, League of German Worker Youth")” (Kyle Frabotta, "The
Mindset Of The Hitler-Jugend"). It is a reflection of the success achieved by this organization
that between the years 1933 and 1945 this organization was the only youth organization in
the Nazi land of Germany (Richie 5-61). Talking about the creation of this particular
organization, Hitler himself said in 1933 “'the mobilization of the mind is as necessary as,
perhaps even more necessary than, the material mobilization of the nation” ("Nazi
Indoctrination And Anti-Semitic Beliefs In Germany."). Therefore, it would not be too far-
fetched to say that the organization was created with the view to control the youths of the
nation and thereby indirectly control the nation (Bbc.co.uk.).
It is to be noted that the “Hitler Youth” also acted as the “partial paramilitary
organization” where the male youths in the age bracket of 14-18 received not only their
physical but mental training as well (Kaiser 1-67). Hitler even went to the extent of creating
sub-divisions of the organization for younger children like “German Youngsters in the Hitler
Youth” for the males in the age range of 10-14 and the “League of German Girls (Bund

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Deutsche Mädel or "BDM")” ("Nazi Indoctrination And Anti-Semitic Beliefs In Germany.").
The idea behind the indoctrination of these youths at an early age was to ingrain in their
young brains the essential precepts of Nazism at an early age. However, the organization
ceased to exist after the surrender of the nation in the year 1945.It is interesting to note that
on 10 October, 1945, this organization as well as its related organs were outlawed along with
the Nazi Party by the “Allied Control Council” (Kaiser 1-67). Moreover, the “Federal
Republic of Germany” under its “Section 86 of the Criminal Code” declared the organization
to be an “unconstitutional organization and the distribution or public use of its symbols,
except for educational or research purposes, is not permitted” (Kaiser 1-67).
The organization “Hitler Youth” had an interesting history behind its creation and the
form which it attained during the reign of Adolf Hitler. It is to be noted that back in the 1922,
the Nazi party which was based at that in Munich formed its first youth organization called
“Jugendbund der NSDAP”, which is often considered to be the prototype of the “Hitler
Youth” (Glantz and House 5-89). The need as well as the declaration of the formation of the
organization was announced on March 8, 1922 in “Völkischer Beobachter” (Glantz and
House 5-89). It is interesting to note that at this particular point of time there came into
existence another youth organization which was called by the name of “Jungsturm Adolf
Hitler” (Halpern 4-31). According to critics, “One reason the Hitler Youth so easily came into
existence stems from the fact that numerous youth movements existed across Germany prior
to and especially after World War I” ("Life For German Youth In The 1930S: Education,
Propaganda, Conformity, And Obedience."). In the year 1924, “Jugendbund der NSDAP was
renamed Grossdeutsche Jugendbewegung (Greater German Youth Movement)” (Mayers 4-
45). In the year 1926, “the Grossdeutsche Jugendbewegung was officially renamed Hitler
Jugend Bund der deutschen Arbeiterjugend (Hitler Youth League of German Worker Youth)”
(Mayers 4-45). It was this particular organization which under the leadership of Kurt Gruber

7HITLER AND THE INDOCTRINATION OF THE GERMAN YOUTH
became the official “Hitler Youth” in the year 1926 (Mayers 4-45). It is to be noted that these
youth organizations as well as movements had different reasons for their being however they
were used by Hitler as the breeding grounds where the future Nazi politicians and members
of the Gestapo could be hired. In short, they were supposed to become the main muscle
power of the dictator of Germany, Adolf Hitler. The genius of Hitler lies in the fact that he
converted these diversified youth factions into the organization “Hitler Youth” which along
the Gestapo became the eyes and the ears of the Nazi Party.
Adolf Hitler, the Chancellor of Germany during the inter-war years said in his semi-
autobiographical work, “Mein Kampf”, “If you tell a big enough lie and tell it frequently
enough, it will be believed”. It is to be noted that the “big enough lie” which was used by
Hitler was the supremacy of the German race. He said that the Germans were the only true
descendents of the Aryan race and therefore they are superior to all others because of the
purity of their race (Keegan 5-23). Thus, repudiating the other races, especially the Jews, he
said in the Chapter 10 of “Mein Kampf”, “Only the Jew knew that by an able and persistent
use of propaganda heaven itself can be presented to the people as if it were hell and, vice
versa, the most miserable kind of life can be presented as if it were paradise. The Jew knew
this and acted accordingly. But the German, or rather his Government, did not have the
slightest suspicion of it. During the War the heaviest of penalties had to be paid for that
ignorance”. Therefore, with this particular motive the Nazi educators and scholars “glorified
Nordic and other Aryan races, while denigrating Jews and other so-called inferior peoples as
parasitic bastard races incapable of creating culture or civilization” (Keegan 5-23). Adolf
Hitler in the book Mein Kampf, with the intention of upholding the supremacy of the German
race said, ““The stronger must dominate and not mate with the weaker, which would signify
the sacrifice of its own higher nature. Only the born weakling can look upon this principle as
cruel, and if he does so it is merely because he is of a feebler nature and narrower mind; for if

8HITLER AND THE INDOCTRINATION OF THE GERMAN YOUTH
such a law did not direct the process of evolution then the higher development of organic life
would not be conceivable at all”. It is to be noted that the hatred against the Jews reached a
feverish pitch when the government in the year 1933 purged “the public school system of
teachers deemed to be Jews or to be “politically unreliable” (McDonough 8-67). According to
a source,“Most educators….joined the National Socialist Teachers League. 97% of all public
school teachers, some 300,000 persons, had joined the League by 1936. In fact, teachers
joined the Nazi Party in greater numbers than any other profession” ("Life For German Youth
In The 1930S: Education, Propaganda, Conformity, And Obedience."). It was at this time the
Jews were extricated from public services and all their properties were confesticated by the
government. It is to be noted that it was a reflection of this hatred which was artfully aroused
by Hitler in the hearts of the German citizens against the other races that when he started on
his inhumane mission to terminate all the Jews from the face of the Earth, no one complained
about the mission (McDonough 8-67). On the contrary, majority of the German citizens
supported the decision.
It is to be noted that the German youths spent the majority of their time in schools or
the youth groups. However, the German government found ways to infuse this little
remaining time which they spent alone or with their family with propaganda (Shirer 9-89). In
this context the role played by Julius Streicher, the director of the “Ministry of Propaganda”
becomes very important. He published thousands of books, posters, comics, composed songs,
films and others to whitewash the minds of the German youths (Shirer 9-89). It is to be noted
that “the media was full of messages expressing the superiority of the “Aryan” race and the
inferiority of Jews and other undesirables” ("Life For German Youth In The 1930S:
Education, Propaganda, Conformity, And Obedience."). The youths literally worshipped
Hitler and several national holidays were declared which celebrated the glory of Hitler
(Satyanath 5-97). In this context January 30 and April 20 were important which marked the

9HITLER AND THE INDOCTRINATION OF THE GERMAN YOUTH
beginning of his Chancellorship and the day of his birthday respectively (Satyanath 5-97). In
addition to this November 9 was celebrated as the “Day of the Martyrs of the Movement”.
Alfons Heck, one of the members of the “Hitler Youth”, gives a description of one of these
events as “Shortly before noon, 80,000 Hitler Youth were lined up in rows as long as the
entire stadium. . . . When Hitler finally appeared, we greeted him with a thundering, triple
“Sieg Heil,” (Hail to Victory). . . . Then his voice rose. . . . “You, my youth,” he shouted,
with his eyes seeming to stare right at me, “are our nation’s most precious guarantee for a
great future. . . . You, my youth. . . . Never forget that one day you will rule the world.” For
minutes on end, we shouted at the top of our lungs, with tears streaming down our faces:
“Sieg Heil, Sieg Heil, Sieg Heil!” From that moment on, I belonged to Adolf Hitler body and
soul” ("Life For German Youth In The 1930S: Education, Propaganda, Conformity, And
Obedience."). In addition to this, the schools were used as fertile grounds where the Nazis
used to brainwash the youth adults. In this context Erika Mann, one of the profound
antagonists of the Nazi rule in her book “School for Barbarians” says, “the Blockwart
(neighborhood wardens), the swastika, the signs reading ‘No Jews allowed’ as just part of ‘an
atmosphere that is torture, a fuming poison for a free born human being.’ She continues, ‘The
German child breathes this air. There is no other condition wherever Nazis are in power; and
here in Germany they do rule everywhere, and their supremacy over the German child, as he
learns and eats, marches, grows up, breathes, is complete’” ("Rebuilding Germany 'S
Children: The Nazi Indoctrination And Postwar Reeducation Of The Hitler Youth."). In one
of her other stories “The Birthday Party”, she narrates how the German youths used to betray
and turn against their own parents in the name of supporting the “Hitler Youth” and the Nazi
government ("Rebuilding Germany 'S Children: The Nazi Indoctrination And Postwar
Reeducation Of The Hitler Youth."). Just like Erika Mann, there are other authors like
Edelweiss Pirates and others who dared to raise their voice against the autocratic rule of the

10HITLER AND THE INDOCTRINATION OF THE GERMAN YOUTH
Nazi government ("Rebuilding Germany 'S Children: The Nazi Indoctrination And Postwar
Reeducation Of The Hitler Youth."). The viewpoint of Alfons Heck is important to note in
this context “I was born into a regime which had succeeded in turning me into a fanatic,
willing to die for causes I believed not merely achievable but just—the creation of a new
world order under the Nazi ideology. The tenets of this faith had never been opposed by those
who influenced me as a child—my elders and educators including my priests. Since
membership in the Hitler Youth was compulsory, we had no choice but to follow orders”.
The young members of the “Hitler Youth” were ingrained with the idea that they were
the future of the Nazi Germany. Therefore, in order to achieve this objective the officials of
the Nazi government ingrained their minds with the precepts of Nazi ideology including the
supremacy of the German race and racism (Appleby 9:1-10). It is to be noted that initially the
organization used to provide hiking, mountain climbing, trekking and other activities to the
youths. However, over time these activities were replaced by military training, paramilitary
activities, weapon training and others which would be used by the Nazi government during
the times of emergency. According to a historian, “the aim was to instill the motivation that
would enable its members to fight faithfully for Nazi Germany as soldiers” (Appleby 9:1-10).
It is interesting to note that in the schools controlled by the “Hitler Youth” emphasis was
placed on military training, emotional hardness, the virtues of sacrifice for the cause of the
nation, active participation in the cause of the government and various others rather on
academic education (Fox 27:31-59). Some of the schools hammered the idea into the
impressionable minds of the youths that "Germany must live even if they (members of the
HJ) had to die” (Fox 27:31-59). The members of the “Hitler Youth” were sub-divided into
various groups like the Catholics, Anti-Catholics and others in a bid to spy on the various
diverse sections of the society in the most effective manner. In addition to this, the “Hitler
Youth” even promoted the idea of classlessness among its members in a bid to eradicate the

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division among the youths. In fact, Hitler’s indoctrination of the German youth was so
complete that historian Richard Evans says, "The songs they sang were Nazi songs. The
books they read were Nazi books” (Evans 1-31). The opinion of Alfons Heck, himself a
member of the “Hitler Youth” is very significant to note “Unlike our elders, we children of
the 1930s had never known a Germany without Nazis. From our very first year in the
Volksschule or elementary school, we received daily doses of Nazism. These we swallowed
as naturally as our morning milk. Never did we question what our teachers said. We simply
believed what was crammed into us. And never for a moment did we doubt how fortunate we
were to live in a country with such a promising future”.
The management of this “Hitler Youth” was conducted on complete military lines.
They were even provided with uniforms as well as emblems and all other equipments which
were provided to the soldiers of the realm as well (Lampen 2-45). The youths were often
treated as young soldiers in order to foster them with the sense of respect. They were
ingrained with the idea of the respect so much that they used to report the suspicious
activities of their parents as well as other family members. It is interesting to note in this
particular that the parents who used to prohibit their kids from becoming a member of the
“Hitler Youth” were denied employment opportunities by the companies as well as the
governmental authorities. In addition to this, the families with the maximum number of
youths in the “Hitler Youth” were provided with the maximum amount of job, financial and
all other kinds of opportunities and therefore the German families also wanted their kids to
join and become a part of the “Hitler Youth” (Feick 5-78).
The organization of the “Hitler Youth” was a complex one and was overseen by the
leaders from the rank of the Nazi party. It is to be noted that the members of the “Hitler
Youth” organization were divided into various smaller sections and each of these sections
had their weekly meetings in the place decided by the group. The activities of these groups

12HITLER AND THE INDOCTRINATION OF THE GERMAN YOUTH
were overseen by the experienced leaders of the Nazi party and it was under his or her
supervision that the precepts of the Nazi ideology, racism, the supremacy of the German race
and other related concepts were taught to the innocent youths. These diverse groups from
various parts of the nation would come together once a year at Nuremberg, where the meeting
was presided over by the top members of the Nazi party including Hitler himself (Feick 5-
78). It was in these diverse groups itself that military and other kinds of specialized training
was given to the youths which would help them during their service in the Nazi party,
Gestapo and other organs of the party (Pine 4-89). It is interesting to note that the youths
were considered to be the personal property of the state, “Your son is not your personal
property, solely at your disposal. He is on loan to you but he is the property of the German
Volk. To object to his name being put forward for an elite school is tantamount to insulting
the Reich and the Fuhrer” (Feick 5-78). The government also used media and other means to
influence the mind of the youths. The “Wille und Macht (Will and Power)” was the official
organ of the organization. This magazine was published on a monthly basis. In addition to
this, there were other magazines as well like the “Die Kameradschaft (Comradeship)”,
“Jungen eure Welt (Youth your World)”, “Mädelschaft” and others which were used by the
Nazi government to indoctrinate the minds of the German youths. The opinion of Hitler
himself in this regard is very significant to note ““The receptivity of the masses is very
limited, their intelligence is small, but their power of forgetting is enormous. In consequence
of these facts, all effective propaganda must be limited to a very few points and must harp on
these in slogans until the last member of the public understands what you want him to
understand by your slogan” (Hitler 5-89). Therefore, with this particular intention the Nazi
government published several magazines as well as periodicals to indoctrinate the minds of
the youths with Nazi ideologies.