Did the Nazis succeed in Did the Nazis succeed in winning the hearts and minds winning the hearts and minds

of young people?of young people?

Hitler YouthHitler Youth

Purpose to educate young people “ Purpose to educate young people “ physically, intellectually, and morally in the physically, intellectually, and morally in the spirit of National Socialism to serve the spirit of National Socialism to serve the nation and the community” Hitlernation and the community” Hitler

Membership (compulsory in 1939) stood at Membership (compulsory in 1939) stood at 8 million8 million

Parents could be fined or imprisoned if their Parents could be fined or imprisoned if their children did not attend. In some instances children did not attend. In some instances children could be taken away from parents.children could be taken away from parents.

There is some evidence the HJ was in crisis There is some evidence the HJ was in crisis in the late 1930sin the late 1930s

There was a shortage of leaders.There was a shortage of leaders. Teachers and parents were concerned Teachers and parents were concerned

about the effects of the HJ on motivation, about the effects of the HJ on motivation, homework and discipline.homework and discipline.

They were also afraid of children reporting They were also afraid of children reporting them to the Gestapo.them to the Gestapo.

There was increasing emphasis on military There was increasing emphasis on military training.training.

Rebellious TeenagersRebellious Teenagers

Some young people defied the Nazis by Some young people defied the Nazis by listening to banned American Jazz.listening to banned American Jazz.

They smoked, danced, mixed with Jews.They smoked, danced, mixed with Jews. In some cases gangs fought with the HJ.In some cases gangs fought with the HJ. They were known as Jazzers, Swing youth They were known as Jazzers, Swing youth

Raving Dudes, Navajos.Raving Dudes, Navajos. The Nazis referred to them as “Edelweiss The Nazis referred to them as “Edelweiss

Pirates” 12 of whom were hanged in Pirates” 12 of whom were hanged in Cologne during the war.Cologne during the war.

Historians’ viewsHistorians’ views

““95% of German youth backed the 95% of German youth backed the Nazis” Wilt .Nazis” Wilt .

However not all historians agree, However not all historians agree, Peukert claims that “The second half Peukert claims that “The second half of the 1930s reveals a growing crisis of the 1930s reveals a growing crisis in the Hitler Youth”in the Hitler Youth”

EducationEducation

“ “ difficult to say just how successful difficult to say just how successful the Nazi reshaping of education…. It the Nazi reshaping of education…. It must have varied from school to must have varied from school to school” Mosse.school” Mosse.

Nazi indoctrination was able to Nazi indoctrination was able to miseducate and misuse a whole miseducate and misuse a whole generation of young people” Fischer.generation of young people” Fischer.

SchoolsSchools

Teachers had to belong to the Nazi Teachers had to belong to the Nazi Teachers’ League or were sacked.Teachers’ League or were sacked.

By 1937 97% of teachers had joined.By 1937 97% of teachers had joined. They had to attend inservice courses They had to attend inservice courses

on Nazi ideology.on Nazi ideology. Textbooks were rewritten to promote Textbooks were rewritten to promote

Nazi ideals.Nazi ideals. Mein Kampf became required readingMein Kampf became required reading

Nazi themes were presented through Nazi themes were presented through every subject.every subject.

German, PE, History and Biology German, PE, History and Biology were given special emphasis.were given special emphasis.

There was organised sport every There was organised sport every afternoon from 2 – 6 pm.afternoon from 2 – 6 pm.

Training Future NazisTraining Future Nazis

Napolas The National Political Napolas The National Political Educational institutes .Educational institutes .

Run by the SSRun by the SS For students aged 10-18For students aged 10-18 Purpose to train leaders for the Purpose to train leaders for the

military and administrationmilitary and administration Significantly Nazi leaders did not Significantly Nazi leaders did not

send their own children there.send their own children there.

Special leadership schoolsSpecial leadership schools

Adolf Hitler Schools Adolf Hitler Schools To train party leaders of the futureTo train party leaders of the future Order Castles for the best studentsOrder Castles for the best students Purpose political indoctrination and Purpose political indoctrination and

physical training to produce the elite physical training to produce the elite leaders of the future Nazi State.leaders of the future Nazi State.

UniversitiesUniversities

Numbers of students at university fell.Numbers of students at university fell. 1,200 lecturers were dismissed for racial or 1,200 lecturers were dismissed for racial or

political reasons.political reasons. Lecturers had to join the Nazi association and Lecturers had to join the Nazi association and

attend a six week training camp.attend a six week training camp. Students has to join the German students’ League Students has to join the German students’ League

and attend twice weekly sessions on ideological and attend twice weekly sessions on ideological trainingtraining

By the 1940s the Nazis realised the adverse effect By the 1940s the Nazis realised the adverse effect this had and argued that they needed more this had and argued that they needed more scientists to compete with other countries in scientists to compete with other countries in researchresearch

ConclusionsConclusions

What National socialist training What National socialist training produced however were duller, produced however were duller, stupider, though healthier stupider, though healthier individuals…. Incapable of providing individuals…. Incapable of providing political leadership or contributing political leadership or contributing the intellectual and technical skills the intellectual and technical skills necessary for running a modern necessary for running a modern industrial society” Sax and Kuntz.industrial society” Sax and Kuntz.