Description
Hitler Youth
The Hitler Youth (Hitlerjugend) was founded in Germany in 1926 as the youth organisation of the Nazi Party, aiming to shape the beliefs and values of German children and teenagers according to Nazi ideology. At first, it attracted a relatively small following, but as the Nazis rose to power, the organisation rapidly expanded. The movement was intended for boys aged 14 to 18, while a parallel organisation, the League of German Girls (Bund Deutscher Mädel), served girls.
The Hitler Youth provided a mix of physical training, military drills, and political education, designed to instill loyalty to Adolf Hitler and prepare boys for future service in the armed forces. Activities included camping, marching, paramilitary exercises, and lessons on Nazi beliefs. Membership was made compulsory by law in 1936, effectively requiring all eligible German youth to join. By the outbreak of World War II, the group counted millions of members, becoming a central part of children’s lives in Nazi Germany.
During the war, older members were sent to assist with anti-aircraft defense, serve as couriers, and eventually, as the conflict drew on, were drafted directly into military units. The organisation was disbanded after Germany’s defeat in 1945, and its leaders were later prosecuted for crimes related to their roles in the Nazi regime.
