Life For Young People

Question 1

Why did Hitler & the Nazis believe that young people had to be indoctrinated?

Answer 1

So that they would become loyal Nazis in the future. Then axis were training them to accept that individuals had to be willing and ready to sacrifice themselves for the German nation & Fürher. Hitler wanted to ensure that young boys were prepared for war and therefore steered towards military service & girls were steered towards preparing for motherhood and homecraft.

Question 2

After Jewish and anti-Nazi teachers were sacked, what group were the remainder encouraged to join?

Answer 2

National Socialist Teachers’ League. 97% joined within 6 years.

Question 3

What was the group for German boys called?

Answer 3

Hitler Youth

Question 4

What was the group for German girls called?

Answer 4

The League of German Maidens

Question 5

Which subjects were taught to boys?

Answer 5

At school, subjects were Nazified to include Biology, Maths, Geography & History. 15% of the timetable was devoted to PE. Religion was not taught.

Question 6

Which subjects were taught to girls?

Answer 6

The girls followed a different curriculum to the boys which taught them how to be good wives and mothers, they were taught needlework, cookery, housekeeping and PE.

Question 7

What were Adolf Hitler Schools?

Answer 7

Boys were taught by a Commander & Leaders. 80% of the curriculum was given to PE and they were also taught German folklore.

Question 8

Who were sent to National Political Institutes of Education?

Answer 8

Those who the Nazis thought could be leaders in the future. Boys aged 11-18, these were boarding schools where pupils were trained to be young soldiers and many went into the SS.

Question 9

What were Order Castles?

Answer 9

Elite schools where students were brutal,y prepared to be SS officers and the curriculum included war games with live ammunition.

Question 10

When and why was the Hitler Youth Movement established? Who led it?

Answer 10

In 1922, it was established to control the leisure activities of young people outside of school and was ked by Baldur von Schirach. It was to indoctrinate the youth with National Socialist ideas.

Question 11

When was Hitler Youth made compulsory?

Answer 11

In the 1936 Youth Law

Answer 12

In the 1936 Youth Law

Question 13

How many members were there in Hitler Youth by 1938?

Answer 13

+7 million

Question 14

What did teachers do drew who did not attend Hitler Youth?

Answer 14

Set punishment essays

Question 15

What was the age range for the Mazi youth movements?

Answer 15

6-21

Question 16

What did the Hitler Youth Movement aim to do?

Answer 16

Instil racism and develop physical fitness

Question 17

What was the joining process of Hitler Youth?

Answer 17

A boy would be put on probation and complete various tasks such as going on a hike and taking a courage test. He would then win his membership and receive a uniform, badge & dagger.

Question 18

How old were the Cubs?

Answer 18

6-10

Question 19

How old were the Young German Folk?

Answer 19

10-14

Question 20

How older were the Hitler Youth?

Answer 20

14-18

Question 21

What was introduced for the Hitler Youth in 1937?

Answer 21

Rifle practise. Also those who attended the Flieger- Hitler Youth learnt how to fly gliders and visited the Luftwaffe (German air force).

Question 22

What was the name of the monthly madpgazine which the Hitler Youth Received?

Answer 22

Will and Power

Question 23

What part did the Hitler Youth pay in war?

Answer 23

After war broke out in 1939, all German boys were automatically conscripted into the Hitler Youth. They became the home guard force which manned the searchlights & anti-aircraft guns.

Question 24

Who was in charge of the League of German Maidens?

Answer 24

Trude Mohr, a former postal worker.

Question 25

What age were the group Young Girls?

Answer 25

10-14

Question 26

What age were the League of German Maidens?

Answer 26

14-18

Question 28

What age were Faith and Beauty?

Answer 28

18-21

Question 29

What did home evenings include for BDM?

Answer 29

Cooking and cleaning but also folklore and singing patriotic songs. Some may be sent to a Lebensborn home.

Question 30

For BDM, what did Saturdays focus on?

Answer 30

Exercise- eg gymnastics and marching.

Question 31

Why were Hitler Youth and BDM popular?

Answer 31

They offered activities which would otherwise have not been an option for German youth. Members of both could later reflect with fondness on the activities they enjoyed partaking in. Military-type activities made the Hitler Youth popular and activities such as gymnastics and cooking made BDM attractive to girls.

Question 32

What did BDM do during the war?

Answer 32

They also took part in community service. During the war they collected money, knitted sicks, visited wounded soldiers and helped refugees.

Question 33

What showed evidence of the effectiveness of Nazi policies towards young people?

Answer 33

Evidence of the effectiveness of Nazi policies towards young people was seen in 1936 while thousands of Hitler Youth members paraded on Hitler’s Birthday, pledging their support of him who they described as the saviour for their country. In 1945, with Germany on the brink of defeat, they fought and died for him.

Question 34

What could members of the Patrol force do?

Answer 34

Being part of the Hitler Youth gave young people an enjoyable power. As a member of the Patrol Force they could inform on adults; one such boy called Walter Hess reported his father.

Question 35

How was the education system impacted by the Nazi young people movements?

Answer 35

Evidence suggests that the quality and breadth of education suffered badly with traditional subjects losing out to PE, ideology & folklore under the Nazi regime. Students were frequently absent to attend Hitler Youth and BDM activities.

Question 36

How many youths avoided Nazi youth movements?

Answer 36

One million

Question 37

By 1938, how many members were there of the HY movement?

Answer 37

7 million

Question 38

Senior BDM members were sent on outward bound courses. What were these designed to do?

Answer 38

Build good character and the organisation also offered skiing and camping holidays which were free to girls from poor families.