preview

Nazi Germany And The Nazi War

Better Essays
As with American boys, a German boy during the 1930’s, also had hopes and dreams of an optimistic future. It were these dreams which provided them courage and loyalty too. However, their optimism did not come from within their own imaginations. The Nazi government provided those hopes and dreams through forced indoctrination.

In the 1930’s, membership of teenage boys in the Hitler Youth (Hitler Jugend or HJ) was highly encouraged. The German government promised parents that after graduation, there would be a bright future for their children. Also, while a member of the HJ, the children would have free room and board, would be well cared for and provided an education. During the hard economic times in Germany, this was a strong incentive and motivated parents to put their children in the HJ. However, after Germany attacked Poland in 1939, Hitler declared that membership in the HJ would be mandatory.

The HJ was a logical extension of Hitler 's belief that the future of Nazi Germany was its children. As a result, the HJ was equally as important to a child as school. Hitler had made it clear that he expected German children to be “as swift as a greyhound, as tough as leather, and as hard as Krupp’s steel.” The indoctrination emphasized blind loyalty to the fatherland - Germany - and to Hitler himself.

In 1933, Hitler, while addressing Nazi loyalists, stated his goals for establishing the HJ where he said: "My program for educating youth is hard. Weakness
Get Access