19 Facts About Hitler Youth

1.

Hitler Youth was the youth organisation of the Nazi Party in Germany.

FactSnippet No. 1,212,664
2.

Under Section 86 of the Criminal Code of the Federal Republic of Germany, the Hitler Youth is an "unconstitutional organisation" and the distribution or public use of its symbols, except for educational or research purposes, is illegal.

FactSnippet No. 1,212,665
3.

Once Hitler came onto the revolutionary scene, the transition from seemingly innocuous youth movements to political entities focused on Hitler was swift.

FactSnippet No. 1,212,666
4.

The Hitler Youth appropriated many of the activities of the Boy Scout movement, including camping and hiking.

FactSnippet No. 1,212,667
5.

Hitler Youth were used to break up church youth groups, spy on religious classes and Bible studies, and interfere with church attendance.

FactSnippet No. 1,212,668
6.

Education and training programs for the Hitler Youth were designed to undermine the values of traditional structures of German society.

FactSnippet No. 1,212,669
7.

The Hitler Youth were indoctrinated with the myths of Aryan racial superiority and to view Jews and Slavs as subhumans.

FactSnippet No. 1,212,670
8.

Hitler Youth was organised into corps under adult leaders, and the general membership of the HJ consisted of boys aged 14 to 18.

FactSnippet No. 1,212,671
9.

The Hitler Youth was organised into local cells on a community level.

FactSnippet No. 1,212,672
10.

Hitler Youth maintained training academies comparable to preparatory schools, which were designed to nurture future Nazi Party leaders.

FactSnippet No. 1,212,673
11.

The Hitler Youth maintained several corps designed to develop future officers for the Wehrmacht .

FactSnippet No. 1,212,674
12.

In December 1936, a law declared the Hitler Youth to be the only legally permitted youth organisation in Germany, and stated that "all of the German youth in the Reich is organised within the Hitler Youth".

FactSnippet No. 1,212,675
13.

The Hitler Youth became active in German fire brigades and assisted with recovery efforts to German cities affected by Allied bombing.

FactSnippet No. 1,212,676
14.

The Hitler Youth assisted in such organisations as the Reich postal service, the Reich railway services, and other government offices; members of the HJ aided the army and served with anti-aircraft defence crews.

FactSnippet No. 1,212,677
15.

The idea for a Waffen-SS division made up of Hitler Youth members was first proposed by Axmann to Heinrich Himmler in early 1943.

FactSnippet No. 1,212,678
16.

The plan for a combat division made up of Hitler Youth members born in 1926 was passed on to Hitler for his approval.

FactSnippet No. 1,212,679
17.

Hitler Youth was disbanded by Allied authorities as part of the denazification process.

FactSnippet No. 1,212,680
18.

Some Hitler Youth members were suspected of war crimes but, because they were children, no serious efforts were made to prosecute these claims.

FactSnippet No. 1,212,681
19.

Many adult leaders of the Hitler Youth were put on trial by Allied authorities, and Baldur von Schirach was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

FactSnippet No. 1,212,682