Nazi aims and policies towards the young
Young people were very important to Hitler and the Nazis. Hitler spoke of his The German state from 1933 to 1945 under Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. lasting for a thousand years and to achieve this he would have to ensure German children were thoroughly Teaching a set of beliefs that may be weighted towards an unfair point of view. into Nazi ideology.
To this end, from the age of 10 boys and girls were encouraged to join the Nazis’ youth organisation, the Hitler Youth (the girls’ wing of which was called the League of German Maidens). Membership from age 10 was made compulsory in 1936 and by 1939 90 per cent of German boys aged 14 and over were members.
| The Hitler Youth | The League of German Maidens |
| Its aim was to prepare German boys to be future soldiers | Its aim was to prepare German girls for future motherhood |
| Boys wore military-style uniforms | Girls wore a uniform of blue skirt, white blouse and heavy marching shoes |
| Activities centred on physical exercise and rifle practice, as well as political indoctrination | Girls undertook physical exercise, but activities mainly centred on developing domestic skills such as sewing and cooking |
| The Hitler Youth | Its aim was to prepare German boys to be future soldiers |
|---|---|
| The League of German Maidens | Its aim was to prepare German girls for future motherhood |
| The Hitler Youth | Boys wore military-style uniforms |
|---|---|
| The League of German Maidens | Girls wore a uniform of blue skirt, white blouse and heavy marching shoes |
| The Hitler Youth | Activities centred on physical exercise and rifle practice, as well as political indoctrination |
|---|---|
| The League of German Maidens | Girls undertook physical exercise, but activities mainly centred on developing domestic skills such as sewing and cooking |
Nazi control of the young through education
As well as influencing the beliefs of young Germans through the Hitler Youth, schools indoctrinated young people into the political and racial ideas of Nazism.
All teachers had to join the Nazi Teachers’ Association, which vetted them for political and racial suitability.
The curriculum was altered to reflect Nazi ideology and priorities:
- History - lessons included a course on the rise of the Nazi Party.
- Biology - lessons were used to teach Nazi racial theories.
- Physical Education - German schoolchildren had five one-hour sports lessons every week.
- Chemistry and Mathematics - were downgraded in importance.
Again, the aim was to brainwash children so that they would grow up accepting Nazi ideas without question.