Nazi Youth

Germany was forever changed when Adolf Hitler came to power. His ideals for Germany were far different than anything the world had seen before. He was able to achieve great support for his ideas within the country, mostly so by the German youth. Hitler went to great lengths to mold the youth of Germany, including altering the educational system. The youth, however, made some radical changes of their own. This proposes a question about Hitler and the German youth, which is: To what extent did Hitler alter the education of the German youth such that he was able to have Nazi sentiment in the youth? Hitler did whatever he could within his realm of power to have the youth follow him and his beliefs the racial purity of the Germans.

The Nazi regime went to great lengths to promote the ideology of Hitler. The school system was altered to the point of making it a propaganda tool for the Third Reich. Hitler believed that "the highest task of education was to consist of the preservation, care and development of the best racial elements". Another belief of Hitler was "that whoever had the youth had the future". Hitler took this very seriously and he knew he had to start with the educational process. Education had a great importance to the Nazi youth and was believed to be too important to be left to the schools alone.

During the nineteenth century it was discovered that children's literature and textbooks could be used in ways to alter the beliefs of the children. Usually these resources were used to promote positive ideals in children, but the Nazi's used it to produce racism in the youth of Germany. Textbooks that were produced focused not on the individual and promoting individuality, but the nation. Youths were to be produced who were "strong, prepared for sacrifice, and willing to undertake its responsibilities towards the Ð''national community'". Hitler wanted to have followers who did not care about themselves and their lives, but that of the nation and its well-being.

All aspects of education were altered in order to promote the Nazi sentiment. Social Studies was not changed, but it did promote the ideas of race, the German people, German heroes and what the mission of Germany was in the world. Biology also took on a great roll in promoting the superiority of the Germans by "physical and spiritual racial characteristics". History books were altered to describe how the "Germanic people" were some how responsible for the triumphs of the Roman Empire. All aspects of education were altered in one way or another in order to promote the Third Reich. The curriculum was not the only thing changed in the text books pictures of Hitler and Nazi symbols were plastered over text books. In one instance a picture was shown of mother and daughter hanging a swastika flag. This was done to promote the notions Hitler wanted through family.

The most important subject for all youth was physical fitness according to Hitler. It was the only subject that was worth the attention of the teachers. Education in this subject reached out to the teachers as well. They had to attend training camps that would consist of military drills and physical training. The time devoted to physical education was increased from two periods a week to five periods. After school was completed at the age of ten secondary schools were available, however only the elite were allowed into these schools.

The education differed between that of girls and that of boys. Although both curriculums focused on physical education rather than typical curriculum of History, Science, etc. the physical training was quite different. The boys were suppose to be physically strong and ready for war, while the physical training for girls was being able to produce healthy babies. The women who bore children and became bothers were very highly regarded. They were known as "heroes of everyday life". This was because they were the ones who were producing the youth that would dominate the country.

Students in the lower grades were corrupted by the material they read in their text books. As students continued on to universities and secondary schools, they began to demand the reform. Most universities were closed during the duration of World War Two; however, those that were open were subject to great reform. Hitler faced a great problem with