Amidst the rise of the Third Reich, as Adolf Hitler's ominous shadow stretched across Germany in the 1930s, a malignant seed was sown within the hearts and minds of the nation's youth. This was the Hitler Youth, a malevolent apparatus whose sole purpose was to breed a new generation of National Socialists, unfailingly loyal to the Führer and his grotesque ideology. But what were the dark practices that took place behind those militaristic ranks, and what became of the children trapped within this terrifying machinery?

Picture yourself as an adolescent Heinrich Himmler, one of the earliest members of the Hitler Youth, who would later become one of the most powerful men in Nazi Germany. Or ponder the fate of Sophie Scholl, the brave young woman who dared to resist the Nazi propaganda and paid the ultimate price for her defiance. From early age, these children were subject to grueling indoctrination, harsh physical training, and a twisted portrayal of patriotism, all with the singular aim to forge them into the Führer's perfect soldiers.

The Nazi Education Minister Bernhard Rust once chillingly stated, "The whole purpose of education is to create Nazis." And so, under the deceptive guise of camaraderie and national pride, the Hitler Youth played a pivotal role in shaping a generation that would feed the Nazi war machine.

Join us as we journey back to the darkest era of German history, exploring the chilling reality of the Hitler Youth.Welcome to the diary of Julius Caesar.


Seeds of the Swastika. The Birth and Aims of the Hitler Youth.

The Hitler Youth, known in German as the Hitlerjugend, was born out of the turmoil and unrest of post-World War I Germany. The Treaty of Versailles, which ended the war, left the country humiliated and economically crippled. This atmosphere of desperation and bitterness provided fertile ground for the rise of extremist political ideologies, among which Adolf Hitler's National Socialist German Workers' Party, or the Nazi Party, gained prominence.

The early roots of the Hitler Youth can be traced back to 1922, with the formation of the "Jugendbund der NSDAP" (Youth League of the NSDAP). However, the organization as we know it today was formally established on July 4, 1926, under the leadership of Kurt Gruber. From the very beginning, the primary objectives of the Hitler Youth were to indoctrinate German youth with Nazi ideology and groom them for future leadership roles within the party and the nation.

One of the most influential figures in shaping the Hitler Youth was Baldur von Schirach, who was appointed the Reich Youth Leader in 1931. Under von Schirach's guidance, the organization adopted a highly regimented structure and expanded its reach throughout Germany. Von Schirach once proclaimed, "The weak must be chiseled away. I want young men and women who can suffer pain. A young German must be swift as a greyhound, as tough as leather, and as hard as Krupp's steel." This quote exemplified the ethos of the Hitler Youth and the ideals they sought to instill in their members.

The activities and programs of the Hitler Youth centered around several key areas, including physical fitness, paramilitary training, and ideological indoctrination. Rallies and marches were commonplace, often accompanied by Nazi Party songs and propaganda speeches. Members were encouraged to embrace the concept of the "Volksgemeinschaft," or the national community, and to view themselves as part of a greater whole, with their loyalty and allegiance owing first and foremost to Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party.

Anecdotes from this period reveal the extent to which the Hitler Youth sought to control the lives of its members. For example, in 1934, the organization launched a campaign against "degenerate" music, specifically targeting jazz and swing, which they viewed as representing the antithesis of the Germanic spirit. Members were encouraged to denounce and destroy records, and in some cases, even report musicians or music enthusiasts to the authorities. This campaign was just one of many examples of the pervasive influence of the Hitler Youth on German society.

00:00 Hitler Youth
1:34 The Birth and Aims of the Hitler Youth
6:53 The Intricate Structure of the Hitler Youth
11:12 The Tactics of Recruitment and Retention in the Hitler Youth
15:09 The Multifaceted Education of the Hitler Youth
18:45 The Unique Experiences of Girls and Women in the BDM
22:13 The Impact of the Hitler Youth on Family Life and Trust
25:29 The Global Reach of the Swastika
29:00 Stories of Young Dissenters in the Shadow of the Hitler Youth
32:00 Youth on the Frontlines
34:37 Dismantling the Hitler Youth and Healing the Scars of a Nation