The Hitler Youth 1933–45

A chilling and modern embodiment of the loss of innocence, the Hitler Youth movement transformed German children into adult Nazis entirely focused on Allied defeat. Despite not being itself a military formation - rather a movement that sought to inculcate Nazi ideology - paramilitary training did however form an important part of this education due to the Nazi veneration of the soldier as the epitome of Germanic manhood. Some members of the Bund Deutscher Mädel, the Hitler Youth organization for girls, even became combatants in the final stages of the war. Covering the range of a child's indoctrination, from ideology to training, this rare exploration of the Nazi culture provides the reader with a complete insight into the preliminary training of Germany's youth, and how they became directly involved in military service under the pressure of total war.

Contents
Introduction
Joining the Hitler Youth
Paramilitary Training
Uniforms and Equipment
Everyday Life
Motivation
Experience of Battle
Aftermath of Battle
Colour Plate Commentary
Glossary
Further Reading
Index

Alan Dearn
Softcover 64 pages