This page discusses actions that the Nazis took to control and influence young people in Germany.

1. Youth and
educational
policies

2. Hitler’s goal was to build a
Thousand Year Reich. A key
part of the Nazis’ plans was to
win the support of young
people, to continue the regime
through the generations.
Nazi youth actions targeted in
children in education and free
time as well, regardless of
what parents wanted.

3. Boys and girls were generally
divided into different groups,
reflecting the Nazis’ views on
the roles of men and women.
Boys’ groups were focused on
creating strong young men to
become workers and soldiers.
Girls’ groups aimed to
produce the mothers and
wives of the future.

4. Boys joined three groups:
• 6-10 - Cubs
• 10-14 – Young German Boys
• 14-18 – Hitler Youth
Once they were men, German
males would join organisations
such as the army, German
Labour Front or German
Students’ League.

5. Girls joined three groups:
• 10-14 – Young Girls
• 14-18 – League of German Maidens
• 18-21 – Faith and Beauty
Once they were women, German
females occasionally joined the German
Labour Front or German Students’
League, but were encouraged towards
the Nazi Women’s Organisation.

6. The Nazis aimed to influence
the young people to back them.
This included targeting them
with propaganda at school
and in their youth groups.
However young people could
also still be influenced by other
factors such as family, friends,
and churches. American films
had an impact too.

7. At school, children were
educated from a Nazi
perspective, by teachers who
were members of the Nazi
Teachers League.
By 1937, 97% of teachers had
joined this group. Teachers
themselves had to attend
month-long Nazi training
courses.

8. Lessons were shaped to give a
Nazi viewpoint, whether in
terms of world history, or the
idea of the master race being
espoused in Biology lessons.
Within schools, boys and girls
were also divided. Girls’
lessons focused on
homemaking activities such as
cooking and sewing.

9. Historians’ views
• Detlev Peukert: Towards the start of World War Two, many
young people in Germany had started to rebel against the
groups they were forced to join.
• George Mosse: Nazi attempts to educate young people had a
limited effect; the success of the indoctrination depended on
the specific school and teacher.
• Klaus Fischer: Nazi indoctrination influenced a generation of
Germans but 12 years was not long enough to break down all
previous cultural heritage.