Oral History

Agnes Allison describes the Hitler Youth movement at her school

Agnes Allison (née Agnes Suzannah Halàsz) was born on October 28, 1926, in Budapest, Hungary, to Ilona Gero and Robert Halász. She had a younger sister, Judy. Agnes attended a private German school established for the children of diplomats. There was a Hitler Youth movement at the school. Agnes and her family were forced out of their home following the German occupation of Hungary. She went into hiding in December 1944. 

Beginning in 1933, the Hitler Youth and the League of German Girls had an important role to play in the new Nazi regime. Through these organizations, the Nazi regime planned to indoctrinate young people with Nazi ideology. This was part of the process of Nazifying German society. The aim of this process was to dismantle existing social structures and traditions. The Nazi youth groups were about imposing conformity. Youth throughout Germany wore the same uniforms, sang the same Nazi songs, and participated in similar activities, as Agnes describes here.   

Transcript

Critical Thinking Questions

How do oral histories differ from other primary sources such as artifacts, documents, and photographs? What can we learn from different types of primary sources?

What other source materials might be helpful to provide more historical context for this eyewitness testimony? What aspects of the history might these other source materials help reveal?

How can personal testimonies and oral histories provide insights into the impacts of racism, antisemitism, and ideology?

Explore the Museum's website and Collections to learn more about the Nazi indoctrination of youth.


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  • US Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, gift of Jewish Family and Children's Services of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties
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