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German girls, members of a Hitler youth organization, follow their leader in song. The inscription behind them reads: "Nothing important in this world was given as a gift to people; everything must be struggled for." Berlin, Germany, 1938.
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Hitler Youth

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A Hitler Youth ceremony, typical of those conceived by Baldur von Schirach. They aimed to strengthen dedication to Hitler. Members recited verses, sang patriotic songs, and performed "mock funerals" for "fallen comrades." Germany, date uncertain.
Photo
A Hitler Youth ceremony
Hitler salutes the youth ranks at the Nazi Party Congress. Nuremberg, Germany, September, 1935.
Photo
Adolf Hitler salutes youth at a Nazi Party Congress
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.   
Oral History
Agnes Allison describes the Hitler Youth movement at her school
View of the defendants in the dock at the International Military Tribunal trial of war criminals at Nuremberg. November 1945.
Article
Baldur von Schirach
US soldiers discovered these boxcars loaded with dead prisoners outside the Dachau camp. Here, they force German boys—believed to be members of the Hitler Youth (Hitlerjugend; HJ)—to view the atrocity. Dachau, Germany, April 30, 1945.
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Boxcars containing bodies of victims outside the Dachau camp
Ezra BenGershom
ID Card
Ezra BenGershom
Guy Stern was born on January 14, 1922, in Hildesheim, Germany, into a Jewish family. As a child, he attended a German school, where he had many non-Jewish friends.  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.    Guy describes how propaganda and membership in the Hitler Youth turned one of these friends from his staunchest defender to his worst enemy. 
Oral History
Guy Stern describes losing a friend to membership in the Hitler Youth
Herbert Oppenheimer was born on January 4, 1926, in Berlin, Germany. He lived with foster parents, who were Seventh-Day Adventists. While living with his foster parents, he had to join Hitler Youth along with everyone else in his class at school. During this time, he learned that he was Jewish. The school consequently expelled him from the Hitler Youth. All prospective members of the Hitler Youth had to be "Aryans." He had to leave his foster parents in April 1939, and lived in an orphanage run by the Jewish community until he was 14.   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.    Herbert describes the focus on physical exercise during the time he was a member of the Hitler Youth. 
Oral History
Herbert Oppenheimer describes activities of the Hitler Youth
Hitler Youth summer uniform jacket with an armband and insignia designating the regiment and district to which the member belonged.   Beginning in 1933, the Hitler Youth and its organization for girls and young women, the League of German Girls, played an important role the new Nazi regime. Through these organizations, the Nazi regime indoctrinated young people with Nazi ideology, including antisemitism and racism. All prospective members of the Hitler Youth had to be "Aryans" and "genetically healthy." Their duty was to serve Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich. Hitler Youth boys and girls were required to wear military-style uniforms, in keeping with the "soldierly" character of the Nazi Party, and conform to certain standards of behavior. Uniforms such as this one emphasized the regimented nature of the Hitler Youth.  US Army soldier Arthur R. Myers obtained this uniform during his military service in World War II.  
Media Essay
Hitler Youth
At a rally, members of the Hitler Youth parade in the formation of a swastika to honor the Unknown Soldier. Germany, August 27, 1933.
Article
Hitler Youth
This Hitler Youth knife and case is shaped like a military bayonet and bears the emblem of the Hitler Youth. 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. Knives such as this one emphasize the paramilitary nature of the Hitler Youth organization. It was designed to train boys as future fighters and soldiers for the Nazi cause. These items were found in a warehouse in Aachen, Germany, by US Army soldier Sidney Conners in July 1944. 
Artifact
Hitler Youth knife and case
Hitler Youth members listen to a speech by Adolf Hitler at a Nazi "party day" rally. Nuremberg, Germany, September 11, 1935.
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Hitler Youth members at a Nazi rally
Poster urging young Germans to join the Hitler Youth Landdienst [agricultural service]. It reads "Volunteers to the front! Youth to the land service of the Hitler Youth." 
Artifact
Hitler Youth poster
This Hitler Youth proficiency badge would have been awarded for the successful completion of a series of tests measuring physical and ideological proficiency. Success in these tests was rated according to criteria in the Hitler Youth identity document and performance book known as the Leistungsbuch. On this badge, the arrow shape (the tyr-rune) represents the warrior god Tyr.  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. Badges such as this one emphasized the paramilitary nature of the Hitler Youth organization. It was designed to train boys as future fighters and soldiers for the Nazi cause. 
Artifact
Hitler Youth proficiency badge
At a rally, members of the Hitler Youth parade in the formation of a swastika to honor the Unknown Soldier. Germany, August 27, 1933.
Photo
Hitler Youth rally
Hitler Youth summer uniform jacket with an armband and insignia designating the regiment and district to which the member belonged.   Beginning in 1933, the Hitler Youth and its organization for girls and young women, the League of German Girls, played an important role the new Nazi regime. Through these organizations, the Nazi regime indoctrinated young people with Nazi ideology, including antisemitism and racism. All prospective members of the Hitler Youth had to be "Aryans" and "genetically healthy." Their duty was to serve Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich. Hitler Youth boys and girls were required to wear military-style uniforms, in keeping with the "soldierly" character of the Nazi Party, and conform to certain standards of behavior. Uniforms such as this one emphasized the regimented nature of the Hitler Youth.  US Army soldier Arthur R. Myers obtained this uniform during his military service in World War II.  
Artifact
Hitler Youth uniform

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