 starter activity
Reichstag Fire, Feb 1933
Nuremberg Law,
1935 &
Kristallnacht, 1938
Enabling Act, March
1933
Night of the Long
Knives, June 1934
Persecution of
‘undesirables’
Death of
Hindenburg,
August 1934
Cult of the Fuhrer
The use of propaganda
The use of terror
Explain how each event helped the Nazis establish control. What’s missing?
Families,
education
and
Children!
How well did the Nazis
control the hearts &
minds of young people?
 LOs
To explain why millions joined the Hitler
Youth
To assess the extent of opposition to the
Nazis from young people
Typical members of the Hitler Youth (Hitler Jugend, HJ)
League of German Maidens
 Your task


Read p. 62-3 and make a note of the reasons
why so many young people joined the Hitler
Youth movement.
Study Source C. How useful is this source in
measuring the popularity of the Hitler Youth?
What are some of the problems in using it?
Reasons for the popularity of Hitler
Youth

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
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Tradition of youth groups in
Germany (Volk culture)
Alternative youth groups closed
From 1936 membership
compulsory
Well organised – different groups
for different ages
Hitler Youth, League of German
Maidens
1939 – 8 million members!
Baldur von Schirach – Leader of
Hitler Youth
Reasons for the popularity of
Hitler Youth




Range of activities – games, sports, physical education,
parade, camping – all appealed to young people
Children were brainwashed into loyalty to Führer
Fed anti-Communist & anti-Semitic hatred
Children believed they were helping the war effort
Hitler Youth soldiers played a crucial role in the defence of Berlin, 1945
Not all youths supported the Nazis. Why would these young
people have attracted the attention of the Nazi authorities?
 Your task


Did everyone support the Hitler Youth? Read
p.151 in your text book and note the reasons
why the Nazis would have been horrified by the
behaviour of some young people.
Why are there so few examples of young
opponents to the Nazis?
Opposition from youths




Swing clubs – disrespectful to the Führer, e.g.
‘Heil Benny’ greeting
Edelweiss Pirates – bullied members of the
Hitler Youth
Some youths sheltered deserters & escapees
White Rose group – distributed Nazi
propaganda
Not all youths supported the regime – Sophie Scholl and her
brother Hans, members of White Rose
 Writing task






Imagine you are on a Hitler Youth training
camp. Write a letter to your parents. Refer to
the following things in your account:
Different types of organisations (including the
illegal ones)
Typical activities – fun & military
Attitude to the Fuhrer
Things you learned about opponents of the
regime
How you helped the war effort
 Plenary





Give 3 examples of typical Nazi activities
List 2 different types of youth organisations
List 2 rival youth organisations
Give 3 reasons why so many young people
joined the Hitler Youth
Do you think all young people actually
supported the Nazis?