Youth Groups

Boys

10-14 years old
Deutsches Jungvolk - DJ
German Young People

14-18 years old
Hitler Jugend - HJ
Hitler Youth

Girls

10-14 years old
Jungmadelbund - JM
League of Young Girls

14-18 years old
Bund Deutscher Madel - BDM
League of German Girls

• You experienced outdoor activities such as hiking and camping.
• You had to swear an oath of allegiance to the Fuhrer.
• At 14, girls joined the League of German Girls (BDM).
• By 1932 there were 108,000 members of the Hitler Youth.
• The Hitler Youth Law was passed in 1936 and stated that all youths should belong to the Hitler Youth.
• Joining became compulsory in 1939.
• By 1939, there were 7.3 million members of The Hitler Youth.
• The aim of BDM was to prepare girls for motherhood.
• Emphasis in the HJ and BDM was placed upon physical fitness, group activities and obedience to the Nazi party.
• The aim of the HJ was to prepare boys for military service and to be strong, future leaders of Germany.

• Many young people liked the feeling of importance.
• Lots of youths resented the fact their old youth groups were banned.
• Alternative youth groups ambushed the Hitler Youth patrols and beat them up.
• Some girls resented the fact they were 'trained' to be housewives and mothers at such a young age.
• Lots of youths wanted to listen to Jazz, tryout new fashions and hairstyles, smoke and drink alcohol. All these activities were banned in the Hitler Youth.
• Alternative youth groups appeared across Germany, e.g. The Edelweiss Pirates, The Navajos Gang etc.
• Many youths disliked the strict regimentation - being told what to do and when to do it.
• Many young people enjoyed the excitement of Hitler Youth, e.g. camping, hiking, weapons training etc.

General

• Sharp new uniforms.
• Free badges.
• Free gifts for joining.
• A chance to socialise.

Boys

• Enjoyed the war games.
• Camping trips were fun.
• Activities like mountain climbing.
• Shooting practice was also a pull factor.

Girls

• Sport and fitness enjoyable.
• Aerobic classes were fun.
• Cookery classes did appeal to many young girls.

General

• Attendence was compulsory from 1939 when war broke out.
• It was annoying for those members who had other activities to do.

Boys

• Too much stress on creating soldiers from a young age.
• Daily 12 mile marches were exhausting.
• Only 25% of boys had joined freely before 1939.

Girls

• Too much stress placed on creating good mothers from a young age.
• Some poked fun at BDM often calling it 'the League of German Milk Cows'.