Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2016
Last exams 2025
Changes to Germany's Youth (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Joel Davis
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Education and Youth in Nazi Germany - Summary
Hitler and the Nazi Party made a number of changes which affected Germany’s young people. Policies were targeted at both the establishment of youth groups as well as children’s education.
By 1933, boys and girls in Germany were only allowed to join one of the available Nazi youth groups. For male teenagers, membership of the Hitler Youth was focused on physical and military training. Hitler wanted to create an army for the future to ensure the protection of Nazi Germany. Teenage girls were encouraged to join the League of German Maidens, where they would develop skills such as cooking and needlework. While they were also expected to take part in physical activities, this was more to ensure they would be capable mothers and produce healthy children.
Education in schools was also directed towards Nazi beliefs. There was a focus on PE, especially for the boys. Girls would learn about the importance of marrying ‘pure’ German men. The curriculum was tightly controlled and all teachers were expected to join the Nazi Teachers' League.
Nazi Beliefs Toward the Young
Hitler and the Nazis wanted to create a Third Reich that would last a thousand years
Hitler was aware that adults in Nazi Germany had mixed opinions of the Nazi Party
Adults were more difficult to influence and change than the young
Control of the youth and future generations would ensure that the Nazi Party would always be supported
The Nazis had some key beliefs towards the young:
Nazi Youth Groups
The Nazis made a number of changes during the 1930s to boost membership in Nazi youth groups:
There were separate youth groups for boys and girls of different ages:
Nazi Youth Groups
Age | Male group | Female group |
6-10 | Pimpfe |
|
10-14 | German Young People | Young Maidens |
14-18 | Hitler Youth | League of German Maidens |
The Hitler Youth
Baldur von Schirach was the Hitler Youth leader
Boys were eligible to join the Hitler Youth when they turned 14
At age 18, boys became members of the Nazi Party and worked or joined the armed forces
Training was split into four distinct areas:
Worked Example
Give two things you can infer from Source A about the Hitler Youth
4 marks
Source A: A photograph taken in 1938 showing members of the Hitler Youth preparing for a Nazi Party event
AWAITING IMAGE
Answers:
(i) What I can infer:
The Hitler Youth were well organised (1)
Details in the source that tell me this:
Members are all shown wearing the same uniform (1)
(ii) What I can infer:
The Hitler Youth were disciplined (1)
Details in the source that tell me this:
Members are shown standing in a straight line waiting for instructions (1)
This answer would receive full marks because it contains two relevant inferences, supported by details from the source.
The League of German Maidens
The Bund Deutscher Mädel or League of German Maidens (BDM) was the female equivalent of the Hitler Youth
They shared some similarities with the Hitler Youth, but the emphasis was on training girls to be good wives and mothers:
Activities focused on the ‘three Ks’
Kinder (children)
Kirche (church)
Küche (cooking)
A sub-group of the BDM called the ‘Faith and Beauty Society’ was created in 1938 for girls aged 17-21:
The Nazis were concerned that members of the BDM would forget their teachings when they left the group at the age of 18
The ‘Faith and Beauty Society’ served as a way for women to receive further education until they were old enough to join the National Socialist Women's League
The Impact of Youth Groups
Although membership reached nine million by 1939, it did not mean that all members enjoyed being in a Nazi youth group:
Worked Example
Study Interpretations 1 and 2. They give different views about the attitudes of young people towards the Hitler Youth movement
What is the main difference between these views?
Explain your answer, using details from both interpretations
4 marks
Interpretation 1: From Germany 1918-45 by J Cloake, published in 1997 Many young people were attracted by the exciting and interesting activities of the youth movements. There were many outdoor events such as camping and hiking as well as sports. Some enjoyed the military aspects of the youth movements, the uniforms, the marching and the discipline. Other young people liked the music that was a frequent part of cultural activities or military parades. There was great comradeship among the Hitler Youth. |
Interpretation 2: From Germany 1858-1990: Hope, Terror and Revival by A Kitson, published in 2001 The movement became less popular towards the late 1930s as the activities became increasingly focused on preparations for war and the discipline became more strict when membership became compulsory. There was a growing resentment at the way Hitler Youth leaders acted as if they were better than members who were barely younger than they were. Some youngsters began to kick against the restrictions of the Hitler Youth. |
Answers:
A main difference is that Interpretation 1 emphasises the enthusiasm for and attractions of the Hitler Youth by mentioning the variety of activities available (1). This is shown by the quote, “there were many outdoor events such as camping and hiking as well as sports” (1).
On the other hand, Interpretation 2 discusses the unpopularity of the Hitler Youth and its less attractive activities (1). This is shown by the quote, “the activities became increasingly focused on preparations for war” (1).
This answer would receive full marks because it clearly states the main difference by comparing the two interpretations. It also used evidence from each interpretation.
Worked Example
Suggest one reason why Interpretations 1 and 2 give different views about the attitudes of young people towards the Hitler Youth movement
You may use Sources B and C to help explain your answer
4 marks
Source B: From a private letter, written by a Hitler Youth member to a friend in Germany in 1936 What is life like in this camp, which is supposed to be the best example of all the Hitler Youth camps? There is little enthusiasm. We don't have a minute of the day to ourselves. This isn't camp life, no sir! It's army life. Drill starts right after a very small breakfast. We would like to have athletics but there isn't any. Instead we have military exercises, down in the mud, till our tongues hand out of our mouths. We have only one wish: sleep, sleep and more sleep. |
Source C: From a book about the Hitler Youth, published in 1954. A Hitler Youth leader is remembering what the Hitler Youth was like in the mid-1930s What I liked about the Hitler Youth was the comradeship. I was full of enthusiasm when I joined the Jungvolk at the age of ten. I can still remember how deeply moved I was when I heard the club mottoes: 'Jungvolk are hard. They can keep a secret. They are loyal. They are comrade.' And then there were the trips, especially camping! Is anything nicer than enjoying the beauty of the homeland in the company of one's comarades? |
Answers:
The interpretations differ because they have used different sources.
Source C suggests that young people enjoyed the Hitler Youth because there were lots of trips, “especially camping!” (1). This aligns with the argument presented in Interpretation 1 that young people had enthusiasm for outdoor activities (1).
Source B suggests that young people disliked being part of the Hitler Youth because of the focus on military training, which required them to get “down in the mud” (1). This agrees with the idea in Interpretation 2 that young people disliked the focus on war and discipline (1).
This answer would receive full marks because it clearly identifies why the interpretations give different views. Each source is discussed and compared to the relevant interpretation with precise detail.
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Question 3(d) is asking you why Interpretations 1 and 2 have different views.
It will always state, “You may use Sources B and C to help explain your answer.” This is the examiner's way of suggesting you look at Sources B and C to help you answer this question.
Remember, historians make interpretations and arguments based on the sources available to them. If historians use different sources, they could come to different conclusions.
Study both Interpretations and both Sources. Then, compare which Source agrees with which Interpretation. In the question above, it is clear that Interpretation 1 agrees with Source C. Similarly, Interpretation 2 clearly agrees with Source B.
The student’s answer above identifies that Interpretation 1 and Interpretation 2 have different views because they focus on different sources. The student then discusses each interpretation and compares it to the relevant source.
Nazi Education
Alongside attendance of one of the Nazi youth groups, children were still required to attend school for education
Hitler knew that control of children’s education would allow him to create a generation of Nazis loyal to him
Bernhard Rust was made Education Minister in 1934 and made a number of changes to teachers and schools
Teachers
Those not loyal to the Nazi regime were sacked
Rust sacked over 180 teachers in Prussia
They swore an oath of loyalty to Hitler and joined the Nazi Teachers’ League
Membership of the Nazi Party was also compulsory
They attended political education courses outlining key Nazi ideas
Around 200,000 teachers had attended courses by 1939
Teachers had a number of responsibilities at school:
Taught students the Nazi salute
Began and ended each lesson with ‘Heil Hitler’
Posters, Nazi flags and a picture of Hitler to be placed in each classroom
Curriculum
Boys and girls were educated separately
The Nazis took control of the curriculum so that they could influence children’s beliefs:
After 1935, all textbooks had to be approved by the Nazis:
All books contained pictures of Hitler
Mein Kampf became a compulsory text
Events like the First World War were reworded to blame Jewish people and the November Criminals
Napolas were schools for the most ‘gifted’ and racially pure children:
SS members replaced the traditional teachers
The emphasis was on sport and physical training
Students went on to join the SS or police services
By 1939, there were 16 Napolas schools
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