Life and Times under the Rule of Hitler

Children and Teenagers

The youth of Germany held a special place in the plans of Hitler. By indoctrinating young people, Hitler was able to create fanatical loyalty to him and the country. Indoctrination or the programming of thoughts in young children was a priority for the party. One of the first areas that required changes was the German school system. Teachers were forced to join the Nazi Party and attend special classes on how to properly teach the ideas of Nazism in their lessons.

All textbooks were rewritten to tell the story of the Nazi Party and the future plans of Hitler. The history of Germany, and its greatness in the world, was a focus for classes in the new curriculum, but it was always combined with the goals of the Nazi Party. Even mathematics was designed to indoctrinate the youth of Germany.

Eyewitness Account

A bomber aircraft on take-off carries 12 dozen bombs, each weighting ten kilos. The aircraft takes off for Warsaw, international center of Jews. It bombs the town. On take off with all bombs on board, and a fuel tank containing 1000 kilos of fuel, the aircraft weighted about 8 tones. When it returns from the crusade, there are still 230 kilos of fuel left. What is the weight of the aircraft when empty?
German Math Textbook
1938

Indoctrination continued after school as well. All young people had to belong to a youth organization. These organizations prepared students to be loyal to Hitler and taught military skills. Girls in high school would join the Deutsche Madchen or The German Girls' League. Girls would learn the ideas of Hitler, so that when they became mothers, they would teach their children the importance of Nazism. Girls also played games and exercised to stay in shape to bear healthy children.

Eyewitness Account

The weak must be chiseled away. I want young men and women who can suffer pain. A young German must be swift as a greyhound, as tough as leather, and as hard as Krupp's steel.

Speech on Germany's Future
Adolph Hitler 1938

Boys in high school were required to join the Hitler Jugend or Hitler Youth. The training of boys also involved the indoctrination of Hitler's ideas, but military training became a major component. In the summers, the boy would be shipped off to special camps to continue training in sports, reading maps, gymnastics and basic weapons training. The training was very serious for the boys. One fourteen year-old Hitler Youth received a medal for shooting a ten year-old child, who had forgotten the password during a night exercise.

Furthermore, all boys were issued with a "performance book." The book acted like a report card with marks given for athletics, camping and fighting skills. Students with high marks were selected to go to special "Adolph Hitler schools" to train as leaders of the future. The intension was for young boys to become fanatical supporters of Hitler and Germany.