"How Successful Was the Indoctrination of the German Youth Under the Nazi Regime?"
How Successful Was the Indoctrination of the
German Youth Under the Nazi Regime?
Hitler expressed the need for indoctrination in many speeches from the beginning of his leadership. This is shown in a quote from a meeting with radio officials on 25th March 1933: 'the mobilisation of the mind is as necessary as, perhaps even more necessary than, the material mobilisation of the nation.' The Law on the Hitler Youth also emphasised the indoctrination of the youth: 'All German young people...will be educated in the Hitler Youth physically, intellectually, and morally in the spirit of National Socialism'. However, although the need for indoctrination was stated, it was not wholly successful. This view is supported by historians including Peukert, Lee, Noakes and Pridham. Small elements of success were present, but resistance showed it could not have been fully successful. Hitler attempted indoctrination of the youth in many ways: through the Hitler Youth, education and propaganda.
Indoctrination of Youth Organisations
Stephen J. Lee confirms this by stating that, 'indoctrination as a long-term process could be most effectively applied to Germany's Youth'. This reflects Hitler's aim to indoctrinate the whole of the youth in preparation for a Nazi state. The main form of indoctrination and inclusion in Nazi Germany was the Hitler Youth. The government appealed to the youth to encourage them to join the Hitler Youth (before it was made compulsory in March of 1939). This is shown by the speech made by the German Young People leader before a child's vow to the Fuhrer: 'this hour in which you are to be received into the great community of the Hitler Youth is a very happy one...with your vow and your commitment you now become a bearer of German spirit and German honour'. This would have made the child feel patriotic and like they were participating in something great. The popularity of the Hitler Youth is confirmed by the huge increase in membership between 1933 and 1938.
German Youth Under the Nazi Regime?
Hitler expressed the need for indoctrination in many speeches from the beginning of his leadership. This is shown in a quote from a meeting with radio officials on 25th March 1933: 'the mobilisation of the mind is as necessary as, perhaps even more necessary than, the material mobilisation of the nation.' The Law on the Hitler Youth also emphasised the indoctrination of the youth: 'All German young people...will be educated in the Hitler Youth physically, intellectually, and morally in the spirit of National Socialism'. However, although the need for indoctrination was stated, it was not wholly successful. This view is supported by historians including Peukert, Lee, Noakes and Pridham. Small elements of success were present, but resistance showed it could not have been fully successful. Hitler attempted indoctrination of the youth in many ways: through the Hitler Youth, education and propaganda.
Indoctrination of Youth Organisations
Stephen J. Lee confirms this by stating that, 'indoctrination as a long-term process could be most effectively applied to Germany's Youth'. This reflects Hitler's aim to indoctrinate the whole of the youth in preparation for a Nazi state. The main form of indoctrination and inclusion in Nazi Germany was the Hitler Youth. The government appealed to the youth to encourage them to join the Hitler Youth (before it was made compulsory in March of 1939). This is shown by the speech made by the German Young People leader before a child's vow to the Fuhrer: 'this hour in which you are to be received into the great community of the Hitler Youth is a very happy one...with your vow and your commitment you now become a bearer of German spirit and German honour'. This would have made the child feel patriotic and like they were participating in something great. The popularity of the Hitler Youth is confirmed by the huge increase in membership between 1933 and 1938.