historicalcontext

Historical Context

Under the Nazi Party, German citizens were subject to propaganda promoting the country and Hitler, with German youth being specifically targeted in this campaign.

Nazi Ideology

Adolf Hitler, chancellor of Germany, ruled as a dictator and spread Nazi ideology throughout the country, which established that Germans were racially superior while villanizing "inferior" people such as Jews, Slavs, the physically disabled, and opposers to Nazism.

Hitler was elected in 1933 and promised to make Germany strong again, following Germany's defeat in World War I. His main goals were to purify the German race and to spread east for more living space.

World War II began in September 1939 with the German invasion of Poland. The use of extermination camps and mass murders of Jews and other "inferior" people began in late 1941.

Hitler adressing a rally, 1933 [AP Images] 

The German Parliament saluting Hitler, their absolute dictator and Supreme Leader, 1938 ​​​​​​​[National Archives] 

Propaganda and Censorship

At a time where Germany felt defeated and humiliated, Hitler promoted nationalism and patriotism.

Propaganda played a large role in spreading anti-Semitism and loyalty to Hitler.

The Nazi regime was invasive and all-encompassing of citizens' lives while enforcing propaganda and punishing nonconformists.

"People were afraid, people had been beaten up in the streets, people's social infrastructure had been destroyed."

-​​​​​​​Elizabeth Bernhardt (professor of German Studies)

 

Joseph Goebbels: head of propaganda in Nazi Germany,1935 [Encyclopedia Britannica]

 

Propaganda poster (translation: "Students, Be the Führer's propagandists") [Library of Congress]

"The government - or rather, the party - controlled everything: the news media, arms, police, the armed forces, the judiciary system, communications, travel, all levels of education from kindergarten to universities, all cultural and religious institutions." 

-George Wittenstein (former White Rose member)

"One could not speak openly, even with close friends, never knowing whether they might not be Nazi spies or collaborators. So well organized was the control and surveillance by the party, that each city block had a party functionary assigned to spy on his neighbors."

-George Wittenstein 

German Youth

"We Are Born to Die For Germany" 

-A sign at a Hitler Youth summer camp gate

The Nazi Party was portrayed as a youth movement in propaganda messages. From a young age, German Youth were bombarded with Nazi ideology, brainwashing them to be obedient, loyal, and willing to die for Hitler and Germany.

In school, the Aryan race was glorified while others, including Jews, were labeled inferior and incapable of being civilized. Hitler’s portrait was in classrooms, and schoolchildren began their days with a Nazi salute.

 

Hitler Youth recruiting poster (translation: "Youth Serves the Führer," "All Ten-Year-Olds Into the Hitler Youth") [Library of Congress]

"Political indoctrination started at a very early age, and continued by means of the Hitler Youth with the ultimate goal of complete mind control. Children were exhorted in school to denounce even their own parents for derogatory remarks about Hitler or Nazi ideology."

-George Wittenstein (former White Rose member)

Youth Organizations encouraged children to give up individuality and seek collective goals. Children were trained to be faithful to the Nazi Party and to be future leaders of Nazi Germany.

Ranks of Hitler Youth marching through the streets of Nuremburg, 1935 [Library of Congress]

Members of the boys' junior division of the Hitler Youth, at a Nazi Party rally in Nuremberg [akg-images]

Girls from the League of German Girls on an outing [akg-images]

Hitler meeting with a Hitler Youth troop,1933 [Library of Congress]

Hitler Youth flag bearers ​​​​​​​[akg-images]

Rifle practice at a Hitler Youth summer camp, 1941  ​​​​​​​[akg-images]

At camp, boys were taught to handle weapons, throw hand grenades, dig trenches, and kill enemies in preparation for their military service.

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