Nazi Education and Youth

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Nazi Education and Youth
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• Hitler wanted to create a Thousand-Year Reich,
  in which the Nazis would rule forever. He
  believed the way to achieve this was to win the
  support of the young people of Germany. He
  therefore began a nationwide programme of
  INDOCTRINATING young people, getting them to
  believe in the key Nazi ideas.

• This was done by controlling the education
  system.

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• If you had been a German student in the Nazi
  period your teacher would be acting under strict
  instructions. They had to belong to the Nazi
  organisation of the German Teachers League, and
  had to make sure that they taught Nazi ideas or
  they were dismissed.
• The teaching of school subjects was controlled so
  that the young were indoctrinated with Nazi
  ideals.

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An example of a school textbook

• A bomber aircraft on take-off carries twelve
  dozen bombs, each weighing ten kilos. The
  aircraft takes off for Warsaw, international
  centre of Jews. It bombs the town. On take-off
  with all the bombs on board and a fuel tank
  containing 1000 kilos
• of fuel, the aircraft weighed about eight tons.
  When it returns from the crusade, there are still
  230 kilos of fuel left. What is the weight of the
  aircraft when empty?

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PERIOD MONDAY TUESDAY WED THURS FRIDAY SAT
8.00 -8.45 Am German German German German German German
8.50-9.35 Geography History Singing Geography History Singing
9.40-10.25 Race studies Race studies Race studies Race studies Party beliefs Party beliefs
10.25-11.00 Break Break Break Break Break Break
11.00-12.05 Domestic science with maths Domestic science with maths Domestic science with maths Domestic science with maths Domestic science with maths Domestic science with maths
12.10-12.55pm Eugenics -science of breeding Eugenics -science of breeding Eugenics science of breeding Eugenics -science of breeding Eugenics - science of breeding Eugenics - science of breeding
2.00-6.00 Sport Sport Sport Sport Sport Sport
A typical timetable from a German girls school in
1935 how does this compare to your daily
timetable?
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Healthy Biology
Lots of PE 5 hours a week
Boxing made compulsory for boys
Girls studied home craft
Biased Nazi textbooks
Race Studies introduced
Students gave staff Nazi salute
Lessons
History textbooks glorified the military and
German heroes
Nazi Education Policies
Swastika Flags
Classroom
Schools
Adolf Hitler Schools Order Castles to train
future Nazi leaders
Photos of Hitler
Teachers
Nazi posters
Teachers went on a 1-month Nazi training course
All teachers had to join the Nazi Teachers League
and university lecturers had to join the Nazi
Lectures Association
Non-Nazi teachers and Jewish teachers were removed
By 1939 all religious schools were abolished
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The Nazi Party believed that

• Those who have youth on their side control the
  future

Hitler Youth flag
They therefore encouraged young Germans to join
Nazi Youth organisations. Attendance soon became
compulsory
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Boys 11-14 years old Young Folk Girls 11-14 years old League of Young Girls

Boys 14-18 years old Hitler Youth Girls 14-18 years old League of German Girls
Hitler Youth was formed in 1928 and by 1932
108,000 youths had joined it
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Hitler Youth facts
You experience outdoor activities such as
camping and hiking
You had to swear an oath of allegiance to Hitler
The Hitler Youth act was passed in 1936 and this
stated that all youths had to belong to HJ. This
became compulsory in 1939
The aim for Girls was to prepare them for
motherhood
Hitler Youth Facts
By 1939 there were 7.3 million members
Emphasis was placed on Physical fitness, group
activities and obedience to the party
The aim of the HJ was to prepare boys for
military service and to be strong future leaders
of Germany
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Hitler in the background
Who is the poster aimed at? What does the poster
tell you about attitudes to youth?
Young HJ boy Aryan in appearance
Military smart uniform
Caption in bold
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• Activities
• Copy these key terms
• Propaganda information that tries to make you
  think in a certain way
• Indoctrination Process of changing someones
  views without them even realising
• Why did the Nazis hold such massive rallies?
• What does censorship mean?
• How did the Nazis restrict information?
• Why did the Nazis focus their indoctrination and
  propaganda on the German youth?
• Why is it difficult to know if Nazi propaganda
  and indoctrination was a success?
• What are the general messages of Nazi propaganda?
• Was propaganda more effective than the police
  state for the Nazis keeping control in Germany?
• EXTENSION
• The Nazis failed in their attempts to win the
  hearts and minds of the German people. Explain
  whether you agree or disagree with this
  statement, justifying your opinions using
  evidence.