Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party believed the Third Reich's "one-thousand years" depended on the education of the youth. "A violently active, dominating, brutal youth," said Hitler, "that is what I am after. Youth must be indifferent to pain...I will have no intellectual training. Knowledge is ruin to my young men."(1) To achieve this, Hitler established two state-controlled youth organizations: the Hitler Youth and League of German Girls.
Both Hitler Youth and League of German Girls offered something for everyone, like arts, crafts, hiking, camping, journalism, and music. Above all, they provided camaraderie and self-worth. But these youth groups also popularized physical violence, racial superiority, narcissistic behaviors, ultra-nationalism, and German Exceptionalism. They did this by monopolizing every free and waking hour of group members.(2)
German Cinema and mass media contributed to the "group think" of Hitler Youth and League of German Girls. Public Nazi spectacles and the German Army, along with demonizing enemies and the glorification of war, became permanent "pictures-" and "images in the head" of German youth.(3) Weaned from families and churches, youth became informers by notifying the police of those who objected, even their own parents.
watch now
Much has been said about the negative integration and character of Nazi ideology, but there was also a positive, parallel build-up of a novel utopian vision based on radical regeneration and remaking of modernity and future.(4) In 1942 at a congress of European youth movements, Hitler stressed Germany's strength, its military might, and a spirit of revivalism. He made youth believe they were important, part of a great and futuristic plan.
"The rescue of Europe," declared Hitler, "began at one end of the continent with Mussolini and Fascism. National Socialism continued this rescue in another part of Europe...in brave triumph over the Jewish international attempt to destroy European civilization."(5) Hitler encouraged positive integration and immersion into Nazism by making German youth believe they were destined for greatness: German Triumphalism.
Eventually, and because it was considered a violation of civic duty not to participate, the Hitler Youth and League of German Girls took precedence over any kind of formal education.(6) During World War II, youth contributed by collecting food, clothing and supplies for German troops by writing them letters. At Christmas and other yearly holidays, they sent presents and special packages of food to Nazi soldiers.
Hitler gained the attention of the youth by making sure propaganda was entertaining. Famous singers and movie stars were featured in Nazi movies and on radio stations and posters. Preemptive wars, brutal aggression, and genocide was softened with euphemisms, like "police actions," "secured," and "final solution." Nazi slogans, such as "Fight with Us" and "Join Our Struggle," set the agenda which is important in maintaining power.(7)
Nazism and perpetual mobilization for wars became a twenty-four-hour schooling for German youth. In an atmosphere of defensiveness and of highly charged emotions of fear, along with being estranged from families and civic and religious institutions, Hitler was very successful in telling youth not only how to think, but what to think and what to always think about.(8) Nazism dominated emotions, preventing intellectual growth.
Since Hitler was always invading other territories and was always at war, and due to a lack of finances and economic and educational opportunities, many members of the Hitler Youth and League of German Girls, after being conscripted for two years, joined the military. They received more indoctrination on who the enemy was. Others, mesmerized by modern high tech weaponry, were taught how to kill-and they killed millions.
Some youth, like Kurt Mobius, served in the Nazi Chelmno death camp. He considered Jews to be a breed apart, less than human, even demonic and powerfully malevolent to the core. He explained his thinking by saying: "It did not at all occur to me that these orders could be unjust." It made sense to him, sense he was prepared, like many of his country men, to kill and exterminate the enemies of Germany.(9)
Other youth became like Hans Frank. After watching a dazzling military parade and hearing Hitler speak, Frank exclaimed, "Formerly we were in the habit of saying: 'This is right or wrong.' Today we must ask the question: 'What would the Fuhrer say?'" Since the German army seemed to be winning, at least in the beginning, he believed Hitler's authority came from God and that God was with Germany.(10)
One extermination camp, Auschwitz, was only a few miles away. Even though he passed by it every day on his way to work, after World War II he professed to have no idea as to what happened there. "One passed it on the train," said Frank, "it was a huge camp. One could always see the barbed wire." When asked about the horrendous atrocities that occurred at Auschwitz, he said, "I don't know about that...one passes a lot of things."(11)
Still, others of the Hitler Youth became powerful political and economic opportunists by manipulating reactionary, fascist ideologies and peoples fears. Nazi politicians warned that their enemies were Germany's and the peoples enemies and that they must be despised. They demanded justice for Germany and that one should only be proud of Germany. They also lauded millions of German veterans who were sacrificing their lives for freedom.(12)
Politicians exaggerated events, circulated false statements and misinformation about Germany's wars, and censored defeats. Any assassination attempt against a Nazi politician was proof of a global conspiracy to destroy Germany. Grown Hitler youth amassed wealth through Germany's armaments industries and by removing "less desirables" off their land. Their businesses became either property of the state or of industrial monopolists.
A few members of the Hitler Youth and League of German Girls attempted to resist by issuing anti-Nazi and anti-war leaflets. Other rebellious or economically impoverished youth became a German subculture, sometimes fighting pitched battles with Nazi forces. But German resistance, including acts of industrial sabotage, ultimately failed because it never extended beyond a small circle of dissenters. It was also too late to be effective.(10)
Like Hitler, who committed suicide, and Nazism, which was soundly defeated and exposed as a ruinous ideology, both the Hitler Youth and League of German Girls found they too were not god-like, invincible, or destined for greatness. But when German wars and death became unbearable, there was always the escape from the everyday privations of war through mass entertainment, just like today with "The Glenn Beck Show."
0 comments:
Post a Comment