Explain the nature and purpose of the Hitler Youth Movement

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History Coursework – Volksgemeinschaft                                          Felix Kellaway  

Explain the nature and purpose of the Hitler Youth Movement    (7)

        After World War 1, Hitler wanted to turn young Germans into loyal Nazis. Hitler said that were three great influences on children, their school, their families and youth movements.

Youth movements were popular, and they did activities such as sport, music and carrying ‘dead’ comrades. The first Hitler youth movement was founded in Germany during the 1920s, and soon after became compulsory in 1936. There were different organisations for girls and boys. This was because girls were advised to join the German Maidens, which were not seen as being as important as those of boys because they were not prepared for military service.      

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At schools nearly all teachers were nationalistic (if not they were usually sacked), and 97 percent of teachers had joined the Nazi Teachers Association. Certain subjects were given more importance than others, such as Physical Education which was given 15 per cent of curriculum time. Pupils had to pass an examination for this, and if they failed it could often lead to them being expelled. The reason for this focus on P.E was because they wanted their young students to be fit and healthy, like soldiers. They were disciplined physically and trained in a military fashion to create a ...

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