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2 - 27 - 95 HITLERS PUPPETS Hitler knew that the war[World war II] would end and that he would die someday but his hope was that Nazism would live on. He believed that it would live on through Germany's youth. In 1926 he organized a youth group to carry out his dream. This group was called the Hitler Youth. Through this group all of Germany's children would become loyal Nazis. The children of the Hitler Youth grew up in an environment where they were endlessly bombarded with Nazi views and ideas; hence, they knew no rule but that of National Socialism and no leader but Adolph Hitler.
Their bodies, their minds, and their hearts belonged to Hitler, the master manipulator. For a small portion of the poorest children involved in the Hitler Youth, a program was set up through which they could earn money for their families. The Hitler Youth would go out into the community and find odd jobs and in many cases, internships with farms or businesses for these children. The boys that participated in this program earned very little money but it was enough to keep them involved for they were paid through the Hitler Youth. Hitler had a great awareness of the things that his children liked and this was the main reason that he was so successful through the Hitler Youth. He knew that during this time many children felt as if their life meant nothing and they had no purpose.
By raising their self-esteem Hitler knew that they would be under his control. He did this by making the meetings seem very official and important. The children were given uniforms that resembled those of the SS and they performed army drills (Grunberger, p. 277). The children felt like they were part of something important in the meetings and in the jobs they were given by the SS. They also spread propaganda for the Nazi party which made them feel as if they knew more than the average person in the country. All of these factors made them feel very important, after all they were the next generation of the greatest world power as tens of thousands of them were told by Hitler at Nuremberg Stadium during a rally (Heyes, p. 42).
Once the children realized the pure fun and fulfillment of the Hitler Youth, the Nazi indoctrination began. The seed of Hitlers master plan had begun to sprout when the children joined and now it was in full bloom. Everywhere, Nazi ideas were drilled into the minds of the children. At meetings, the children were shown films blaming Germany's problems on the Jews and non-Aryans which created severe hatred toward these people (Gilbert, p. 126).
The schools were run by Hitler because all of the children were his from the Hitler Youth. Most of the regular classes the children took included Nazi indoctrination but there were also special classes like electives where there was nothing but the teaching of Hitlers ideas. For example, one of these many classes was called racial sciences. In this class, students learned about what a perfect Aryan was and that anyone but an Aryan was inferior and did not deserve to live. (Shirer, p. 352).
Even the young childrens books and fairy tales included Nazi ideas. The classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty was rewritten so it conveyed the message that Sleeping Beauty was the German nation and Hitler was the fabled prince (Adler, p. 14). Hitler woke up the great German nation by installing his ideas into the government and everybody lived happily ever after. With this constant flow of Nazism no child even had a chance to develop his own opinion. The fate of these children, to follow in the Nazi footsteps, was sealed as soon as they joined the Hitler Youth; yet, Hitler felt that he needed more of an advantage on the children. To graduate to a higher level of the Hitler Youth, members needed to be able to recite verses of varied Nazi dogma like the Horst Wessel Song which praises Hitler (Grunberger, p. 282).
Along with this children were indoctrinated with individual different ideas like this chant; We are born to die for Germany, and because these were reiterated so much the children began to believe them. Lacking all influence, aside from Nazism, the morals of children in the Hitler Youth were easily swayed. Hitler worked in many ways to control the children of the Hitler Youth, but first, he had to lure children into his sinister plan. His primary bait was the fun activities such as music, dance, art and sports competitions. Every weekend the Hitler Youth would have hikes, play sports, and enjoy being outside in the fresh air with friends.
After several years in the Hitler Youth, some of the older boys became involved with special subdivisions of the club. Most of these subdivisions were associated with helping Hitler in World War II, like the Motor Hitler Youth, the Flying Hitler Youth, and the Marine Hitler Youth. The Motor Hitler Youth taught children how to drive a car as well as maintain one. The Flying Hitler Youth concentrated on working with kids to be the next generation of fighter pilots. They learned how to fly fighter planes. They also learned how drop bombs and shoot missiles accurately.
In the Marine Hitler Youth children acquired knowledge about German warships and learned how each person worked together to make the ship successful in battle. As well as the war-related subdivisions there were subdivisions just for childrens entertainment, for example the Equestrian Hitler Youth where enthusiastic children learned to ride and care for horses (Heyes, p. 59). Hitler pulled many children into his grand scheme in this way, yet many of the children who joined the Hitler Youth were encouraged to do so by other Hitler Youth. Finally, in 1936 it became compulsory to join, the only youth group left, the Hitler Youth (Gilbert, p. 29). After Hitler had a firm base in the childrens mind he struck at the hearts of the German youth. When children really want something and they dream about it happening, they will do almost anything to achieve this goal.
Hitler understood this and used his power to make the dreams of children come true. Then once again they became his puppets. Melita Maschmann, a former Hitler Youth, now realizes how Hitler used her dreams to attain control of her. In her own words, We dreamed then of a strong Germany, respected amongst the nations not from fear but from admiration- and Hitler promised to fulfill this dream for us. Dreams are something dangerous in politics. They stop the dreamer from seeing what is really happening.
Hitler whipped up our yearning political dream into a fanatical passion. When he succeeded in doing this we followed him blindly. In this state of bondage we had forfeited our freedom of conscience. said Melita Maschmann, a former Hitler Youth (Heyes, p. 52).
Hitler was once a child so he knew that every childs dream at one point in time was to become part of the SS just like children today dream of becoming firemen. As was already stated, the Hitler Youths uniform was almost the same as that of the SS and children dreamed of wearing these uniforms. Many children also dream of adventure in life, like being able to fly fighter planes, being in the navy, or being a heroic soldier. The Hitler Youth Group was able to fulfill these dreams. Many children realized that through the Hitler Youth their dream was within their grasp, and that it could be their only chance for attainment of these goals. Children readily embraced this opportunity.
In addition, the Hitler Youth gave its children a feeling of usefulness; a purpose in life in this hard time. As a former Hitler Youth said, I finally found an emotional home, a safe refuge, and a place in which I was valued. (Koonz, p. 195) Hitlers little seed which had bloomed into a healthy plant now began to grow clusters of fruit as children placed complete and total trust in him. At this point Hitler made the children devote themselves to him and his cause. The children were required to take this oath to Hitler: In the presence of this blood banner which represents our great Fuehrer, I swear to devote all my energies and my strength to the savior of our country, Adolph Hitler. I am willing to give up my life for him, so help me God. (Shirer, p. 350) The children actually believed that Hitler was a god.
An example of this religion of the Hitler Youth is the following, which was chanted at a Nazi rally: No evil priest can prevent us from feeling that we are the children of Hitler. We follow not Christ, but Horst Wessel. Away with incense and holy water. The Church can go hang for all we care. The Swastika brings salvation on earth. I want to follow it step by step.
Baldur von Schirach, take me along! (Grunberger, p. 442) Hitler fulfilled the needs of many children and showed many a good time and now it was time for them to repay him in the climax of his scheme. Hitler sent the Hitler Youth out into the streets in full force in the Patrol Service, a group of eager youths that spied on the churches activities, reported other children for varying types of misconduct, and sometimes adults when they made a mistake such as anti-Nazi talk. The Hitler Youth was also used for directly helping the SS. Some of the highest ranking Hitler Youth even helped the SS kill Jews and non-Aryans.
Hitler also pulled his puppets strings and manipulated the children into helping him in the war directly. At one time Jews were trying to land several boats on a Lubeck shore. Hitler sent out the Hitler Youth to massacre them and they did as he said. The Hitler Youth was also used to dig trenches to stop enemy tanks.
A select few Hitler Youth even got the privilege as they were told by Hitler, to operate anti-aircraft guns (Heyes, p. 47). Hitler also used them in less dangerous ways; namely, spreading his propaganda and spreading the Nazi gospel throughout all of Germany. Hitler definitely was the master manipulator and the Hitler Youth had no idea what he was doing to them. Their bodies were fit, their minds were filled with Nazi ideas, and their hearts belonged to the Fuehrer.
How could somebody do all of this one may ask; yet, it is still happening today. The Ku Klux Klan, for example has a youth group today all over the country called the Invisible Empire Knights (Heyes, p. 80). Children are taught patriotism and racial separation. There are also many other similar groups, some of which are the neo-Nazis, the skinheads, and the National Socialist Junior Youth. In this particular group, Hitlers ideas and views are promoted. Children are the next generation of the world so Hitler made sure that they were on his side and ready uphold the Nazi ideas through the Hitler Youth.
Their bodies were fit, their minds were filled with Nazi ideas, and their hearts belonged to the Fuehrer, Adolph Hitler. Hitlers Puppets Thesis Statement: The children of the Hitler Youth grew up in an environment where they were endlessly bombarded with Nazi views and ideas; hence, they knew no rule but that of National Socialism and no leader but Adolph Hitler. Their bodies, their minds, and their hearts belonged to Hitler, the master manipulator. I.
Body Control A. Fun activities 1. Competition a. Sports b. Arts 2. Military training a.
Motor Hitler Youth b. Flying Hitler Youth c. Equestrian Hitler Youth d. Marine Hitler Youth B. Only youth group 1.
Children made to join 2. Children want to join like all other children (bandwagon) C. Money II. Mind Control A.
Self-esteem 1. Official ness a. Uniforms b. Drills c. Jobs (1) Help SS (2) Spread propaganda 2.
Hitlers speeches a. Told that they are soldiers b. Told they will rule the world B. Nazi influence 1. Education a. Films b.
Classes (e. g. racial sciences) c. Childrens books 2. Nazi dogma III.
Heart Control A. Dreams 1. Maschmann quote (dreams) 2. Uniform (like fireman) 3. Adventure a. To fly b.
To be in navy c. To be a soldier B. Usefulness C. Songs 1. Oath 2. Song at rally IV.
Manipulation A. Worked in Patrol Service B. Helped SS 1. Turn in anti-Nazis 2.
Kill Jews 3. Spy C. Helped in War 1. Shoot Jews at Lubeck 2.
Dig Trenches (to stop tanks) 3. Operate anti-aircraft guns D. Used in other ways 1. Spread propaganda 2.
Spread Nazi gospel Abrams, Alan. Special Treatment. New Jersey: Lyle Stuart Inc. , 1985. Adler, David. We Remember the Holocaust. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1989.
Chain, Miriam. A Nightmare in History. New York: Clarion Books, 1987. Gilbert, Martin.
The Holocaust. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1985. Grunberger, Richard. The 12 -Year Reich. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1971. Heyes, Eileen.
Children of the Swastika. Connecticut: Milbrook Press, 1993. Koonz, Claudia. Mothers in the Fatherland.
New York: St. Martins Press, 1987. Ryder, A. J... 20 th Century Germany. New York: Columbia University Press, 1973.
Shaw, Warren. The Third Reich Almanac. New York: World Almanac, 1987. Shirer, William. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. New York: Fawcett Crest, 1960.
Taiwan, John. Child of the Third Reich. People. 17 June 1991: 51 - 52.
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