250th Blue Division - Division Azul - DRK - German Red Cross

Introduction of the Hitler Youth and the EMHS Youth

Many reenactors ponder how to include their families in their hobby, and thru our experience we have seen a large interest in family members to enjoy this hobby together. The EMHS does not envision young boys and girls joining our youth program to eventually rule the world, but it does strive to open new horizons with our program.

Some of the activities the program offers are similar to those of other youth organizations such as First Aid, Camping Skills, Building Skill and more. We complement these activities by also introducing some military skills such as marching, movement commands and the art of leadership. A topic enjoyed by all is our history chats and films.

They are always supervised and never placed in danger or on the battlefield. Some of the roles they play during actual reenactments or living history presentation include, Radio Operator, Camp Orderly, Camp Runner and more.

Jugend, as we call them, enjoy the fact of camping with their families, and at times many participate with their parents sometimes visiting the camp as visitors during the events.

The program is available to both boys and girls, of all ages. And references are available.

As in any good government or parent knows, the future is in the hands of the youth they raise. And for a good reason that for over 150 years Germany was know to be a leader in creating excellent soldiers. Author Trevor N. Dupuy in his book "A Genius for War" came to the conclusion that Germany had "Institutionalize Excellence" making them a military might for over a century.

This is also true of youth organizations during the years of 1938-1945; every young man in Germany was to serve the Fatherland and Volk. And what better way than the "Hitler Jugend". Many other organizations existed such as the Y.M.C.A. and Boy Scouts. However with the National Socialist coming to power the only recognized youth organizations were the League of German Girls (BDM) and the Hitler Jugend.

After completing their training, many became Hitler Jugend Leaders, and many also joined the ranks of the Labor Force, working in farms and construction. Similar to our own CCC corp. After completing their mandatory duty, they would them be transferred to the military if they chose to serve, and many did.

Today, as in the past 60 years, the US and many other nations have enjoyed the fruit created by this organization. After the war many young Germans traveled and relocated with their families around the world. Many of them as in the case of the US, joined the military service of their new host country.

Another reality of this program was the fact that for a regime to survive any period of time they must invest in their future generations. Very much as our Young Republican school programs. The Hitler Youth was the toll paid to ensure loyalty to the party and to pre-train elements for the armed forces. Hitler saw this youth as the future of the Third Reich, an organization he trusted until the end without reservations. Like most organizations in Germany, the Hitler Youth was a military organization in form and members wore uniforms resembling the military.

During the pre-war years military drill was prevalent. All boys trained in firearms, and those who excelled were trained as snipers and sharpshooters. Many eventually joined the Army or Waffen-SS as expert riflemen. All of this military training and doctrination seeded these young men with an aggressive spirit that only combat would satisfy. The Hitler Youth was providing Hitler and Germany the ammunition for the war.

Like all military branches the Hitler Youth also had specialties, to maintain interest and motivation the movement created several choices. One of the largest was the Flieger-HJ or the Flying Hitler Jugend. Not surprisingly the Luftwaffe maintained a close relationship with the Hitler Jugend as their plan to convert these young men in to the future pilots of their fighters and bombers. Those who showed promise and motivation were eventually made in to Fahnrich or officer cadets.

Those not interested in flying had the opportunity with the Kriegsmarine or Panzer units. The Naval Hitler Jugend trained with the Kriegsmarine. Their reward was a cruise on the training naval tall ship Horst Wessel known today as the USCG Eagle. The Motorized unit of the Hitler Jugend was also in high demand; these young souls would eventually become the future Panzer commanders for the Wehrmacht. Similar units were also available in other specialties, medical, cavalry and anti-aircraft units were common.

In 1943, the SS decided it would create a special division that would compromise of Hitler Youth. The special division in the Waffen-SS would be called the 12th SS-Panzer Division-Hitler Jugend. This elite unit was compromised of over 50 Wehrmacht officers who had been Hitler Youth Leaders. NCOs were compromised of Hitler Youth members with promising and motivated backgrounds. In summer of 1943, 10,000 boys reported for basic training, many had not turned 17 yet. Treated exactly like their adult counterparts, the only exception was that their ration of cigarettes was replaced with rations of candy or sweets.

The baptism of fire for the new division occurred in Normandy during the Allied invasion, in June of 1944. With the best equipment, and with a courage second to none, they destroyed over 28 tanks and their loses added to only 6 of their own. Despite their courage and ferocity, they paid a heavy price. Youthfulness could not substitute experience, and after only 30 days in combat the division had lost 20% of their men, 40% were wounded and 50% of their armored vehicles were lost. By September of 1944 only 600 men were left from the entire division.

Hitler Jugend members had received military training for over ten years, they had proven themselves in battle and had accomplished more than any other entity in Germany. In 1944 they supervised and rebuilt the old Siegfried Line or Westwall. A 16 year old boy would command 800 and a 17 year old over 2,500. Many commanded and trained units of the Volkssturm or Home Guard, leading men in their 40, 50 and 60's. The Hitler Jugend would fight until the end, and would die before surrendering.

Today many of those young boys are no longer boys but old men, however many became the future if not of Germany their host countries, my best example is US Army Major Frank (name has been changed to protect his privacy) as a young boy Frank moved to the US with his father a then German Army Officer. He served in Vietnam for 3 tours, earned the Silver and Bronze Star, serve in the elite of the Special Forces and retired after more than 30 years of service.