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Hitlers krigare #9
Hitler Youth: The Hitlerjugend in War and Peace, 1933 -1945
Between 1933 and 1945 the entire youth of Germany became a limb of the Nazi Party, educated and trained to serve the needs and desires of National Socialism in its quest to establish a 1,000-year Reich. Hitler Youth examines the manipulation and corruption of a whole generation of German youth under the the various youth organizations, the Nazi education system, and how the authorities gradually weaned children from their families. Includes a chapter on the military record of the infamous Hitlerjugend Division.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
About the author
Brenda Ralph Lewis
91 books22 followersBrenda Ralph Lewis is a writer with over 200 books on history and numerous magazine articles and television documentaries to her name. Her fascination with Scottish history and culture began early in her career and she has since returned to the subject at every opportunity. She regards [her] book on tartans as a labor of love.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 2, 2021
This is the sixth book I've read in this series of Nazi/SS/German warfighter during World War II. This book is strictly about the pre-war sociopolitical organization 'Hitler Youth' and eventually their military activation under the designation 12th SS Panzer Division, Hitlerjugend (1941-1945).
The book starts with the beginnings of post-World War I Germany, the rise of Hitler and National Socialism, and the growth of the Hitler Youth. The subsequent chapters address the organizing the youth, life in the Hitlerjugend, education in Nazi Germany, and their involvement in World War II.
This was very readable, clearly-presented, and contained a lot of unique photographs from the era. I recommend this for anyone interested in the fighting units of WW2. Thanks!
The book starts with the beginnings of post-World War I Germany, the rise of Hitler and National Socialism, and the growth of the Hitler Youth. The subsequent chapters address the organizing the youth, life in the Hitlerjugend, education in Nazi Germany, and their involvement in World War II.
This was very readable, clearly-presented, and contained a lot of unique photographs from the era. I recommend this for anyone interested in the fighting units of WW2. Thanks!
June 17, 2018
Brenda Ralph Lewis in her book Hitler Youth refers to a comments from Gunter FraschKa a Hitler Youth leader sent to the front line on the Oder River to defend Berlin on the 12th Feb 1945. He wrote: "I saw... how Silesia's youth were driven to the front and sacrificed in the fire storm... The boys who fell beside me were 14 and 15 years old... I led a combat group that was made up almost exclusively of children... I am one of the few who survived. The others perished... Their sacrifice becomes meaningless as the Red Storm consumes them... And he who gave them his name and promised that the future was theirs, he has long since betrayed them... Silesia's boys are to him no more than kindling for the furnace... For those kids... the dream of life vanishes like a soap bubble as the order to attack is given" (Silesia was an area of South West Poland close to what is the current border with Germany).
Why is it that Germany is unable to honour its former combatants who simply conformed or indeed were pressganged into service for their country... Will their deeds be forever tainted by the actions of their then diabolical leader?... Was their sacrifice no less worthy?... why do we still distinguish wether they be Wehrmacht, Waffen SS, or Hitler Youth?... Why do we hesitate to say that, they too did their duty?...
History may very well be written by the victors... but the guilt of the vanquished might never be able to release the spirits of its own victims of war. I hope that one day this may change; only then will they find eternal peace.
Why is it that Germany is unable to honour its former combatants who simply conformed or indeed were pressganged into service for their country... Will their deeds be forever tainted by the actions of their then diabolical leader?... Was their sacrifice no less worthy?... why do we still distinguish wether they be Wehrmacht, Waffen SS, or Hitler Youth?... Why do we hesitate to say that, they too did their duty?...
History may very well be written by the victors... but the guilt of the vanquished might never be able to release the spirits of its own victims of war. I hope that one day this may change; only then will they find eternal peace.
March 14, 2018
Good book, giving you a clear insight of the life in the Nazi time period before and during the war.
October 28, 2021
Excellent analysis of a dark period in youth movement history. Covers the rise of fanaticism in a movement that formerly had been about gender identity and rejecting the corruption of politics
April 21, 2023
Interessante geschiedenis van de Hitlerjugend.
February 26, 2024
A very comprehensive look at the Hitler Youth.
March 12, 2016
This is a very interesting book and very disconcerting as you see the young lives destroyed by Hitler's madness go from an almost Boy Scout enthusiasm in the 1930's to being butchered on both fronts in 1945. The pictures of young boys lying dead on a battlefield will haunt you. The author is very thorough and there is a lot to learn from this book for students of World War II.
January 9, 2008
It is a good book, with great photographs, yet it is sad to know these kids fought and died for an unworthy cause.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews