Module 7/ July 17-24/Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow by Susan Campbell

Bibliographic Citation: Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. (2005). Hitler youth: growing up in Hitler’s shadow. New York : Scholastic Nonfiction.

Summary: This book talks about the Hitler Youth organization, an organization of German youth dedicated to furthering the aims of the Third Reich. Also discussed is the propaganda that led to Hitler’s rise to power and the Nazi resistance by some German youth. Interviews with some of the surviving Hitler Youth are also included.

Reviews: “Gr 5-8-- The Nazis' disturbing indoctrination of children and young people is examined through the experiences of 12 young people who were members of the Hitler Youth group. This exceptionally well-documented account is illustrated with numerous black-and-white photos from several sources, ranging from Nazi propaganda to family albums.” Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow. (2005). School Library Journal, 5147. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

“The indoctrination that the Nazis gave German youth during the 1930s and 1940s led some of these children to commit atrocities during WWII. The effects were felt by many even after the war ended. Using letters, diaries and the recollections of former members of Hitler Youth--a paramilitary and ideological group in which membership, for both boys and girls, was eventually mandatory--Kater, a noted historian of the Nazis, concludes in this readable volume that "the authoritarian nature of the Nazi regime" and its "merciless" racial ideology, as well as its sense of community, underlay its appeal to "adolescents who were searching for certitudes in a swiftly changing and newly structured world." The author is particularly effective at providing context: the Nazis took the youth movement concept, popular throughout Europe in the early 20th century, and adapted it to fit a racist ideology. He also shows that the values of militarism and self-reliance clashed with German family values of nurturing--and that, for the most part, the Hitler Youth won out. Nor does Kater ignore the few who resisted these imposed values. This is a scholarly book that deserves a wider audience, especially those interested in the Nazi period and adolescent psychology. (Nov.)” HITLER YOUTH (Book). (2004). Publishers Weekly, 251(34), 43. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Personal Impressions: I personally have a fascination with the Holocaust as I have mentioned before.  I believe it is because of how terrible it was and why no one knew about it. This book was so powerful for me. It showed exactly why not many really knew what was going on. The Nazis were so good at convincing the German people. Prior to reading this book, I hadn’t known about the Hitler Youth. It’s incredible how many people and especially the youth, supported Hitler.  What the Hitler Youth went through and how many of them enjoyed it at first but eventually grew tired of it. How some youth resisted the Nazi’s and risked their own lives was just fascinating. The whole book showed a different side of the Nazi power. I certainly learned a lot that I didn’t realize before and I would hope others would do the same.

Suggestions for Use:  This would be a great book to include in a collection of research materials about the Holocaust or the Nazi’s.