Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler's Shadow

Hitler Youth

Growing Up In Hitler’s Shadow

By Susan Campbell Bartoletti

 

Bibliography: 

Campbell Bartoletti, Susan. Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler's Shadow. New York, New York: Scholastic Nonfiction, 2005.  ISBN:  0439862736

Summary and Critical Analysis:

Written for an audience of those 12 years and older, this book will be an excellent and chilling introduction to the ways that “Hitler Youth” or “Hitlerjugend” helped to lay the foundation for the horrors that were to follow in Nazi controlled Germany.  Hitlerjugend began as a patriotic group of idealistic young people who wanted to serve their nation and the new leader they saw as the salvation of a Germany still suffering the after effects of World War I and the Treaty of Versailles.  High unemployment, poverty, and a nation defeated and humiliated by their loss in World War I all led to the rise of both Hitler, and through him, to the foundation and rise of the Hitler Youth.

Told through oral histories, first-hand accounts, photographs, newspaper articles, and other archival material, and anchoring her story in the real life stories of both Hitler Youth members, dissidents and victims, Campbell Bartoletti tells the true story of the way that the youth of Germany impacted the Nazi movement, the toll that membership took on its members, and the dawning realization on both members and dissidents alike of the nature of the true horror of Hitler’s reign of terror.

“THIS IS NOT A BOOK ABOUT ADOLPH HITLER.  This book is about the children and teenagers who followed Hitler and the National Socialist (Nazi) Party during the years 1933 to 1945.”  These sentences, in the Foreword of the book, lay out the focus and purpose of the book and the author sticks to this focus in a very meticulous way.  This story is about the youth of Germany.  The years covered are the years of Hitler’s reign and the clear concise prose and carefully selected photographs present the reader with a complete yet very clear picture of the realities of German life, the reasons for the rise of Hitler Youth, and the stories of the individuals who were driven to join by patriotism or nationalism, those who were adverse to joining and those who were the eventual victims of the both the Third Reich and the Hitler Youth.

Perhaps the biggest contrasts in the effects of the Hitler Youth are the experiences of Sophie Scholl and her family and the experiences of Alfons Heck.  Scholl and her family, originally Hitler Youth members quickly became disenchanted with the rigors and strictly enforced conformity of the group.  Alfons Heck, other the other end of the spectrum, was a loyal and active member of the group from the time he was old enough to join and was in complete agreement with the goals and structure of both Hitler and his youth.

The choices that these two young people made led them to very different ends.  Sophie, who became an anti-Hitler dissident and was beheaded in 1943 for disseminating anti-Hitler information and Alfons who remained loyal to Hitler and the Hitler Youth until the very end of the war, was sent for De-Nazification where he learned, fully, the extent of the horror he had helped to bring upon millions of people.  The story of these two young people serve as an excellent example of the fact that the choices one makes as a child or youth can adversely affect the rest of the lives and the lives of others.

The book is extensively researched and meticulously documented.  Each line of dialogue and each quotation used are credited at the end of the book in a section named “Quote Sources.”  In addition, there is an extensive bibliography, organized by the name of the person covered in the book which documents each and every fact.  The comprehensive index is extremely useful for finding specific instances of names and events contained in the text and the black and white photographs in the book are credited and sourced in captions on the page alongside each photograph. 

Campbell Bartoletti has created a masterwork of non-fiction writing.  She tells her story in a very straightforward, non-judgmental way that will allow young to readers to understand, and even empathize with the beginnings of the Hitler youth, and then, in a very straightforward manner follows the organization through its evolution from patriotic youth group to a group dedicated to preparing for war and finally to a group that was all encompassing, unforgiving, and complicit in the horrors of the Third Reich.

There is sentiment here, but never sentimentality.  The author uses facts to tell this story understanding that the facts themselves will evoke the emotions experienced by the real human beings discussed in the text and in the reader.  This is as fine of an example of youth informational writing or non-fiction as I have ever encountered. 

Review Excerpts:

Kirkus Reviews editorial review:  Formed in 1926, the Hitler Youth involved seven million boys and girls by 1939 and was instrumental in Hitler's rise to power. Bartoletti makes it clear what appealed to youth: "Excitement, adventure, and new heroes to worship," hope, power, and the "opportunity to rebel against parents, teachers, clergy, and other authority figures." She covers Hitler Youth, the resistance movement among young people and the de-Nazification process after the war in this study of Hitler's horrifying 12 years and the courageous moral stance of those who resisted. Case studies of actual participants root the work in specifics, and clear prose, thorough documentation and an attractive format with well-chosen archival photographs make this nonfiction writing at its best. Essential for WWII collections as well as teaching units on conformity, peer pressure and resistance. Superb. 

goodreads:  This book explores the riveting and chilling story of Nazi Germany’s powerful Hitler Youth groups. By the time Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, 3.5 million children belonged to the Hitler Youth. It would become the largest youth group in history. Susan Campbell Bartoletti explores how Hitler gained the loyalty, trust, and passion of so many of Germany's young people. I liked this book so much because it was incredibly detailed, but not text heavy. I have always been interested in Nazi Germany in WWII, but have only ever explored the Jews in the concentration camps. This was interesting because it is about the children in Nazi Germany. I had no idea they were such a powerful group. This book would be great to use in my classroom, because when the students read it they will be better able to relate, because it is about kids just like them. This book gave me chills and I couldn't put it down when I was reading it. The black and white pictures add to the text and make it very real.

Newbery Honor Book – 2006

Orbis Pictus Award Honor Book – 2006

Parents Choice Award Winner – 2006

Carolyn W. Field Award, awarded annually by the Youth Services Division of the Pennsylvania Library Association Winner – 2006

Connections:

Discuss conformity, peer-pressure, and the natural desire to fit in as it relates to this book.

Have students do a further study of one of the people in the book such as Sophie Scholl.

Discuss whether a situation like the one explored could happen again.  Could it happen in the US?

Have students discuss The Treaty of Versailles and its consequences.