What It Was Like to be in the Hitler Youth

Use my link! enlisted.link/weirdhistory
When the National Socialist German Workers’ Party assumed control of Germany, it immediately set out to spread its influence into every aspect of German society. And the lives of German children were no exception. And what better way to get kids excited about fascism than by turning it into a fun summer camp?
#wwii #germanhistory #weirdhistory

[@WeirdHistory]

Use my link! enlisted.link/weirdhistory

[@garyjenkins2500]

Spy on thier parents and neighbors

[@matthewwebb9137]

you've got to be kidding me. a video on how nazi's brainwashed their youth to defend the motherland is being sponsored by a video game to brainwash the youth to defend the motherland!!!? wtf! I am baffled that you do not see how this is problematic. So many of your videos outline how f'd up our history has been and here you are showing a video which highlights how Hitler was committed to influencing youth to venerate military service while advertising for a video game that venerates military service!!!!?

[@judeinLA.]

I’ve requested this before including the Joseph Goebbles guidelines of 1933. Appreciate your time for sharing history.

[@fanroche8573]

@@judeinLA. like most of their videos it is often poorly researched. see it as fun but not a legitimate historical source

[@KermdoubleO7]

who asked for this? Downhill real fast pal.

[@robertwshephard4454]

I realize it might be offensive to viewers but simply blurring out the swastica on the flags didn't make it go away. Blurring history is never a good thing no matter how evil it was.

[@lynnkayee1015]

I think it's more for KZbin. Sometimes they're wishy-washy about it when it comes to ads. I THINK that's the reason. I've seen other videos where they do it and say that's why. Which is weird.

[@jgg204]

if they don't blur it out the video gets demonitized

[@sarahisatitagain]

Not only the video can get demonitazed, it can be completaly banned

[@BELCAN57]

Just ask the "Time Ghost Army"

[@Merylstreep1949]

Yep that was pretty weak and I didn't watch the video because of that weak sauce move

[@lps2013]

Not all joined though, I remember my grandpa telling the story that when he was forced to join the army one of the first things asked there by someone in charge was: who wasn't part of the HY? My grandpa was of course slightly worried, so didn't say anything. But someone else spoke up that he didn't join, and the guy in charge said something along the lines of: incredible, how did you manage that?

[@Warchief-te9jj]

He be like: I’m not even mad, that’s amazing.

[@petertaylor3600]

At this time in the war, according to historians and witnesses, the war was being lost by Germany. Reg. army soldiers had been decimated and they were recruiting old men and children. The above post and it's description sounds as if the grandfather, as a child had been drafted , with minimal training. It had a devastating psychological effect on that never left them. So, how, then, did he manage to do that? Maybe frightened into silence about it. Poor little boy.

[@charlesburgoyne-probyn6044]

Gobbles children the closest the Nazis had to a first family weren't members apparently

[@mariahfritsch3650]

My opa was in it as a kid. His dad had abandoned the family so the troop leaders were really important as father figures to him. He had a really hard time accepting that they weren't good ppl when he learned about everything. He'd also talked about getting into fights with his mom because he'd come home repeating the propaganda he was taught and she didn't like it. I think it's important that ppl talk about these kinds of things. It wasn't like the nazi party just showed up and immediately started killing ppl. They were insidious.

[@dariovukojevic926]

Do you really want to know the truth about your ancestors? They did nothing wrong. For example, books they were burning in this video were joooish propaganda books, LGBTQ propaganda, books on paedophilia written by joooish paedophiles. Propaganda that totally ruined German people and culture. You are a good person and because of your goodness you are easy to manipulate into self hate, and feeling bad about your ancestors is a form of self hate. The entire German nation now hates itself and consequences of that are becoming more visible as time goes on. You are becoming multicultural cesspool of a nation with no self respect.

[@kajilai]

It's always insidious lurking in the background till strong enough to emerge and wreck havoc. The Bible says the same the Antichrist for already its corollary sentiment is present just needing leadership of a strong man to spear head it under the right conditions

[@briansullivan5908]

first fill their stomachs then shape their minds.

[@stephanbach1652]

Thank you for your post. So many suffered because of that time period. I’m the son of an American soldier who suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. He was part of the liberation of two concentration camps. I knew how he suffered. As an adult, I’ve wondered about the Germans. I lived in Germany for 2 years and I’ve wondered how such wonderful people could have come to understand what had happened. Thank you.

[@blucolife]

@@heinz5714 Would you have denounced your own parents to the Nazis?

[@CuntCuntly]

"Like Whitney Houston, Hitler believed that children were the future" made me actually lol

[@markshaw2009]

Whitney Houston has been sober and drug free for over 1000 days now.

[@robinhughes8822]

Me to and the ramones reference ,sometimes when you know u shouldn’t laugh u can’t help it

[@skullingtonfx4441]

​@@markshaw2009hitler has been racism free for years hurray

[@probablynot1368]

My dad and his family belonged to a German-American social club in northern Illinois. This group was founded in the late 1880s to support newly-arrived German immigrant farmers and factory workers trying to make a better life away from the constant upheaval between Germany/Poland and Russia 9the former Prussian empire). They found jobs, educated their children, and helped each other through troubled times, as most immigrant groups do. They had weekly and monthly socials, as well as summer camps and picnics. My dad, 10 years old in 1936, said he was becoming more aware of the adults’ hushed conversations regarding the unfolding events in Europe. There was a growing minority opinion that, although life was so much better in the USA, they had an obligation to return to Germany to “support the cause.” A few of the men said that they were preparing to go, taking their teenage sons with them. My dad never saw them again. By 1939, when Poland was invaded, the adults unanimously decided to disband their social club, instructed their children to never speak German in public, and those who hadn’t become citizens must apply ASAP, because the sh!t was about to hit the fan. A few of the teenagers and young men in this group eventually served in the European theatre because of their German language skills. Most of the remaining either served stateside or fought in the Pacific theatre. My dad only began listening to German music years later, in the late 1960’s, broadcast from a northern Illinois radio station when he’d spend Sundays in his basement workshop working on building furniture. He never spoke a word of German, although it was obvious that he understood every bit of German language he heard.

[@anthonydesroches8897]

We're my dad and them are from Granite city illinois most of the cities around this are was built by Germans except East Saint Louis which was built by the Irish. Many Germans lost their lives from diseases because of the swamps.

[@eliotguerin192]

It’s such a shame. Germans came over in greater numbers than any other European immigrant group and shaped our society. You still see a lot of Irish and Italian pride parades today, but not too many for Germans. There’s nothing wrong with keeping a language and a culture alive

[@yellowiris123]

@Blacksun Sigrune my mom was from Columbia, IL and my grandpa worked at Granite City Steel when I was a kid. My maternal great grandmother spoke fluent German and that's what was spoken at home and school. WWI changed things as well for the German population and definitely WWII. They didn't speak German much when my mom was a kid and she only knew a few phrases.

[@yellowiris123]

@Anthony Desroches I wrote a response to you but picked the wrong name. My response is under blacksun Sigrune below.

[@cavemandude257]

@@eliotguerin192 Pride parades are non efficient. I can’t even imagine a group of German civilians in a foreign country to do such thing. If it’s the case, it’s from the military. And then it’s serious.

[@iDAN_GER]

That sponsor was so out of pocket and on brand at the same time 😭

[@Ren-vl1eq]

I got whiplash from the emotional range I felt.

[@shakeel0atmeal273]

I did Nazi that coming

[@cherylcampbell9369]

yeah. It startled me

[@whitehawk45]

I came here to say this. I had to rewind and check to make sure I wasn't watching an onion video.

[@MeMe-pj8ve]

My German grandpa was forced into the HY. He ended up going almost completely insane and turned into an raging alcoholic for the rest of his life. He passed on his pain/trauma to his kids, which then they passed it onto my generation.

[@beanbean78]

Congratulations

[@margaretlumley1648]

You poor thing! I hope you are doing ok now 💓

[@DieEineMieze]

Doesn't sound right...

[@MeMe-pj8ve]

@@beanbean78 thanks

[@MeMe-pj8ve]

@@DieEineMieze yeah you’re a German I’m not taking advice from you.

[@eltronics]

My uncle who was living in the Netherlands at the time, was "drafted" into Hitler's army. He was disgusted, but had no choice but comply. The alternative was not a good one. He did as much not to draw conclusions of treason. He happened to lose 3 fingers on his right hand from a grenade for his troubles. For all I know that may have been how he was saved from preforming active duty. He never did elaborate on the matter, and since he died over 20 years ago, I can't ask him. All I know he was a kind and gentle man who never wanted to be part of Nazi history. He and my aunt, even adopted a German-born boy some time into their marriage. Maybe it was his way to give an unwanted child a chance unlike some kids he grew up with, didn't have.

[@Tralala691]

Cry baby.

[@buzzzzzz69]

My Grandfather was a Hitler Youth member that was put into an S.S. Officer's Training School at the age of 14. He wasn't even German; he was Estonian but most places where the Germans invaded (the Russians also invaded Estonia) the youth was conscripted. At least one of his older brothers had already been conscripted by the Russians. This was fairly common in the Baltic Countries (as they were countries prior to this not states) Sadly in a lot of places there at that time people had to "choose" between being invaded by Russians or Germans and a lot of Estonians saw Russia as their traditional enemy- which is historically understandable. I still have my Grandfather's H.Y. Iron Cross. I do know he did time on the Russian Front & was captured but escaped at great injury to himself so I'm guessing that's got something to do with it. It's a smaller version than the actual "soldiers" were awarded. I believe they are quite rare. The truly strange bit is after the war (he was only seventeen when it ended) the Allied Forces recruited lots of non German ex Hitler Youth to be guards at the Nuremberg Trials. So I also have part of his Guards uniform from there, as well as stacks of photos of young men horsing around in the snow etc. These are photos of the Estonian Corp of the Allied Forces Guard & it's actually strange to see them behaving like normal kids or teenagers; probably for the first time since they were about 5yrs old. Not all ex Hitler Youth were welcome in the Soviet Union either- that was only in East Germany. A lot of them ended up migrating to Canada, The U.S.A or (like my Grandfather) to Australia..... Yay! So something good came of all that... he chose the best place in the world!🇦🇺🇪🇪

[@jeffmatson5616]

Wow , that's incredible! I respect your opinion about Estonia's conditions put upon it's young people at that in history. Freedoms of individuals isent free . Join NATO we shall Fight against Evils here and Now and Forever. I promise you. United in great love for life's precious values.

[@MrPh30]

Mark Felton did a episode about the Estonian ex SS guards at Nurenberg. That Iron Cross, check for value with noted collectors and auctionhouses for insurance purposes., check with more than one of them .

[@wordsmith451]

"the best place in the world" Looks like the indoctrination never ended 🙄

[@jgallardo7344]

I did not know that ex-Hitler Youth became Nuremberg Guards and that the Soviet Union did not accept all ex-Hitler Youth. Very glad he immigrated elsewhere for a better life

[@judeinLA.]

Thank you for sharing your grandfather’s story. I hope that you create a biography book about your grandfather’s life. Also, I wasn’t aware about Estonian’s.

[@gottabe884]

My grandmother's brother was enlisted into the H.Y. when he was about 15-16. I remember my grandmother saying how angry her parents were about it. Her family were not Hitler supporters and kept extremely quiet about their opinions. He was shipped off to the front by age 18. According to my grandmother, after he was taken away at 15-16, they never saw him again. He was allowed to write to them but not visit. He died in combat when he was 20-21. All her parents got back were his medals and uniforms. They would not even send his body back so her family could do a proper funeral and burial.

[@Friendship1nmillion]

*MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES* to your grandmother's family 😪 . ♑️✍️🇦🇺🇳🇴

[@ChairmanPaulieD]

Yup that’s tragic how the control of the state government owns your persons and your life and you better do what you’re told to do or you’ll end up in a concentration camp and never heard from again 🥺😢😭

[@wintermute7378]

War is such a shit deal. Its tragic in all directions for the average citizens on both sides.

[@shawnnewell4541]

I am so sorry for your loss. The least they could have done was give your family his body to bury.

[@nobodyspecial4702]

In the 40's no nation sent bodies back to their families. That didn't become a thing until much later because they decayed too fast so it took a serious amount of effort to embalm and transfer bodies. Even today, many nations simply bury their war dead close to where they died.

[@Fortune.06]

One of the most fascinating aspects about the Hitler Youth were the regular mass brawls. The kids would be forced to engage in a massive free-for-all fist fight against each other to toughen up.

[@Bahamut3525]

Let's be honest, all youth movements or even highschool students in any country at some point had mass brawls. When you're a boy, fighting and destroying the other team is the norm. So I don't think HJ were doing anything new here.

[@theotherohlourdespadua1131]

@@Bahamut3525 The reason behind the brawls is what set them apart. Unlike other youth organizations where mass brawls happen because of bad timing or a petty grudge and is oftentimes a one-time deal, the Nazis organize these brawls like how Spartans organize live training exercises dor the boys at the Agoge...

[@stevendavidschultz1657]

@@Bahamut3525 Not mine sorry.

[@chesterdonnelly1212]

Not gonna lie, I would have been totally into that

[@lisarussell8874]

And yet, hitler himself wouldn't have survived well in such an activity.

[@toprope_]

Thanks for covering this. Everyone assumes denazification was mostly an adult thing, meanwhile the over a million children born and raised in a solely or majority Nazi Germany had known very little alternatives. They had to relearn their entire lives, their core beliefs held as far back as they could remember, and come to grips with the fact their friends and selves were a part of an evil empire. When the Nazi’s so far to a kid were camping, school, and life lessons a la Boy Scouts, the Hitler Youth probably had one of the hardest times postwar, and 70-80’s Germany sure got weird quick.

[@lightness7458]

Just like how social media propagates the masses? Is there really a distinction. Police are starting to arrest people for their freedom of speech in the U.S and Hitler did the same thing think before you speak

[@Saltine_the_clown]

One of the most difficult pills to swallow is that most of society's issues today would have been solved if Nazi Germany was never defeated.

[@zombieboobies]

They still have Nazis so the ideology, never disappeared, even evolved.

[@MalachiHealey]

Kind of how we have to condition and program our white children to hate themselves and their people for slavery and colonialism. What an evil empire.

[@nathanjustus6659]

@Name Last Name What else would you describe it?

[@Pyracantic]

My grandfather was put in the H.Y & he was like 13 and escaped the country to Canada. He was like YAH NEIN! MATE!

[@h0rriphic]

I don’t blame the guy, it sounds super lame.

[@Pyracantic]

@@h0rriphic exactly what I was told his feelings were.

[@jamalwilburn228]

Switzerland is the European version of Canada

[@MTBJJ2001]

Mine did the same but he was 14 and got captured by the Russians in 44 and was in a POW/work camp for a few years

[@MTBJJ2001]

@Volksgrenadier lmao how u gonna have a spruce for that? My Opa was in hitler youth as well like most German boys and girls were in the social programs

[@cindchan]

When you mentioned the groups that opposed the nazis and how some of them were executed, it made me think of The White Rose. Sad what happened to people who opposed the regime, but I'm glad that there were people who did!

[@MalachiHealey]

The Spartacus League was sad too.

[@raelion323]

I feel so sad when I think of all the innocent people impacted by war throughout history. Humans are capable of such great evil (and great good as well)

[@AlienPain]

The reason a dagger for essentially a high dive challenge was because every young boy has wanted a pocket knife at one point or another and it was special to get. Also it showed the youth that when we overcome our fears we are certain to gain great rewards! It also was a Weopon and a Tool of Survival. The fact you earned one made you feel in control of your mind and body. js ✌️👽

[@assassinaria]

In my Dad's clan (we are Kurdish), a boy gets a knife from his father around the time he hits puberty. It symbolizes strength and the ability to independently fend for oneself. I got a knife when I was around 10 while visiting Niagara. Though, I was nowhere near puberty yet 😂

[@grapeshot]

Yeah my grandfather who served in the US Army in World War II told me just how fanatical those Hitler Youth were at the end of the war.

[@grapeshot]

Well yeah don't start no trouble won't be no trouble. And the Nazi started it.

[@Bahamut3525]

@@grapeshot Sure, but who started the war is irrelevant. It's always politicians. But it doesn't change the fact that for the individual citizen, if you have foreigners invading your country, you're gonna take action. Especially the youth, since they want to fight. It's usually the old that are wiser and hide in their homes because they know better.

[@grapeshot]

No who started the war was very much so relevant. Nazis wanted world domination nearly everybody else said no. And it would have been no need to invade any country if you hadn't started the war in the first place so my grandpa said they wanted to go out with a bang and that's what they got. My grandpa told me you don't coddle Nazis and the only good ones he ever saw with deadlines and that would include the Hitler Youth.

[@viking8796]

@@Bahamut3525 Nazi apologist, fuck outta here.

[@grapeshot]

Let's make one that your brain can understand Nazi apologist. I don't give a damn about Iraq we are talking about the Nazis and the Hitler Youth. And they wouldn't have had to defend their territory if they hadn't went and invaded other people's territory first. And your what if scenarios mean absolutely nothing because the Iraqis did not invade the United States that's your fanfic we're talking about World War II, something that did happen.

[@Kainlarsen]

My grandad told me a story about when he was sent to do deliveries to a farm during the war, and there were two German POWs who were working there; One older guy, and one boy. Older man was actually pretty friendly and they had a chat about family, etc, since my great-grandad was a prisoner over there at the time. The boy just sat there in the corner, sullen as anything. When my grandad asked what was up with him, the older man said "He's Hitler Youth. Horrible bastard." The next time my grandad arrived with deliveries, the military police were all over the place, and the boy was being led away in cuffs. Turns out he'd murdered the other guy in his sleep, decapitated him with a shovel. He would likely have been hanged for his crime. Whatever set him off to do that, he must have been truly warped by that regime.

[@barb-jm7990]

Wow! Really shocking!!

[@Kainlarsen]

@@barb-jm7990 yeah, I always wondered what happened with that poor guy's family back in Germany. People often like to just believe that every German was bad during that time, but these were still folks like you and I. That era of history saw a lot of bad political and social regimes spring up, heady days of pseudo-science and pseudo-intellectualism.

[@g.f.w.6402]

That had nothing to do with the HJ. Probably a mental disorder. HJ members didn't just become murderers either. If the story is true.

[@MalachiHealey]

Plot twist: He killed his rapist.

[@michelleobamasarms725]

Fascinated by how this channel put a war game advertisement right after the section about increased militarization.

[@makeshift_battlefield_music]

As an eagle scout, in the boy scouts of america for my entire childhood up to age 18 I can testify that youth groups have a lifelong effect on a person. For me it was largely a positive influence, but I was fortunate because of the adult leaders I had and the time and place where I grew up. Youth group programs are very transformative to the people who participate in them, for better or for worse. I really do think that they can be beneficial, but the hitler youth shows the great potential for harm in the idea. The boy scouts of America also has examples of harm. We can learn from the harm and not repeat it. I can't say everything I want to say in this comment. Maybe ill make a video about it sometime.

[@bundleaxe1922]

How do the boy scouts work? How can I join? I'm 16 for reference.

[@jimmorrissy2276]

Like Whitney Houston, Hitler believed that children were the future. Holy cow that was good!!!!!!!

[@anthonydesroches8897]

This guy can come of with any kind of joke.

[@seffishestopal5950]

What is it referring to?

[@mikeg2306]

It’s actually really insulting to Whitney Houston, but your free to be an imbicile.

[@phoenix5054]

@@seffishestopal5950 Greatest Love of All lyrics by Whitney Houston

[@Golfing422]

They still believe that today. Look at the school indoctrination going on.

[@alexaales7937]

my mom was born in 1932, she told me she loved being part of the Hitler youth or more precise the 'Bund deutscher Mädels' being able to wear a nice uniform and not her sister's handmedowns. not because she bought into the ideology (she was 6 after all) but because for her it was a way to get away from the daily chores growing up in the countryside where children had to work hard after school, working the fields, milking the cows etc. she too spoke fondly of those times but never without condemning the 3rd reich and it's atrocities committed.

[@susanmolnar9606]

Many people in my family left Germany just in time because they opposed the regime. Someone very close to me was in the hitler youth and got out of Germany and joined the American Air Force to fight for his new country. Lived to tell about it. Very brave man!

[@stevendavidschultz1657]

G-d bless him

[@EughhBrothereughh]

Lmao left one terrorism to join another one. Very brave indeed

[@Jordan-ln2ef]

My grandmother was in a Hitler youth program when she was a little girl.

[@oliviamalloch8339]

My grandmother was as well.

[@gabemarcum7016]

Why blur the Swastika??? It is part of the history in which we all are here to learn.

[@morganfreeman8618]

Because it is stricly prohibited in Germany for good reasons. I´m glad that Germans can see the video too.

[@Kinnaj53]

​@@morganfreeman8618i think they should allow it for historical videos like this

[@Zazzysylvester]

Pretty tasteless to have an ad for a shooter game in this video

[@stevenjohnston3496]

My wife's Aunt was in the older female youth, She was quite photogenic and I have actually seen her in a few of the propaganda films. The young women were often shown performing gymnastics , in gymn. clothing to showcase the health, vigor, and beauty of the Aryan women. After the war she married my wife's uncle who was Polish, and spent the rest of her life belittling him and his people. I never understood how that relationship lasted,

[@three7446]

Divorce is wasn’t really an option back then that’s how lol

[@adversary0932]

Maybe she resented the Polish after what they did to the ethnic Germans living in the area that used to be part of Germany that was taken from them after WW1 and the actual reason AH invaded Poland (after Poles were killing them for being ethnic Germans) the truth is out there if you seek it.

[@stevenjohnston3496]

@@adversary0932 Thank you for the reply, we all learn from the complete story. I was not aware of any great pogroms against the German people after WW1. However, I was just commenting on the fact that she felt superior to him, and why would one wish to be in a marriage of inequality?

[@anthonylegore1517]

Surprised that she hadn't been pushed into the Lebensborn program. I've read that was often the fate of members of the League of German Girls

[@stevenjohnston3496]

@@anthonylegore1517 Thank you Anthony for the information on that angle of this program. I don't know why she seems to have been overlooked, and it is too late to ask her.

[@lookingforwolfy4557]

I would love to hear the story about the boy scouts that escaped Auchwitz 😲

[@ScenarioFulfillment]

@Jackal it's actually real. His name is Kazimierz Piechowski

[@peppylepewpewpew]

I don't know if you hired new writers or you're all just getting better, but the puns and jokes have gotten funnier and more witty.

[@jgallardo7344]

It’s much needed relief from an intense topic, yet done so appropriately and well

[@kerimccomb5404]

I agree -- but how dare they disparage the Cherry Poppin' Daddies! :P

[@johnlindsey3328]

Fascinating video, and that last minute or so gave me chills

[@heynowheynow-tk6tk]

I’ve learnt more from your Channel than I did through school thank you 🙏

[@ABlindHilbily]

I think "The Wave" should still be required reading in school. I won't ruin the story here but it's definitely worth looking at if you want to see this from the kids perspective.

[@MalachiHealey]

All I took from The Wave is that people truly are sheep, and that attack vector will never be hardened. Aristotle was right about Democracy. Politics is a matter of curating whose kool aid the proles drink.

[@LisaBowers]

"Presumably sung to the tune Ballroom Blitz." Oh lawd! 🤣

[@anthonydesroches8897]

I know right that got me.

[@lauren1779]

This method seems incredibly effective and this incredibly scary

[@user-xs5bl9dy6d]

A great leader knows that youth is a country's future and what better way to have potential soldiers. Then to indoctrinated them at an early age into your cause.

[@charizmo6869]

Blurring out the swastika does history no favor. I wish you didn't toe the line on that one, still my favorite KZbin sub!

[@nobodyspecial4702]

It does allow them to monetize the video while not blurring it out simply means youtube would automatically demonetize it, and could result in it being banned completely.

[@cross2833]

Growing up, one of my neighbors was actually tracked down, with his mother and siblings, by the Gestapo and forced to be in the Hitler Youth. His mother would talk about it a bit, but he didn't.

[@torgeirbrandsnes1916]

Great vlog as always! At 6:20 is the Royal castle of Oslo. Also at 9:30 is the university of Oslo. Now you know. How about a video about Hitlers teeth, or lack of? Keep up the good work!

[@brett4264]

What surprised me the most was the last sentence, saying mandatory participant in youth groups didn't end until 1990! Was it considered daycare as well as good for politics?

[@taylorlibby7642]

Kinda. Kept the kids from running wild in the streets was the theory.

[@kakyoin9688]

@@taylorlibby7642 also provides kids some decent skills and creates good environments for kids

[@jasonm9264]

What do you call public schools in America?

[@morganfreeman8618]

I´m from Bavaria, West Germany. We had no mandatory youth group. He certainly means East Germany. They had the FDJ, which was basically the same as HJ just with blue shirts and communist slogans.

[@jay5608]

Communist East Germany collapsed in 89. Then reunification. The narrator was saying that in Soviet communist controlled East Germany forced children into it's own version of the Hitler Youth. For all intents and purposes you could call it the Stalin Youth. It got slightly more mild as the decades passed, but even into the 80's there were intense pressures to conform from authorities and peers, widespread repression, political indoctrination. Using a variety of means to inculcate proper socialist and communist values. Ranging from favoritism and praise to humiliation and beatings. Classroom instruction to field outings. None of which were voluntary.

[@alyssapark6127]

Don’t let Kanye see this

[@moviewolverine89]

The irony of an educational video about fascism having to blur historical photos out of fear of being removed by the platform.

[@PuertoRican1978]

My husband’s grandfather was part of the HY. He was 15 when the neighbors rattle his parents out and dragged him out of their basement. He was a POW in the African Campaign. Was shipped to the POW camp in FL which coincidentally my husband’s American grandfather was serving as an MP. As you can tell my german MIL married my FIL and it was after they got married that the story came to light. Her dad passed away when she was 12 he committed suicide he was barely in is early 40’s.

[@beanbean78]

Congratulations

[@carlstanland5333]

Probably the first time Whitney Houston and Hitler have ever been mentioned in the same sentence.

[@Swissswoosher]

My grandmas German friend was in the Girls wing of the Hitler Youth, the BDM. She said it was some of the greatest times of her life. She came from an extremely poor family in Germany who never really had time or the money for vacations and funding outdoor activities. After joining she would be taken on trips all over the country, learn life skills (cooking, sewing etc), participate in Sports like gymnastics or swimming. All for free. I guess that’s what attracted so many (plus it being mandatory after 1935). She obviously got taught racist ideology but not as much as the boys. It was fascinatingto hear my grandma talk about it as so few people that were actually part of these movements have died by now.

[@charlesburgoyne-probyn6044]

At national bankruptcy it was national socialism after all

[@ShrimplyPibblesJr]

Since you mentioned Cherry Poppin Daddies, you should probably do an episode on the Zoot Suit Riot.

[@morgandeclercque4608]

My former Brother in Law was a founding member of the band….

[@sameem449]

I wrote my history exam about Nazi Germany this morning and now you decide to publish this video...

[@Pou1gie1]

@3:50 Fun Fact: Leni Riefenstahl essentially created modern cinematography as we know it today which is discussed in the documentary The Wonderful, Terrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl. Prior to her, films were shot statically from the position of the supposed viewer as it would be viewed by a theater-goer sitting in a seat. There were no shot sizes, angled shots, jibb shots, or tracking shots (i.e. dolly shots) -- which she almost completely innovated. Sadly, some say because she is a woman and was, according to her, forced like the Hitler Youths to assist the Nazi Party, she isn't celebrated at all in the film world. I remember in film school a boy saying "Why do we celebrate Polanski who drugged and raped little girls but we don't celebrate Leni Riefenstahl? What's the difference?" This ignited a fierce debated, which was quickly shut down. But it was an interesting question.

[@meeeka]

I'm sorry, have you not read of DW Griffith? Tracking shots, dolly shots? Wherever did you go to film school? Just because someone asks a snarky question in filmschool, doesn't mean theyve hit on a miraculous new point; it just means that either they've never received an adequate answer OR they just weren't listening OR they just didn't care about the correct answer. Leni R. stole so much of her "acclaimed art" starting when she began in the mountain films; she stole from directors and other actors she worked with.

[@sassy0010]

@@meeeka She was also considered quite a controversial figure even long after the war (she lived into the 21st century). It was often difficult just figuring out where her sympathies were.

[@nobodyspecial4702]

@@sassy0010 She was a pretty die hard Nazi when they were in control. It's not until after the war that she got wishy washy on them. There's correspondence from her pre-war years that clearly showed she fully supported Nazi ideology and was doing everything she could to help them.

[@briansullivan5908]

@@nobodyspecial4702 The thing about the Nazi party is they were great at conning people. By the time people realized what was happening it became a matter of survival. I'm not saying this is what happened in any one person's case, I'm just saying people don't realize they've given up their freedom until it's gone.

[@g.f.w.6402]

Leni Riefenstahl is not viewed negatively in Germany either.

[@pancakesyo]

My father born in Hamburg (1931-2018) was in Hitler Youth. He never spoke a single word about it. This is... eye opening and disturbing. Why do I feel shadows of my upbringing in this video?

[@MalachiHealey]

My grandfather-in-law was young in the Hitler Youth. He loved it. He always prefaces it with the fact that he was very young, but said there are a lot of things said about Germany and the Hitler Youth that he never saw or believes to be outright lies and post war propaganda. He had an Uncle, who was Wehrmacht? soldier even before ww2 or the NSDAP, but best we can tell from records and photos, he was in a mountain/engineering division, and it's highly likely he died in Stalingrad.

[@tommunyon2874]

I sang with a German singing society (Gesangverein). I loved singing classics in the German language, such as Mozart, Schubert, Lehar, Strauss, and etc. Every so often we would get a folk song to do that I strongly suspected was once in the repertoire of the Hitler youth. The knitted brows of some of the chorus members who were of that generation and had emigrated from post-war Germany were my greatest hint.

[@JohnSmith-nj9qo]

I hated the regular Boy Scouts, so I probably wouldn't survive Boy Scouts that taught you how to commit war crimes.

[@taylorlibby7642]

It's kinda funny, but in the first Red Dawn the Eagle Scouts are referred to as a paramilitary organization.

[@nickbloom6861]

I love this comment

[@harrietharlow9929]

I hear ya.

[@bigbubba7753]

facts

[@theotherohlourdespadua1131]

@@taylorlibby7642 By all intents and purposes they are. Robert Baden-Powell who created the Scouts movement envision it to be an actual paramilitary organization, aiding the Regular forces in wartime. Same reason why the Nazis and the Soviets hunted down any and all Scouts organizations in their jurisdiction...

[@barb-jm7990]

I know a German lady who is in her 90s who married a US soldier and moved to the US (a war bride.) She said she had been in the Young Girls League in Germany, because they were chastised if they did not join. They were made by the league to work for Nazi officers as cooks and nannies during the war as young teens. As the war was coming to a close, the officer she worked for told her to leave, because they felt it was no longer safe for her- probably the only nice thing any of them did. It was shocking to hear the way the children were used by those horrible Nazis!!

[@g.f.w.6402]

As a German, I have to say that you have a strange idea of us Germans. A bit like a German would be surprised when an imperialist American officer does something that is nice but ultimately self-evident. Also, you look at the freedoms of youth entirely through the eyes of the present - a cardinal mistake in looking at the past.

[@beezyb42011]

Thank you for not doing those product advertisements for sponsors $. This is a legendary history channel!!

[@jaredschoenfeld2559]

Its brilliance is only exceeded by its evil intent. It was exceptionally effective and efficient. We can see parallels today in limited use.

[@jamesbass9797]

JARED SCHOENFELD -- Where and by whom?

[@clara5924]

What a great timing. Just finished watching Babylon Berlin and hv been wondering about Hitler youth. Amazing narration 👍

[@taylorlibby7642]

There's a German movie from the 90's called Europa Europa that goes into detail if you're interested.

[@Thoralmir]

Dude, a class trip to Disney World chaperoned by Dracula would be totally rad.

[@markedis5902]

Where do I sign up

[@jordanAus87]

The last post playing in the background. Respect sir 🙏

[@J.R.Psych74]

And another thing, The Ramones, who are pictured, did Blitzkrieg Bop, The Sweet did Ballroom Blitz 🧐👍

[@NewMessage]

* Peruses comments * I *did see* all these puns coming.

[@victoriaanaredding8915]

Just remember...This CAN HAPPEN again! 😮 Being that this is almost 100 years ago, this angry world is sadly becoming more radicalized...we should prepare.

[@shakey3306]

This didn’t happen before and is only happening now, look at the indoctrination in leftist ideology in schools, wth?

[@clairevero]

Blurring out the flags out is sickening

[@smalltownn]

Kayne would have loved to be one of these

[@faithnoellecurtis3360]

Or a Confederate in the 19th century.

[@AHgaming8474]

@@faithnoellecurtis3360 no, confederacy didn’t like big govt

[@gooddog2001]

I was a boyscout. I was told that scouting isn't a prep for being in the Army. But that was not totally true. And like the Hitler youth, the people in power don't always tell you their true agenda.

[@Tralala691]

This should be mandatory for today’s bratty kids.

[@chrisxavier3147]

Great quality of content, thanks for the insight

[@ineedabetterusername7424]

My great-uncle enlisted in the H.Y. when he was 16, caught up in all the "manly" and "patriotic" fervor of the time (the same rhetoric is increasingly used in the U.S. by the way. Be careful what your children are taught to worship against their knowledge). He was sent to the Eastern Front at 17, late in the War (1944 or 1945) when all pretense of civility had been long abandoned. He returned completely estranged from his family, bitter, cynical -- and became a ruthlessly efficient businessman. He was a millionaire in the decades after the war -- but completely cold and inhuman. His son killed himself after struggling with alcoholism, his daughter ended up in a mental institution, and his wife divorced him for his coldness. He NEVER spoke of his time in the War. The trauma you refuse to confront in your own life will ALWAYS impact your children -- until it is dealt with. "Deutsche Jungen weinen nicht" ("German boys don't cry) is the biggest load of horse manure out there. Don't let that poison ruin your children -- no matter how "patriotic" or "manly" it sounds to your culture.

[@sassy0010]

In one of his novels James Michener at least once referred to patriotism in its "ugly sense" as well as its beautiful side. It's a word with definitely more than one meaning.

[@maryaltshuller885]

My late husband came from the former Soviet Union and they also had youth groups. As well, conscription into the military was compulsory over there and he said there was no such thing as conscientious objectors - everyone, even women, had to serve.

[@Balthorium]

Little Octoberists Young Pioneers or Komsomol were the the Soviet groups. East Germany had the FDJ or Free German Youth.

[@neilreynolds3858]

@@Balthorium I had never heard of the Little Octoberists before but my fiancée was in them all. There were hundreds of millions of Soviet kids who had to belong right up until 1991. That means her brother, who is still in Russia and supports Putin, was as well. What does that mean in terms of current history? We neglect Russian history at our own peril.

[@neilreynolds3858]

@@Balthorium Oh, I asked her if she enjoyed being in them for the comradery and all that. She hated it.

[@larissabrglum3856]

Both my maternal grandparents (born in 1922 and 1926) were in the Hitler Youth. They did indeed remember it as fun because when they were kids, it seemed just like Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts.

[@NotALizardPerson81]

It's basically the same thing.

[@Frank7748124]

@@NotALizardPerson81 No, I never learned to field strip a machine gun when I was in the Boy Scouts.

[@NotALizardPerson81]

@@Frank7748124 I'm sure "field strip" had a different meaning in the boy scouts.

[@g.f.w.6402]

@@NotALizardPerson81 right.

[@strangeman1822]

​@@NotALizardPerson81💀

[@thalesrenato]

Perfect ad placement for Enlisted.

[@bobhill3941]

Fantastic, well researched, and informative video as always. I highly recommend the movie Jojo Rabbit. I never knew about the rebel youth groups. When I was working the counter at an auto parts store in 2009, a customer came in (a man) and told me of his fond memories and the boy scout-like atmosphere when he was in the Hitler youth.

[@thejudgmentalcat]

I couldn't stop thinking about "Jojo Rabbit" during this

[@zach7193]

Well, that was something. A chilling and fascinating topic of the content. Can you do what was like to be a soldier under Napoleon?

[@JudahMaccabee_]

Blurring history is forgetting history. Forgetting history is dangerous as we are bound to repeat it.

[@sonatine3266]

In 2017 I was in hospital for 5 weeks (3 weeks intensive care unit + isolation unit and then 2 weeks on the normal station) because of an auto-immune disease, which nearly killed me back then. When I was back on the normal station and could talk again etc., I had a 89 years old man with me in the hospital room. He told me a insanely great story about how he tricked the Nazis and avoided the Hitler Youth. He told me everything pretty detailed and also talked a lot about the war in general (how they saved ressources when the Russians finally invaded, how they treated ill chicken etc. because of the high value of eggs etc.), but that specific part of the story was just amazing. A bit too much to write it down here, but it basically had to do with drawn pictures in junior high-school and how he always wrote a wrong age on every picture and played the naive and stupid kid, since he exactly knew with what age he would have been sent to the HJ. And the fact how damn fit he was with 89 years back then in 2017 showed me that he indeed was a damn smart man. He was talking 50% of the time about WW2 and 50% of the time about his farm and how he really needs to get out of the hospital to keep on working on the engine of his old Mercedes truck from the 1950s. I really hope that he is still alive - it was an honor meeting him.

[@petebondurant58]

It's rather odd how no one wanted to be in the Hitler Youth, nor supported the NSDAP. Absolutely no one. It seems rather odd when one views all of the newsreel footage of thousands upon thousands of cheering Germans, enthusiastically giving the Hitlergruß. It's as if there were only a few dozen Nazis in all of Germany during those years. 🤔

[@FrozenAfricaPrincess]

Please make a video of those anti-nazi youth groups. Such brave kids and I’ve only ever heard of Sophie Scholl and the White Rose, not the others.

[@johnwrigley1624]

The "swing kids" were especially targeted by the Gestapo, mostly because their ideas and behavior were completely foreign to them(no pun intended). It was one thing to express anti Hitler sentiment, it was almost expected, they knew not everyone would fall in line. But the Swingjugend were different, listening to jazz and swing music(strictly verboten) and dressing the part. Drove 'em nuts........

[@twomustangs]

I love this channel. History is fascinating. But how DARE you blur out the swastika. It's not something you turn away from, forget, or censor. It's real and it's a part of history that should be stark, real, and remembered exactly as it was. Horrific. Stalin killed millions, yet I clearly saw the hammer and sickle in the inset at the end. Don't do this. This is such a dangerous precedent for anything associated with the word "history." One step away from revisionism.

[@monkeygraborange]

It’s not them, it’s KZbin. If they didn’t blur it out, KZbin would delete the video. KZbin thinks they’re the final arbiter of history and information, but what they really are are censorious fascists.

[@GoDbax]

I wonder if it’s because the symbol is illegal in many countries in Europe esp Germany and he wants it seen by a broader audience? I don’t know

[@user-xs5bl9dy6d]

Because this is KZbin" and they can demonetize the channel since the swastika is considered a symbol of hate" and YT" doesn't allow that. Just look at all the streamers who just said a hateful slurr and their channel got taken down.

[@rixx46]

I agree. I questioned it as well before seeing this comment.

[@LisaBowers]

It's blurred because Weird History doesn't want the video to get demonetized or suppressed by KZbin. This is how it's been since the Great KZbin Ad-pocalypse of 2017. Content creators have complained about having to censor themselves, _especially_ history channels, ever since. This is an example of how it usually works: Weird History uploads the video without the swastikas blurred. KZbin's AI censors scan the video and recognize the swastika. KZbin sends a message to Weird History informing them that the video has been demonetized, but doesn't tell them why. Weird History asks KZbin for a manual review (by a human). They're told that the video contains offensive imagery. Weird History blurs the swastikas and tries again. This time, the video is labeled as monetized, so _this_ is the version we get to see. (Or, Weird History blurred out the swastikas on their first upload to avoid the censorship game because they've learned what _not_ to do from previous experience.) I agree with you. It should _not_ be this way, but the blame ultimately falls on KZbin, not Weird History.

[@btetschner]

A+ video! Fascinating topic and video!

[@carolinechan1547]

I really love all the content that you guys produce on this channel. Educational while entertaining! Is it possible to consider a series on “What if Hitler / Mussolini etc were never born?”.

[@sequoiaedwards4782]

"The girls were encouraged to keep their bodies in good shape so they could attract a mate and bare children".To be fair....people still practice this to this day.

[@fitfrog65]

Not in America, any more.

[@jasondashney]

As they should. Everyone should strive to be the best version of themselves inside and out if they want a mate, and even after you get one. I would feel like I disrespected my girl if I let myself go.

[@acerimmer8338]

@@jasondashney So well said. I hate it when people 'let themselves go' after things like marriage. You should always strive to improve.

[@justincraig398]

Damn they’re blocking out swaztikas now ?

[@markdietrichcochran2274]

My Mom was in the Hitler Youth. Her Dad (my grandfather) served in both World Wars for Germany.

[@shimmeringreen]

What did she say about it? What were her memories?

[@kellygreen5556]

You must mean the BDM. Hitler Jugend was only for males

[@jzemaitis]

What’s with the blurring of the German flag of that era? It’s e this not a story about history?

[@TY-oy9bp]

To clarify for anyone who might have been curious, no, the Nazis were not actually socialists or any variation whatsoever of leftist, they just appropriated the name for their party. EDIT: holy shit lmao. "Nazi youth forced Jews to clean sidewalks with toothbrushes...... now here's an ad for a WW2 FPS game!"

[@Sprocketboy1956]

It is really weird about the socialist thing, which I have only heard from Americans. The kind of people who think that all non-Republicans must be commies.

[@user-xs5bl9dy6d]

@@Sprocketboy1956 That's because the Right-wing considers all that doesn't align with them to be against America. Democrats could find a way to give free energy,food and excellent education for all. But Republicans will still be against it all and vice-versa. Politics has become a massive mess over the years and it's not getting any better no matter if America goes Red or Blue.

[@broly7643]

Hitler would disagree...

[@vparakhin]

They fought for the working class, so they were indeed socialist.

[@TY-oy9bp]

@@vparakhin thats not what socialism means, and that also sounds dangerously close to nazi apologetics

[@84sp84]

Was I the only drawing comparisons to some of the teaching in our schools today and parents being told it’s none of their business and even being branded as domestic terrorists for protesting it’s implementation?

[@ulvfdfgtmk]

I firmly believe that this video understates the amount of pressure that was put onto these kids (especially once the war has started). I asked my granddad once about the war and Hitlerjugend and he said "Wir wurden geschliffen!", which literally means "We got grinded!". He mentioned the extreme strictness of the leaders and implied how much of a toll that was, both physically and mentally. I can still hear him say that sentence and I can still hear the pain echoing from his soul. He did serve 3 days in the war at age 16 and got captured near Frankfurt (deep inside german territory). I asked "Did you still believe that the war could be won?". He replied "Wir waren davon überzeugt!" ("We were convinced [that we will win]!"). Just goes to show how strong of an effect the indoctrination had. There is no way you win the war at this point..

[@electrofonickitty823]

Okay you caught my attention with the youth group escorted by Dracula to Disneyland. Your sarcasm is awesome

[@feresmourali5783]

Please make a video about Emma Goldman! Also, you showed a picture of the Ramones who sang Blitzkrieg Bop. Ballroom Blitz is by Sweet.

[@Jesse89James]

Why are the swastikas blurred out?

[@Friendship1nmillion]

So this video doesn't get demonitiesed ‼️ Or doesn't get taken down completely ‼️ ♑️✍️🇦🇺🇳🇴

[@Jesse89James]

@@Friendship1nmillion fair enough

[@sexytrinny52]

Ok. After viewing your multiple videos. I finally made that leap and scribed to your channel. Q

[@JaeLCR13]

I love your channel and content. You do great work and I've learned a lot watching your videos. However, I have a bone to pick with you at 1:12. Ballroom Blitz was done by The Sweet, not The Ramones; you're probably thinking of Blitzkrieg Bop I know that's not a super important detail, but being a punk/garage music fan, something had to be said.

[@jonHErickson]

Actual spiders > Nazis

[@donHooligan]

Karma: i exist

[@Friendship1nmillion]

I'm sure there were some " Rock Spiders " 🕷 { paedophiles } running these youth groups too 💔 . ♑️✍️🇦🇺🇳🇴

[@Skyebooo]

My in-laws lived in Germany during WWII. My mother-in-law's father spoke against the government privately at home. His HY sons reported him and he was taken under custody the next day and returned a couple of days later battered and bruised. My mother-in-law and her parents immediately moved to the States secretly and left behind the two sons. They didn't reconnect with them until the wall went down and the father was dead.

[@vparakhin]

The same thing happened in the Soviet Union. Except, he'd be arrested and not returned in a couple of days but shipped to Siberia Gulag. And no one was allowed to leave the USSR.

[@maxthecharacter1296]

Damn. So did the sons eventually express any regrets?

[@Skyebooo]

@@maxthecharacter1296 Nether expressed regret. The family basically broke apart the day they ratted out their dad.

[@maxthecharacter1296]

@@Skyebooo Ah, so I guess they died as fucking Nazis. Okay. What they did was terrible, and I can't blame your family for distancing themselves from them. They rather side with an evil man who cowardly took his own life than their father who would've risked his own life for them.

[@RowanWarren78]

​@@Skyebooo damn 😔

[@Michael_HS]

Let me save you some time.... It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!

[@hathynhighley8548]

Its a shame history has to be censored to protect people feelings

[@SlapthePissouttayew]

My thoughts exactly.

[@low-keyrighteous9575]

Welcome to 2023

[@lullabychannel5400]

Welcome to youtube :(

[@nihilisticbarbie]

They only blurred the swastikas so they wouldn’t get banned or demonetized. Lol. We all know what it is

[@carlosnumbertwo]

I find it funny they censor the swastika but not the SS lightning emblem.

[@michaelmilitello5644]

Is KZbin censoring the swastika?

[@jasondashney]

@@michaelmilitello5644 your video will be demonetized if you show it.

[@carlosnumbertwo]

@@jasondashney the SS lighting is equal to a swastika in my opinion.

[@todiathink8864]

They still walk among us.....

[@sir.fender6034]

4:23 I appreciate the use of Mars, The Bringer of War in the background.

[@1398go]

"Did they not learn a lesson?...ah...maybe they just had a thing for father figures with mustaches!" 😂😂😂😂🤣🤣

[@gretazizyte6153]

9:07 in the photo there are lithuanian partisans in the middle there is Juozas Lukša-Daumantas he was one of the most popular partisans during 1944-1953 he died 1951

[@Gigadanopoly]

My Opa was a Captain in the US Army 4th Signal Battalion. At the end of the war his Company fought 2 Companies of Hitlers Youth. They easily ended 43 of them and captured 157 of the surviving kids (14-17yo). They put them in a large barn at night until another Company could relieve them the next day. My Opa had a machine gunner positioned perpendicular to both barn doors. He ordered his men to end anyone that tries to escape. None of those boys saw the next days light as they all tried to escape at the same time. I saw the photos of the mass grave my Opas men had to did the next day. I understand why he didn’t tell my dad about his experience in the war. To all who read this far, when indoctrination and compliance become indistinguishable, your children with become cannon fodder.

[@joriskuipers4112]

When I woke up and w3as still innocent, I wasn't expecting to hear the line "Like Whitney Houston, Hitler believed children are the future." this day, but here we are.