16. The Nazi Takeover of German Youth Movements
The ban on the Brown Shirts was eventually lifted. As their numbers and power grew, so did the size of their youth arm, which was renamed the “Hitler Youth, League of German Worker Youth” in 1926. It was officially incorporated into the Brown Shirts. When the Nazis gained power in January, 1933, the Hitler Youth ranks exploded, and it became Germany’s sole official youth organization. Over time, the Nazis took over and incorporated preexisting youth groups, and Hitler appointed a Reich Youth Leader to oversee the takeover. Eventually, membership in the Hitler Youth became obligatory. The parents of children who were not signed up fell under suspicion and were often brought in for questioning or otherwise harassed by the authorities. Simultaneously, their children were subjected to peer pressure and ostracism by schoolmates and teachers. As seen below, such tactics proved highly effective.
