Hitler Youth

The Hitler Youth (German: Hitler-Jugend, abbreviated HJ) was a paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party that existed from 1922 to 1945. The Hitler Youth was the second oldest paramilitary Nazi group, founded one year after the Sturmabteilung (SA) Stormtroopers.

Hitler Youth in World War II

In 1940, Arthur Axmann replaced Schirach as Reichsjugendführer and took over leadership of the Hitler Youth and began to reform the group into an auxiliary force which could perform war duties. The Hitler Youth became active in German fire brigades and assisted with recovery efforts to German cities affected from Allied bombing. The Hitler Youth also assisted in such organizations as the Reich Postal Service, Reichsbahn, fire services, and Reich radio service, and served among anti-aircraft defense crews.

Related Topics:
Arthur Axmann - Bombing - Reichsbahn - Anti-aircraft

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By 1943, Nazi leaders began turning the Hitler Youth into a military reserve to draw manpower which had been depleted due to tremendous military losses. In 1943, the 12.SS-Panzer-Division Hitlerjugend, under the command of SS-Brigadeführer Fritz Witt, was formed. The Division was a fully equipped Waffen-SS panzer division with the majority of the enlisted cadre being drawn from Hitler Youth boys between the ages of sixteen and eighteen. The division was thrown into action during the Battle of Normandy against the British and Canadian forces to the north of Caen. During the following months, the division earnt itself a reputation for ferocity and fanatacism. When Witt was killed by allied naval gunfire, SS-Brigadeführer Kurt Meyer took over command and became the youngest divisional commander at age 33.

Related Topics:
12.SS-Panzer-Division ''Hitlerjugend'' - Brigadeführer - Fritz Witt - Waffen-SS - Panzer - Division - Battle of Normandy - Caen - Kurt Meyer

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As German casualties mounted with the combination of Operation Bagration and the Lvov-Sandomierz Operation in the east, and Operation Cobra in the west, members of the HJ were recruited at ever younger ages. By 1945, the Volkssturm was commonly drafting Hitler Youth members into its ranks as young as ten years old.

Related Topics:
Operation Bagration - Lvov-Sandomierz Operation - Operation Cobra - Recruited at ever younger ages - 1945 - Volkssturm

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During the Battle of Berlin, Axmann's Hitler Youth formed a major part of the last line of German defense. Although city commander General der Artillerie Helmuth Weidling ordered Axmann to disband the Hitler Youth combat formations, the confusion meant that this was not carried out. The Hitler Youth child-soldiers inflicted heavy losses on the Red Army, and outperformed most other units of the Volkssturm.

Related Topics:
Battle of Berlin - Helmuth Weidling - Red Army

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