Enthusiasm:
- Their enthusiasm for the involvement in Hitler Youth was so "mandatory" that any student who did not participate would be obvious, and would be ridiculed for being different- therefore all were involved.
- The children were so fascinated in all of the opportunities that were being offered to them that they believed in nothing but Hitler.
- Youth believed that through their devotion to the cause of persecuting those who were different, ( Jews and Marxists) they would be able to gain for themselves through job opportunity; etc..
Conformity for career reasons:
- Youth believed that through their Persecution of Jews and Marxists; they would be able to gain career opportunities.
- Not Successful They were finding that had they been a few years older, they would have been well paying government posts for them, but there were not any such jobs in present because of their age.
- Not Successful The youth were feeling their lack of freedom based upon the the national socialist organizations; they felt that they had no choices.
- Youth were taught in school curriculum that they must be a part of Hitler youth, and in turn then feared what their lives would be like if they were not.
- Children would lie about their family life: whose parent was a member of the SA, what newspaper did the family read, was your father a party member? Many children answered yes for fear of what would happen if they did not.
- Not Successful The children were no longer afraid of being different, and not attending Hitler Youth organizations: the uniforms and regimented games lost their appeal, many stopped paying their dues, and showing up at all... they were not afraid.
- Children felt forced to be a part of these organizations because of what could happen to them and their families ( Violence, Concentration Camps, Death or Beating)
Conformity through apathy/natural obedience:
- They were politically programmed to follow orders and to obey- they were agreeing to everything they were told, and even though they didn't know much about Nazi Ideology or have read Mein Kampf they quoted it.
- Not Successful They were questioning of the reasons in ideas such as anti-semitism: and anti jewish music and why they were not allowed, they didn't understand these ideas; for they were not party members they were just children/youths.
- Not Successful: the working youths criticized the Hitler Youth, they were different and were not for the enthusiasm that the HJ fostered.
- The youth was in great support of the Regime because of their involvement in youth organization, the upswing of support was from the new generation ( Bavaria)
- Some youth were eager to "out fox" the authorities, they would not attend Hitler Youth events or meetings, they made a game out of violating the orders of National Socialism ( SW Germany)
- Children hid the nonconforming ways of their parents when teachers tried to force them into National Socialist Activities and Hitler Youth; they would answer yes because of fear, even though their families were avowed opponents of the Nazis.
- Demoralization of Youth because they did not want to participate in HJ and many resigned their memberships and stopped paying dues as a way of rebellion.
Criticism/opposition:
- withdrawal of participation from Hitler Youth, refusal to pay dues.
- parents who were directly opposing the Nazis caused their children to hide their true family life.
- the jobs that were promised to the young people in the beginning are not available to them because of their age.
- lack of freedom and fulfillment in the youth because what was promised to them by the NSDAP is not able to be obtained.
- Young (12-17) who would hang around ( Pirates) with young women, cause violence and bombings, terror;; outside of the Hitler Youth-- were criticized.
- the Young people described above used graffiti to express their hatred for the Nazi Party and for the people who were being killed for hitler, and lied to and indoctrinated.
