One of my favorite pieces of Militaria is a binder of letters written from Hitler Youth members turned soldiers to the principal of the Adolf Hitler school in Sonthofen. I have been sending the letters to a Mary Ann, a German woman in Virginia for translation (per soldier as time permits, I’ve had it a long time but I enjoy the chapters per soldier). Incidentally, this woman was also in the Hitler youth and always sends back very interesting personal letters of her years in that organization as her memory is jogged by these writings. She’s become a friend, even knitting a little ball from my son (she calls them “Nazi balls” because she learned the craft as a HY).
As a bit of background for those who, like me, knew very little about the Adolf Hitler Schools, I should add that they were set up by Dr. Robert Ley to develop young leaders for the NSDAP. As the Reichorganisationsleiter (Reich Organization Leader) and head of the German Workers Front (DAF) he was responsible (among other things) for much of the internal party education. With the help of Baldur von Schirach (responsible for youth programs throughout the Reich), he set up a new type of boarding school to develop a rising generation of political and civil leaders.
The Adolf Hitler schools project was in taken up at the same time as an initiative to train older leaders (25-30) for the party in four years cycles. The Junkers were supposed to spend one year cycles at Four Order Castles (Ordensburg), planed to house and instruct the most gifted German youth (mentally and physically). Only three were constructed before the outbreak of war - Croessinsee, Vogelsang and Sonthofen, the one in Marienburg was never started. Construction for the three castles started in 1934 and was finished in record time by 1936, at which time the first students began their courses.
The Ordensburg in Sonthofen served as a Hitler Youth school and thus was the one that Oberbannführer Joseph Madert directed. Sonthofen is a southern German town situated between the rivers Ostrach and the Iller (today it is a city that tallies over 21,000 habitants). This school had 600 students in 1938, and 1500 in 1942. The Castle was constructed of stone and virgin timber, with all of the flare that the times demanded. At the end of the war, it was occupied and used by U.S. Forces until it was returned to the West German army in 1957. It still stands and can be visited today.
Adolf Hitler schools in all areas were totally free of charge, with even uniforms and spending money provided. The point of these details was to foster an even playing field, where pupils would be equal to one another and all outside social class distinctions would put aside. This of course created a rather large enrollment, and only the best fitted candidates were accepted.
The schedule of these young men were regulated from morning to night, six days a week, and to challenging curriculum of normal courses (Mathematics, History, Science) topics such as racial politics, political history, and of course sports activities (including paramilitary activities) were added. The future National Socialists leaders were to graduate around 18 years old and then pursue Army or University.
As I get more research on the topic I may write an article for the site, but even the brief primer above is important for understanding the letters. These young men grew up under the veil of National Socialism and liberally drank from the fountain of its propaganda. The intoxicating effect it had on them shines through in the letters from the fists of boy soldiers; their tragic life was dominated by the party from beginning to end.
Over the next few weeks I will share some excerpts from the letters here. I hope you enjoy them.
First some ilustrations - Location of the city.
As a bit of background for those who, like me, knew very little about the Adolf Hitler Schools, I should add that they were set up by Dr. Robert Ley to develop young leaders for the NSDAP. As the Reichorganisationsleiter (Reich Organization Leader) and head of the German Workers Front (DAF) he was responsible (among other things) for much of the internal party education. With the help of Baldur von Schirach (responsible for youth programs throughout the Reich), he set up a new type of boarding school to develop a rising generation of political and civil leaders.
The Adolf Hitler schools project was in taken up at the same time as an initiative to train older leaders (25-30) for the party in four years cycles. The Junkers were supposed to spend one year cycles at Four Order Castles (Ordensburg), planed to house and instruct the most gifted German youth (mentally and physically). Only three were constructed before the outbreak of war - Croessinsee, Vogelsang and Sonthofen, the one in Marienburg was never started. Construction for the three castles started in 1934 and was finished in record time by 1936, at which time the first students began their courses.
The Ordensburg in Sonthofen served as a Hitler Youth school and thus was the one that Oberbannführer Joseph Madert directed. Sonthofen is a southern German town situated between the rivers Ostrach and the Iller (today it is a city that tallies over 21,000 habitants). This school had 600 students in 1938, and 1500 in 1942. The Castle was constructed of stone and virgin timber, with all of the flare that the times demanded. At the end of the war, it was occupied and used by U.S. Forces until it was returned to the West German army in 1957. It still stands and can be visited today.
Adolf Hitler schools in all areas were totally free of charge, with even uniforms and spending money provided. The point of these details was to foster an even playing field, where pupils would be equal to one another and all outside social class distinctions would put aside. This of course created a rather large enrollment, and only the best fitted candidates were accepted.
The schedule of these young men were regulated from morning to night, six days a week, and to challenging curriculum of normal courses (Mathematics, History, Science) topics such as racial politics, political history, and of course sports activities (including paramilitary activities) were added. The future National Socialists leaders were to graduate around 18 years old and then pursue Army or University.
As I get more research on the topic I may write an article for the site, but even the brief primer above is important for understanding the letters. These young men grew up under the veil of National Socialism and liberally drank from the fountain of its propaganda. The intoxicating effect it had on them shines through in the letters from the fists of boy soldiers; their tragic life was dominated by the party from beginning to end.
Over the next few weeks I will share some excerpts from the letters here. I hope you enjoy them.
First some ilustrations - Location of the city.
(well, some of you could, but not that small).
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