"Swift as a greyhound, tough as leather, and hard as Krupp steel." This was the motto of every young German in the Hitler Youth, an organization designed to make young people physically fit, build their character, and train them in National Socialist ideology. When the Nazis came to power in 1933, it was their goal to persuade every qualified German boy and girl to be part of this organization. By 1940 the Hitler Youth had achieved this goal. But even though all qualified young Germans became members, it would be a mistake to assume that joining the Hitler Youth was a similar experience for all youngsters. Although the standards for qualification were the same for all, the divisions that children joined, their reasons for doing so, and even uniforms differed for each individual.

The Hitler Youth Formations

For most young Germans, involvement with the...