Gleichschaltung's impact on the Youth of Germany
The youth of Germany in 1933 was ‘gleichgeschaltet’; taken over by the Nationalist Socialist German Workers Party and transformed from naïve adolescences to indoctrinated Nazi’s. Adolf Hitler, Fuhrer of Germany, Nazified all aspects of the youth’s lives through 'Gleichschaltung'. It was the ‘shifting of an entire society according to a predetermined clearly defined world-view, philosophy or belief system’ (Summary of the concept of Gleichschaltung, n.d.). It was to build a classless society, a Volksgemeinschaft; people who held the same ideals; ‘individual exists only for the good of the Nazi state’ (Summary of the concept of Gleichschaltung, n.d.). Gleichschaltung was phrased in once the Nazis came to power, soon later all non-Nazi youth organisations were outlawed (HistoryLearningSite.co.uk., 2014).
Hitler's narcissistic thirst for control manifested within Germany's wider community; however targeting the youth was a rational decision on his behalf. The young are more vulnerable with minds that can be easily suggested and influenced. The Nazis conveyed exciting concepts which to an undeveloped ego of a young mind seemed far more exciting than the conventional life they had known. It was these types of devious tactics and calculating thinking that gave the Nazi’s an advantage in gaining the youth of Germany’s support. Gleichschaltung allowed the Nazis to attain their power throughout all aspects of the youth’s lives; such as their education. They were able to maintain this influence through the manipulative use of propaganda to help sway adolescents towards Nazi ideologies. The Hitler Youth Movement was then forced into the youth’s lives to ensure all German children were affected by the Nazi movement. The topic of Nazi Germany and Hitler’s desire to gain control over Germany is highly controversial. It is important to scrutinise the information; to understand how all of the events and operations by the Nazis have been interpreted by historians over the years from 1933 to 2015. The Nazi party succeeded in taking over the youth of Germany’s lives through the concept of Gleichschaltung. Hitler ensured that all major factors in the youth’s lives were targeted, resulting in mass youth support for the Fuhrer. |