Gleichschaltung implemented on German Youth
Adolf Hitler saw Gleichschaltung as an opportunity to gain the youth of Germany’s support, aiding him in achieving his ultimate goal of capitalising on the future innocence of Nazi Germany’s youth. Hitler placed great value in German children; he believed they were his next generation of Nazi’s (Youth in Nazi Germany, 2015). He was safeguarding loyalty for the NSDAP and the future of his imagined Third Reich (Llewellyn, Southey, & Thompson, 2014).
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Statistically, adolescents are far easier to influence than adults. Throughout history adolescents have strived to emulate the older generations; idolising them as role models. This makes youth the perfect target for Hitler. This is corroborated through a powerful statement from ‘Mein Kampf’, “whoever has the youth has the future,” (Lynch, 2008). In illustration of Hitler’s confidence in his new regime this primary statement allowed him to further influence and affect people’s attitudes. It gives insight into his beliefs and how Hitler believed he could ensure power for the Nazi party.
Gleichschaltung is a term brought in Germany which means ‘coordination’. The Nazis used it to refer to a shift in society. Hitler wanted to create a classless society, a ‘Volksgemeinschaft’; people who have the same ideals (Summary of the concept of Gleichschaltung, n.d.). Goebbels, Reich Minister of Propaganda in Nazi Germany, corroborates Hitler’s concept of anti-individualism when enforcing the motto for adolescents in 1933, “you are nothing; your Volk is everything,” (Summary of the concept of Gleichschaltung, n.d.). This statement provides historical evidence towards the Nazi party’s extremist teachings in 1933; at this time Hitler was Fuhrer of Germany and was gaining ultimate control over the youth. He saw the youth as ideal future Nazis; therefore he knew that to achieve this he needed to implement Gleichschaltung upon all aspects of their lives.
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Once Hitler implemented ‘Gleichschaltung’, he saw the youth’s beliefs aligning with his Nazi ideologies. He continuously argued that German was the superior race. He was infatuated with the concept of ‘racial purity’. The term ‘Aryan race’ was used to describe Hitler’s ideal ‘pure German race’ (South African History Online, n.d.). This was important for Hitler as he was able to make a new generation of Nazis through his new profound control over the youth; they were his alleged future Aryan race (Meese, 2013). Hitler believed that Gleichschaltung would ensure ultimate control of the youth of Germany; allowing him to attain his absolute goal of capitalising on the future and innocence of Nazi Germany’s Youth to be his future Nazis.