Deutsches Jungvolk

A fearsome love for their “fatherland”

overwhelmed them as they salute

and start to goose step forward.

With fierce unbridled hate,

today’s feud was won.

The next conquest

was now theirs

to fight

for.

German boys were encouraged and later required to join Hitler Youth Groups. This kept the control of young people in preparation for when they became adults. Its members were viewed as ensuring the future of Nazi Germany and were indoctrinated in Nazi ideology, including racism. The group appropriated many of its activities of the Boy Scout movement which was banned in 1935, including camping and hiking. However, over time it changed in content and intention. Many activities closely resembled military training, with weapons training, assault course circuits and basic tactics. The aim was to instill the motivation that would enable its members to fight faithfully for Nazi Germany as soldiers. There was greater emphasis on physical fitness, hardness and military training than on academic study. Sacrifice for the cause was inculcated into their training. The idea that "Germany must live" even if they youth members had to die was "hammered" into them.