Young people in Nazi Germany
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how Nazi policies towards young people reflected their aims.
Key learning points
- Hitler viewed children as vital to the Nazi future and used indoctrination to shape them into loyal, obedient citizens.
- Boys and girls were encouraged to join uniformed Nazi youth organisations that offered various activities.
- Nazi youth organisations aimed to win total loyalty and prepare boys for war and girls for motherhood.
- Education was reshaped to indoctrinate youth with Nazi ideas, and teachers were vetted to ensure loyalty to the regime.
- The curriculum was altered to justify racism and future territorial expansion.
Keywords
Reich - meaning empire; under the Nazis, it referred to the Third Reich, their name for Hitler’s regime, which they saw as the third great German empire after the Holy Roman Empire and the German Empire
Camaraderie - a mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time or share an experience together
Indoctrination - the process of repeating an idea or belief to someone until they accept it without criticism or question
Domestic - belonging or relating to the home, house or family
Eugenics - a theory that claimed the human population could be improved by encouraging people with certain traits to have children; the Nazis used this idea to justify racial discrimination
Common misconception
Students may think all youth blindly accepted Nazi ideas.
While many participated, some - like Sophie Scholl - resisted. Peer pressure, fear, and excitement all played a role.
Teacher tip
The experiences of Sophie Scholl: Play a short clip or read an excerpt about Sophie Scholl’s experiences. Students jot down reasons why Nazi indoctrination and youth organisations were effective - and why someone like Scholl might still resist.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What was one major concern among traditionalists about the changes during the Weimar Republic?
Q2.Women were expected to produce as many racially ‘pure’ as possible, to secure the future of the German people.
Q3.How did the Nazis reshape traditional ideas of marriage and family life?
Q4.Why were working women often resented during the early Nazi years?
Q5.According to Nazi ideals, what was the main purpose of women’s appearance?
Q6.Gertrud Scholtz-Klink was the leader of the Nazi Women’s , promoting Nazi ideals about motherhood and a woman’s duty to the state.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match each group with what the Nazi regime wanted from them.
strong, obedient warriors
mothers of racially "pure" children
loyal enforcers of Nazi ideas
Q2.What methods did the Hitler Youth use to attract young boys to join?
Q3.How did Nazi youth organisations affect family relationships?
Q4.Why did many teachers in Nazi Germany join the Nazi Teachers’ League?
Q5.Why was geography taught in a way that supported Nazi beliefs?
Q6. is the process of teaching someone to accept a set of beliefs uncritically, without questioning them.
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: Young people in Nazi Germany, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 11 history lesson on: Young people in Nazi Germany, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Germany 1890–1945, Democracy and dictatorship unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.