Background

When the Germans were moving eastwards with the Blitzkrieg expansion, they did not only conquer new lands but also sustained heavy casualties on the increasing broad fronts of the World War II. The warzone left behind irreparable losses to European countries and their cultures, but the most severe losses were in human life on all sides of the conflict, including civilians – women, children, and prisoners of war (Sorge, 1986). Invaders paid special attention to children, knowing very well that children would be key to carrying on the next generation of Nazis and their ideology. New lifestyles were created and the education system was transformed, affecting children from the youngest ages. As an effect of these transformations, one could say that certain social groups were entirely re-socialized. The Hitler Youth (Hitlerjugend) and the League of German Girls (Bund Deutscher Mädel – BDM) were organizations where children were specially groomed to become Nazi elites. At the same time, many teenagers were forcefully made to follow the ideas of the Third Reich in numerous orphanages and reformatories. Regardless of the setting, the lives of the youngest citizens were completely subjugated to the power of the state, and population growth was considered a major factor in the future growth of Nazi power.

The expansive military policy was fueled by the core ideas of National Socialism which had awoken in Germany in the early 1930’s, such as the superhuman (Übermensch), the master race (über Rasse), as well as a very selective understanding of notions such as the nation, social class, or totality.