Alexis Tabak post on readings

A summary of Hamilton’s Key points
Hamilton’s article describes Hitler’s Nazi regime as one which all of its power lies in the youth. The focus on the youth was key to the regime’s success as the programs implemented a sense of belonging and self worth in a time when children felt lost, useless and unimportant. The propaganda strategies that the Nazis used to attract young men and women were so powerful that Hitler’s Germany was all about the promotion of the youth and the notion that the youth was the most important factor in order to carry on the messages of nationalism and Germany’s strong character to the following generations. The regime was all about promoting the minds of the youth and not about real world factors that were affecting the mass citizen in Germany. There was no mention of economic crises or that there was a significant growth in unemployment. The concentration of the youth turned Nazi Germany into a somewhat false reality, because the government was not focusing on political issues, the only cared about marginalizing and ostracizing the social democrats and the Jews. The youth after the world war was a some what lost generation, the children were somewhat useless yet had options of joining the communists or the Nazi’s. Hamilton’s news article explains that the Nazi’s had a smarter strategy of attracting the youth. The strategy was a simpler less international plan that that of the communists. The plan was to draw together the youth with the simple notion of a United Germany and a hatred of the Jews. The plan was simple, easy to follow and made the youth feel important with a sense of purpose in the community and as Germans. The Germans rid of voluntary programs in order to solidify the youth’s commitment to party ideals. Hamilton analyzes that the Germans felt that voluntary programs were “the germ of an undisciplined spirit”. The Nazi youth gave them a purpose and a sense of belonging, and made them feel passionate about doing something for the “good” of their country. What was particularly disturbing was the revolt against modern education. The focus was on physical strength and good military performance instead of academic excellence. The bind of the Hitler youth was that of a revolt against the development of the individual character. Hitler felt in order for the Nazi regime to be successful, the youth should value physical strength and German national unity above all. The restructuring of the education system focused on History and the dominance of Germany as a country and its power and prestige above all others. The Hitler Youth was key to the success of the continuing German regime to promote the ideals of German nationalism and to ensure that Hitler’s vision would outlive him for generations.