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Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow…
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Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow (original 2005; edition 2005)

by Susan Campbell Bartoletti (Author)

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1,07610318,731 (4.23)26
A brief history of the Hitler Youth building up to, through, and after WWII. A horrifying subject at any time, but made even more terrifying for its similarities to what's happening now in this country. ( )
  electrascaife | Jul 14, 2018 |
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This book did a very good job of explaining the Hitler Youth ( )
  NorthElliot | Sep 14, 2022 |
In the wake of Hitler's rise to power, and World War Two, the Nazi party had gained popularity rapidly, and soon it would consume the whole country, forcing Germany to buy into its ideologies. To compensate for the youth of the country, Hitler had the Hitler Youth created, an organization built specifically for the young German boys and girls. Once the war broke out, the Hitler Youth worked hard, enduring long hours to keep Germany ahead of the Allies in terms of manpower. Each child was different, and this caused a bit of unrest among the youth.

This book is an excellent source of information for the Hitler Youth. The author really goes in depth with the stories, and even includes stories from different kids and their experiences. It gives really interesting details about the Hitler Youth before the war, and during it, it also gives some information about what happened to them post-war. This book expands on what happened in the Third Reich in all the right places. ( )
  JTomasulo.ELA2 | Oct 21, 2019 |
Seems like a perfectly good history book for kids. The illustrations really work to make the subject more immediately graspable for children. ( )
  clrichm | Aug 15, 2019 |
At first, Adolf Hitler was ignorant toward the youth of Germany. But at the urging of his supporters, he came to understand the huge potential of Germany’s young people. Girls as future supporters of the Reich, and the boys as future soldiers. Hitler created the Hitler Youth for boys and the BDM (Bund Deutscher Mädel) for girls, between the ages of ten and eighteen. Soon service was mandatory, and by the end of World War II most German children had been in the Hitler Youth.
Also near the end of the war the Hitler Youth fought and protected Berlin until they got nearly wiped out. In the end most youth figured out that they were corrupted and changed.

I liked this book. I gave 4 stars because sometimes it went off topic but other then that it was fine. I really like reading about WWII so I enjoyed the book. It also had good information. I would recommend this book for 7th and 8th graders. It was a great book. ( )
  AveryP.G1 | Jan 2, 2019 |
A brief history of the Hitler Youth building up to, through, and after WWII. A horrifying subject at any time, but made even more terrifying for its similarities to what's happening now in this country. ( )
  electrascaife | Jul 14, 2018 |
RGG: The focus is on the children who grew up in the Hitler Youth organizations. Fascinating history of propaganda, brainwashing, and children soldiers. Another horrifying aspect of Hitler's Nazi Germany. Interest: YA.
  rgruberexcel | May 4, 2018 |
It's kind of incredible the outsized role that the Hitler Youth played in both the early and final days of the Nazi war machine. Hitler's strategy, though reprehensible, was a stroke of genius: effectively buy off Germany's poor, hungry, and disaffected youth by giving them guns, activity, comradery, and false dreams of a better future. He cut off their education, the Nazi word was all the truth they needed. Children turned against their own parents to join what seemed like a fun, ambitious movement. In the end, even when shown the Nazi regime's atrocities on film and in person, many refused to believe it until years later. This is what indoctrination does. This is what propaganda does. The parallels to today's world are pretty astounding. Dogma trumps facts, political affiliation trumps values. The difference was that while Nazi Germany operated under a lack of information, the opposite is true today. There is an overabundance of information, but a lack of reliable, traditional gatekeepers. Amid reports that third-world dictators and despots now use the term "fake news" to discredit unfavorable truths, books like these are reminders of what can happen when the truth, the youth, and reality itself are the means to be distorted towards ignominious ends. ( )
  Jmason21 | Apr 18, 2018 |
This books tells the reader what it was like to be a child during Hitler's ruling . There are many picture of people from this time period which helps you connect with the history of the book. The book takes you chronologically through the Holocaust and WWII.
  klamproe | Dec 2, 2017 |
This informational book was about the men and women who grew up supporting Hitler, and why Hitler had such appeal for these young men and women. The book also described some of the children who opposed Hitler, and the brave steps they took to denounce Hitler’s teachings and beliefs. Bartlett’s book was full of interesting real-life pictures and an abundance of facts about the Hitler Youth program. She highlighted the lives of twelve german children in this book. Many of them who were very proud to join and serve Hilter. A few, brave and ready to fight against Hilter.
  mkhazelton | Jul 28, 2017 |
Susan Campbell Bartoletti’s nonfiction book, Hitler Youth, provides a fascinating in-depth portrayal of life for children growing up in Nazi Germany. At times the book is disturbing as it describes the systematic brainwashing of German youth and the children who went to such extremes in their devotion to Hitler, such as even turning in their own parents for denouncing Nazis. At other times the book was uplifting as it described the stories of children like the Scholl siblings who risked everything and sacrificed their lives in their efforts to educate the public and take a stand against the Nazi government.

The book is somewhat chronological but each chapter organizes the information presented in the book into topics, such as “Hitler’s Rise to Power” and the “Nazi Persecution of Jews.” At the beginning of the book, Bartoletti introduces the young people that she writes about in this book. She gives a brief description of their connection with Hitler Youth and Nazi Germany. Rather than organizing the book topically and introducing each child’s story as an individual chapter, the author weaves the stories of the children’s lives throughout the narrative. At the end of the book, Bartoletti also includes an epilogue titled, “What became of the young people in this book,” where she provides the reader with details about the individuals’ lives post-Nazi Germany and provides some closure for the reader. In the author’s note, Bertoletti discusses the magnitude of research she had to conduct in order to write this book. Her extensive bibliography, quote sources, and “about the photographs” section demonstrate the immense quantity and quality of research that went into the book. Bartoletti conducted personal, phone, and email interviews in order to include direct quotes from Hitler Youth and children growing up in Nazi Germany in order paint a vivid picture of what life was like for these young people. The quotes help the reader understand the mindset of these children, the brainwashing of Hitler Youth, and the deception of the Nazi government.

“I was prepared to struggle for, to kill, and if necessary to die for my Fuhrer and country,” said Henry Metelmann. “While my parents worried about the threatening clouds of war, I believed my Hitler Youth teaching that war was a necessary cleansing process for the human race.”

I also read The Boy Who Dared, which is also written by Bartoletti, but is a fictional story based on the life Helmuth Hubener, one of the Hitler Youth that she included in her nonfiction book. While her nonfiction book does not go into much detail about Hubener’s life, it describes his resistance towards the Nazi Party and his efforts to inform the German people that their government was lying to them about the state of the war. In the nonfiction book, Bartoletti includes about five pages that tell the story of Hubener’s impact, bravery, and resulting execution. In The Boy Who Dared, Bartoletti uses her imagination to create a fictional story around the research she conducted about Helmuth Hubener’s true story and impact. Both stories do a great job of capturing the level of fear and oppression that young children faced in Nazi Germany, as well as tell the story of the incredibly brave young people who stood up against injustice. ( )
1 vote ssmithers | Apr 23, 2017 |
This was a Newberry Honor book and a Robert F. Sibert Honor book. I was blown away with the photos in this book. The most interesting fact I learned was about the Duty Year. Prior to reading this book I didn't know that young men and women all across Germany were required to work for a year in the factories. After the eighth grade boys and girls were also sent to farms to help in what was called the Country Year. This nonfiction book goes chronologically through World War I with a focus on Germany.
  mercedeslillian | Mar 18, 2017 |
Students of any grade to write as if they are going to interview a former Hitler Youth member, like Bartoletti did. Students will write down any questions they would ask, and any comments that they have on the information given in the book and why they think/feel that way. Older students, such as fourth or fifth graders, could compare and contrast the life of a child their age in Hitler Youth to their own lives. They could compare and contrast their clothes, what they'd do in their free time, who they could be friends with, etc.
  kkminime | Mar 13, 2017 |
I could have done without the introductory cast of characters - it wasted a lot of time. It would have been much better to meet them organically within their own stories, but whatever. It was a fascinating, oft-overlooked bit about the Holocaust and Second World War and I'd love to learn more about the Hitler Youth. ( )
  benuathanasia | Feb 23, 2017 |
Chilling. Harrowing. Powerful. These words seem to be cliché at this point in reference to any recollections on the Holocaust or Nazi Germany. Sadly though, they are still accurate. Author Susan Campbell Bartoletti uses eye-witness accounts to ground a concept and bring into harsh reality a situation that, for many, is difficult to imagine. Instead of reducing the text to simplified attacks on an entire people and generation, the horror of Nazi Germany is brought to life through the eyes of its children. Weaving into the story the personal accounts of twelve children and their experiences, Campbell recreates life in pre-war and war-torn Germany, exploring the origins and progression of Hitler's rise to power, the Hitler Youth, Nazi propaganda, and the Holocaust. Following a roughly chronological order, each chapter focuses on a different theme, progressively showing the effects of hatred as national policy. Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow would be a great source for any unit on World War II, the Holocaust, resistance, sacrifice, and the weak--in this case, children--being influenced by or standing up to their aggressors. Enhanced with a variety of poignant and pertinent photographs, the reality of war is not sugarcoated, and some elements may be considered questionable for younger readers. For anyone interested in history, this is a fascinating read--a cautionary tale regarding the power of propaganda, youth, and National Socialism. ( )
  sgudan | Feb 8, 2017 |
These are the true-life stories of a number of young people who grew up in Nazi Germany, some who supported Hitler and some who opposed him. It provides the reading with wonderful insights at to how and why Hitler came to power as well as how he maintained control over the German people, especially the young. ( )
  Susan.Macura | Jan 16, 2017 |
This book covers a subject that it's really spoken about: the young men and women under Nazi rule who believed in, fought for, and often died, for their Fuhrer. Well-researched and well-written, Bartoletti helps the reader understand the role these children played in the War. She brings to light a side of the war most people have no idea about. This is vital to a complete understanding of Hitler and what he did. She makes no judgement calls about the children, but explains in appropriate prose the history of their experience. How many started out in Hitler's Youth, a scout-type program, and how it progressed until many, mostly the boys, ended up on the front lines near the end of the war. She shows how the propaganda Hitler spewed captured the hearts of these children, and they proudly served him, only later understanding that he used them for his own ends. I highly recommend this book be part of any school library - home or public - and it's worth reading. ( )
  empress8411 | Sep 16, 2016 |
This was a very well-written and researched book about growing up as a German under Hitler. Bartoletti described how the Hitler Youth began almost as a "scout troup" that all youths wanted to join, including Jewish youths. Then she described how Hitler used the youths and laws to force parents to bend to his will. The personal stories and accounts made this story worth reading. You definitely felt how some of these children were brainwashed and felt trapped by the world around him. There were also wonderful stories of bravery by youths who would not agree with the Hitler Youth doctrine and gave their lives to rebel against it. A very emotional and touching book that gave both sides of the story. " ( )
  jguidry | May 31, 2016 |
Bartoletti did an excellent job recounting the details of the Hitler Youth. She used stories from different people that were involved in the Hitler Youth. She followed their stories throughout her explanation of the Hitler Youth. There is much to be learned about how Hitler used the youth of Germany to further his cause. Bartoletti goes into detail about the demands that the organization put on the children, and how youth groups changed the longer Hitler was in office. This non-fiction book is an excellent resource for students to learn more about the youth of Germany during the Hitler years. ( )
  Kay_Downing | Apr 28, 2016 |
I would definitely have this book in a middle school classroom, probably seventh or eighth. It is very informative, and tells the perspective of young German people who were loyal to Hitler. I do not think I would make my students read this book, but if they were interested then I would have it there for them to look at. ( )
  AmandaJH | Apr 16, 2016 |
This book provides a synopsis of how the Hitler Youth were created and organized to ensure the rise and maintenance of Hitler's power. It was a crucial part of his campaign to be elected as the head of the Nazi Party in Germany. It also goes in to great detail the lengths that church ministries and parent's took to keep their children from joining.

The pictures are unique and unlike any that I have seen in history textbooks before. It recounts many true stories and stitches them together to show how frequently and successful the Nazi Party was a deceiving its own citizens. ( )
  mwestholz | Apr 7, 2016 |
Fascinating and absorbing book about the youth of Germany who got involved with the Nazi Party and those who rebelled against it. Follows 12 youths in particular. Author does a great job of not condemming the party outright but laying out its original intentions and allowing the reader to understand why kids and teenagers would get passionately involved with the Nazi organizations. Later we see the party getting darker and darker and yet many people remain involved with the party or indifferent to the loss of civil rights. ( )
  Salsabrarian | Feb 2, 2016 |
Excellent explanation of Hitler's horrendous plan and how cleverly it insinuated itself into the lives of most German youth (and future army). I loved the way Bartoletti included specific youth into the narrative, interweaving their quotes and actions through each stage of Hitler's plans. Young people reading this book are forced to face how easily people were sucked in, how difficult it would be to resist, and how they would act.

Don't forget to read the afterwords concerning the writer's research and what happened to the youth quoted in the book. ( )
  Connie-D | Jan 17, 2016 |
Genre: Information Book
Read for Informational Book assignment.
  samantha.cox | Dec 7, 2015 |
Great pictures and recount of historical events leading up to WWII. I would use this book as a paired text activity in middle school grades with The Boy Who Dared. ( )
  iamryancorcoran | Jun 1, 2015 |
Hitler Youth is another great example of an information/nonfiction book that will help engage and boost the understanding of a tough period in time. In Hitler Youth, Campbell is able to describe the events that led to World War II and critical events during WWII as well. What is most interesting about this book is that it is all told through the perspectives of various youth during that time period. Each chapter represents a different child’s perspective and experiences, and through this, the reader is able to really step into that time period and understand what it may have been like to live at that time. Each story is also enhanced with pictures from that time period and that are actually of the people telling the story. In each story, student’s not only learn about what was happening to that youth, but they also unknowingly learn about the most crucial and basic facts surrounding that important period in history. The book has obviously been intensely researched which adds to validity and power of each story. Hitler Youth would be great to introduce a tough subject such as WWII in the classroom and help them maintain the information they are learning as well. Since it is all told through the perspective of different youth, students are able to understand what it must have been like for people their age and connect to the story much more.
  laineyh | Mar 15, 2015 |
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