Hitler Youth: Introduction–Chapter 2

by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
This nonfiction work tells the story of the Hilterjugend — a group of German youths who were indoctrinated with Nazi policies and beliefs, making them an important part of the Nazi's World War II efforts.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Introduction–Chapter 2, Chapters 3–4, Chapters 5–6, Chapters 7–8, Chapter 9–Epilogue
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. drab
    lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise
    It was a typical raw, dark, wintry morning in Moabit, a drab industrial section of Berlin, the capital of Germany.
  2. socialist
    a political advocate of state control of industry
    Hitler was the leader of the rising National Socialist Party, known as the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, or Nazis for short.
  3. relent
    give in, as to influence or pressure
    But after Mrs. Norkus died in 1931, Herbert’s father relented and gave his son permission to join the Hitler Youth.
  4. instill
    impart gradually
    He hoped that the group would lift his son’s spirits, help him make new friends, and instill a sense of discipline in him.
  5. propaganda
    information that is spread to promote some cause
    Herbert also enjoyed distributing leaflets throughout the Berlin neighborhoods. The “propaganda blitz,” as the Hitler Youth called it, spread information about the Nazi Party.
  6. creed
    any system of principles or beliefs
    It was dangerous work, but Herbert took the Nazis’ creed of self-sacrifice seriously.
  7. tenement
    a run-down apartment house barely meeting minimal standards
    That morning, as Herbert passed the crumbling brick tenement buildings and treeless courtyards, he watched out for Reds.
  8. wage
    carry on (wars, battles, or campaigns)
    During the 1920s and early 1930s, Communists and Nazis waged an undeclared civil war in Berlin's streets and alleys as each party battled for political control.
  9. elaborate
    developed or executed with care and in minute detail
    Outraged by the brutal murder of a fifteen-year-old boy, Nazi Party leaders staged an elaborate military funeral for Herbert Norkus.
  10. cortege
    a funeral procession
    Hundreds of Hitler followers turned out for the funeral. They formed an honor cortege that wound its way across the Jungfern Bridge and through the pine forest to the New Johannes cemetery.
  11. martyr
    one who suffers for the sake of principle
    To the Nazis, Herbert Norkus became a martyr who sacrificed his life for his Führer, Adolf Hitler; he was a hero who died for the cause of National Socialism.
  12. ideal
    a principle or value that one hopes to attain or conform to
    “What can happen to a people whose youth sacrifices everything in order to serve its great ideals?” he asked them.
  13. hail
    greet enthusiastically or joyfully
    In response, the boys and girls raised their arms in Nazi salute and hailed their leader, thundering, “Heil Hitler! [Hail Hitler!]”
  14. impose
    inflict something unpleasant
    In 1919, when the Allied countries, namely Britain, France, Italy, and the United States, met to negotiate a peace treaty, the Allied leaders imposed harsh conditions on Germany.
  15. relinquish
    part with a possession or right
    As punishment, Germany had to relinquish its territories.
  16. damages
    a sum of money paid in compensation for loss or injury
    The German people also had to pay an enormous sum of money, called reparations, for war damages.
  17. reparation
    compensation exacted from a defeated nation by the victors
    At the time, the reparations totaled about $32 billion.
  18. defy
    resist or confront with resistance
    Some people were frightened, especially when Hitler promised to defy the Treaty of Versailles.
  19. dismay
    fear resulting from the awareness of danger
    Nine-year-old Bert Lewyn watched his father’s dismay as he read the news about Hitler’s appointment.
  20. bode
    indicate by signs
    “This does not bode well for Germany,” warned Bert’s father.
  21. apathetic
    showing little or no emotion or animation
    But millions of other Germans were simply apathetic about the news of Hitler’s appointment. They found it hard to feel excited about the changes he promised.
  22. exuberant
    joyously unrestrained
    These exuberant boys illustrate the Nazis' promise of excitement and adventure.
  23. fanfare
    a short lively tune played on brass instruments
    When all Jungvolk and Jungmädel had recited the oath, the trumpets blared a fanfare, and a military band burst out in National Socialist songs.
  24. descent
    properties attributable to your ancestry
    Only healthy boys and girls of proven “Aryan” descent were permitted to join.
  25. distinguish
    be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait
    They claimed that blond hair and blue eyes distinguished the “purest” Aryans.
  26. infirm
    lacking bodily or muscular strength or vitality
    Some physically disabled children were allowed to join a special section—the Disabled and Infirm Hitler Youth—as long as they passed the racial tests.
  27. strenuous
    taxing to the utmost; testing powers of endurance
    Physical fitness was required for initiation into the Hitler Youth, but many boys developed flatfeet from the strenuous hikes.
  28. coveted
    greatly desired
    “There were some stinging belly flops, but the pain was worth it when our leader handed us the coveted dagger with its inscription BLOOD AND HONOR. From that moment on, we were fully accepted.”
  29. objectionable
    causing offense or disapproval
    Some children were rejected if their parents were not good enough Nazis or if they had “objectionable political attitudes.”
  30. endurance
    the power to withstand hardship or stress
    Girls and boys hiked, camped out, and participated in competitive field exercises. The activities toughened up kids, building their endurance and determination.
  31. degenerate
    grow worse
    “If there was any rivalry between the girls, the game often degenerated into a first-class brawl,” said Melita.
  32. abound
    exist in large quantities
    Ripped shirts, scrapes, bruises, and bloody noses abounded.
  33. prestigious
    having an excellent reputation; respected
    The boys earned prestigious Hitler Youth merit badges for outstanding performance.
  34. ideology
    an orientation that characterizes the thinking of a group
    They worked on efficiency badges in sports, Nazi ideology, nursing, household training, social work, and later, air-raid training.
  35. diligence
    persevering determination to perform a task
    Many parents liked what they saw in their children: the discipline, physical fitness, diligence, pursuit of excellence, pride in national heritage, and a sense of purpose.
  36. sanctity
    the quality of being holy
    They took away the sanctity of home, privacy of mail and telephone conversations, and the freedom of speech, press, and assembly.
  37. conformity
    compliance with accepted standards, rules, or norms
    As Führer, Hitler wanted to achieve Gleichschaltung, or “conformity,” in all aspects of German society.
  38. comply
    act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes
    Three years later, a tougher second law warned parents who did not comply that their children would be taken from them.
  39. don
    put on clothes
    As a result of the two laws, nearly eight million children donned the brown uniforms of the Hitler Youth in 1939.
  40. insubordination
    defiance of authority
    Karl was drummed out of the Hitler Youth for insubordination, and a dismissal letter was placed in his file.
Created on Thu Aug 25 11:11:24 EDT 2022 (updated Tue Oct 18 11:32:39 EDT 2022)

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