“He alone who owns the youth, gains the future.” Adolf Hitler, 1935

“I am starting with the young. With them, I will make a new world.” Hitler describing his ideal German youth—

Oath [ohth] noun “I swear by Almighty God this sacred oath: I will at all times loyally and honestly serve my people and country, and, as a brave soldier, will be ready at any time to stake my life for this oath.” “I swear by Almighty God this sacred oath: I will render unconditional obedience to the Fuhrer of the German Reich and people, Adolf Hitler, Supreme Commander of the Wehrmacht [armed forces], and as a brave soldier will be ready at any time to stake my life for this oath.”

Do you take the oath? What words or phrases stand out to you? Do you think this man will take the oath? What factors may shape his decision?

Culture of Obedience Oath Educators as tools  30% Nazi Party Leadership  97% Nazi Teachers’ Association Mandated Hitler Youth Movement  90% in 1939

“Youth in Germany” Texts In your groups, read through the source material given to you and fill out the worksheet. You have

Key Motivators?

Obedience

Pride; the desire to feel “special”

Propaganda

Key Motivator? Fear

Do You Take the Oath? 1. What does the man mean when he says, “If I’d refused to take the oath in 1935, it would have meant that thousands and thousands like me, all over Germany, were refusing to take it… thus, the regime would have been overthrown”? 2. Do you agree with his statement? To what extent do you believe that the choice of one individual can make a difference? Strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree? 3. The man says that he “was not prepared to resist.” What does it mean to resist? Under what conditions are people more likely to resist authority? 4. Compare the opportunities for resistance for this German man and the students in Mr. Jones’ class. In what ways were they the same? In what ways were they different? For whom was resistance more of a possibility? Explain your answer.

Writing Assignment Using “The Third Wave” and any other “Youth in Germany” text, analyze how one of the key motivators we have discussed played a large role in the actions of the subjects of the texts.