Masculinity in the Hitler Youth: an ideal enforced through songs

Abstract

To achieve its goal of shaping the identity of the German youth, the Hitler Youth used songs to indoctrinate young German minds with its ideals. In line with earlier trends and ideas, masculinity was an important aspect of the Nazi doctrine, which racialized the concept. Therefore, masculinity formed part of the ideal identity that the Nazis tried to instill in the youth. This resulted in militarization of the Hitler Youth, since the Nazis, including Baldur Von Schirach, considered this a crucial part of masculinity. They well-understood that songs were an important means for the transmission of values. Not only did they compose songs for this end, but they also nazified older songs by placing them in a Nazi context. By nazifying older songs, Von Schirach was able to use them as a propaganda for his masculine ideals that he wanted to instill in the youth.