Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow facts for kids
Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler's Shadow is a non-fiction book for young readers. It was written by Susan Campbell Bartoletti and came out in 2005. The book won the Newbery Honor award in 2006, which is a special prize for great children's books.
This book helps young people understand the Hitler Youth. This was a group for children and teenagers in Germany during World War II. The group was set up to teach young people the ideas of the Nazi government. The author, Susan Campbell Bartoletti, learned about the Hitler Youth by talking to 12 people who used to be members. She shares their real-life stories in the book.
Contents
Understanding the Hitler Youth Book
The book Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler's Shadow explores a very important time in history. It helps readers understand what it was like for young people living in Nazi Germany. The author used interviews to gather real stories, making the book very personal and powerful.
What Was the Hitler Youth?
The Hitler Youth was a special organization for young people in Germany from 1926 to 1945. It was like a big club run by the government. Boys and girls from ages 10 to 18 were encouraged, and later even required, to join. The main goal was to teach them the ideas of the Nazi Party and prepare them to serve the country.
Life in the Hitler Youth
Life in the Hitler Youth involved many activities. Boys learned about military skills, like marching and using weapons. Girls were taught how to be good homemakers and mothers. Both groups participated in sports, camping, and singing. They also had lessons about Nazi ideas and loyalty to Adolf Hitler. The book shares how these activities shaped the lives of the young members.
How the Book Was Written
Susan Campbell Bartoletti spent a lot of time researching for this book. She found and interviewed 12 people who had been part of the Hitler Youth when they were young. Their personal stories and memories helped her write a very real and detailed account. This way, readers can understand the experiences of those who grew up in that time.
Connection to The Boy Who Dared
One of the stories in Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler's Shadow was so important that Susan Campbell Bartoletti wrote a whole other novel about it. This novel is called The Boy Who Dared. It tells the true story of Helmuth Hübener. Helmuth was a very brave young person who stood up against the Nazis during World War II. He was the youngest person to be sentenced to death by the Nazis for his actions.
