Module 11 Hitler Youth: Growing up in Hitler's Shadow

Summary: During WWII, children in Germany joined the Hitler Youth, not knowing the extent of evil that the Nazi Party and Hitler were guilty of. This book follows 12 of these children and their involvement with this organization from 1933 to the end of the war in 1945. 

Bartoletti, S.C. (2005).  Hitler youth: growing up in Hitler's shadow. New York, NY. Scholastic Inc.

My Impressions: I thought this book was very well written and it is very evident that the author definitely did her research when she wrote this book. I was both moved and horrified by the words and the images depicted in this story.   


Professional Review: 
Gr 5-8-Hitler's plans for the future of Germany relied significantly on its young people, and this excellent history shows how he attempted to carry out his mission with the establishment of the Hitler Youth, or Hitlerjugend, in 1926. With a focus on the years between 1933 and the end of the war in 1945, Bartoletti explains the roles that millions of boys and girls unwittingly played in the horrors of the Third Reich. The book is structured around 12 young individuals and their experiences, which clearly demonstrate how they were victims of leaders who took advantage of their innocence and enthusiasm for evil means. Their stories evolve from patriotic devotion to Hitler and zeal to join, to doubt, confusion, and disillusion. (An epilogue adds a powerful what-became-of-them relevance.) The large period photographs are a primary component and they include Nazi propaganda showing happy and healthy teens as well as the reality of concentration camps and young people with large guns. The final chapter superbly summarizes the weighty significance of this part of the 20th century and challenges young readers to prevent history from repeating itself. Bartoletti lets many of the subjects' words, emotions, and deeds speak for themselves, bringing them together clearly to tell this story unlike anyone else has.-Andrew Medlar, Chicago Public Library, IL Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.
Medlar, A. (2005, June 1).

[Review of Hitler's Youth: Growing up in Hitler's Shadow]. School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://www.titlewave.com/search?SID=4b32f2cb7e1e87368fe5b0b1612cbe42

Library Use: This book can be used when students are conducting research on WWII, Hitler, Germany, The Nazi Party, etc...