Special divisions of the State Youth include, in addition, the “Division for Registration, Organization, and Education,” the “Personnel Office,” the “Division for Youth Outside the Reich and for Colonial Work” (under the “Central Portion of German Youth in Europe”); and, as other small parts of the imposing organization, “Preparatory Schools for Fliers,” and divisions for “Aerial Fitness” and training for “Gliding, Motoring, Riding.”
There are thirty-four special schools for the education of Hitler Youth leaders, and four Reich Schools, in Potsdam and Mehlen for boys, and in Potsdam and Gotesburg, for girls.
From their tenth year on, German children are subjected to courses in physical training, which have been described by the leaders as “peaceful” and “sportsmanlike,” but which carry the name of Wehrsport (Defensive Sport).
John W. Taylor writes about “Defensive Sport” in a book which makes acknowledgment to the German authorities for “much valuable assistance” given him in the compiling of a thorough and objective work. He says that the Hitler Youth organization “has never issued an official handbook for this type of training. The writer has spent many hours in conference with members of the Reich Youth Leadership [he names Richter, councilor in the Ministry of Education; Senn, Bannführer of the Reich Youth directors; and others] and has spent many hours visiting the training schools of the Hitler Youth. Various publications in the nature of handbooks for open country and defense sport training are found in the book-shops of Germany, and one finds that the directors of the various training schools choose their own textbooks.”
Here, again, we find the lack of official government material — not accidentally, but in the interest of tactics, and to make Germany presentable to the outside world — supplemented by other publications. The booklets of instruction, which have become of more importance than textbooks to the schools, fill this gap in the same way that the “various publications” meet the needs of the State Youth.
John W. Taylor continues:
During a visit in such a camp, the author met Police Lieutenant J. Remold, in charge of this encampment. The following outline of what was taught in this camp is for the most part taken from a pamphlet written by the Lieutenant and is entitled Handbook for Hitler Youth (Munich ’33): A. Maneuver Sport. 1. Drill in closed formation. 2. Reading of maps to scale (scale 1:25,000 and 1:100,-000). Direction finding with and without compass. 3. Description of the various types of land (topography cover, and judgment of landscapes). 4. Vision tests. Estimating of distances. 5. Taking cover, camouflaging, and laying of false trails. 6. Scouting, making reports, and sketching. 7. Drilling in open formation. 8. Protection of a marching column. 9. Pitching tents and the use of spades. 10. Orientation and direction finding, at night as well as by day. 11. Simple open country games. B. Physical Education. 1. Exercises without apparatus. 2. Tumbling and floor gymnastics. 3. Boxing. 4. Games without apparatus. 5. Games with the medicine ball. 6. Gymnastics with apparatus. 7. Swimming. 8. Cross-country and endurance running. 9. Indian Club throwing for accuracy. 10. Formation games. 11. Marching with full equipment. C. Small Caliber Rifle Practice. 1. Study of firearms: parts and care of the weapon. 2. Shooting instruction. 3. Behavior on shooting stand. 4. Activity as recorder and as munition-passer. 5. Activity as supervisor of rifle practice. 6. Pulling the trigger, practice at triangular targets. Positions before, during and after firing. 7. Firing positions: prone, sitting, kneeling and standing.
John W. Taylor makes no comments on this “survey” and indeed any comment would be superfluous. Both groups A and C are as obviously related to “peaceful sport” as the throwing of bombs. And these directions for marching in full outfit complete the martial picture:
Taylor continues: