Die Hitler-Jugend
Hans
The wind blew with great volume and power as the trees outside of Hans's window swayed back and forth. The rain patted against the window making soft and comforting sounds to Hans as he laid his head down on his studying desk in his room. He had the radio on very low to make sure that he wouldn't wake any one up who might be sleeping in his home. The radio broadcast that he was listening to was one of Hitler's rallying speeches a few days ago. Hans loved listening to Hitler's speeches they filled him with national pride and gave him much excitement about the future of Germany. Hitler mostly talked about the Aryan race in this broadcast and about their natural strength and beauty. Whenever Hans heard this he could not help but feel flattered being handsome, tall, blond, and blue eyed which are the exact characteristics of being an Aryan. But as the broadcast carried on it began he began to talk about the inferior races such Jews and Gypsies. Hans had never met a Jew in his life but he heard about how disgusting they were and how they are never more but dead weights on society. At that moment Hans heard the small bell ring and his mother calling him for dinner. Hans leap up out of his chair hungry and ran down the stairs in anticipation for his mother's usually well cooked meals. He sat down in one of the oak wooden chairs that his father had made himself and grabbed both pieces of silverware ready to tear at whatever food is going to be put before him. His mother came in the room smelling of weird perfumes that Hans didn't know the name of. She was just as Aryan as Hans was with long blond hair that went past her shoulders and was as good looking as he was. She came in the room holding two decorated plates that had been in the family for generations and placed one before and Hans and the other across from him where his father had always would sit. On the plate was corn, mashed potatoes covered with gravy and one large piece of steak. Mother always knows how to make a proper meal. Hans thought happily as he digged into his meal. As he did his mother left and came back with her own meal. Hans quickly noticed that his father wasn't at the table across from him and the steam was becoming smaller and less radiating off of his meal every moment. "Where is father?" Hans asked with an innocent curiosity in his tone. His mother sighed depressingly and said with a sad tone. "I guess your father will be late again tonight Hans." Hans picked up on his mother's obvious disappointment and said with concern. "Mother it is okay you know that the he does what he does for the Fatherland. You should be proud to be married to such a patriot" Hans's mother looked at him with a face that Hans could not exactly decipher and then put her hand on his. "You truly are the son of your father." What does that mean? Of course I am the son of my father. Hans thought with a hidden puzzled face that he didn't want to show to his mother. She lifted her hand off of his and the door opened in the front room with a loud creak and the sound of the storm outside. Then there was a loud bang that startled both Hans and his mother. Hans called out to see who it was. "Father is that you?" There was a moment of silence and that a mumbled. "Yes Hans it is me." His father walked into the room with his large figure and put his soaked SS overcoat on the coat hook. He sat down with a great pace in his step that was similar to Hans's eagerness to eat dinner as well. They all were enjoying the meal until Han's father broke in saying to his mother. "Hans and Astrid I must tell you something important that is happening." For a moment there was a long pause almost as he if he didn't want to say. But then a large smile spread across his face and said. "Hans we want to send you to one of these youth movements that the country seems to being going crazy over." An excitement rushed over Hans that only came once in a very long time. "Do you mean the Hitler Youth father?" Han's father smile got even larger from seeing the young enthusiastic boy. "I knew you would want to join Hans. I hear soon that it is going to be compulsory for every boy and girl to join." I can't believe this happening to me. My other friends have gone to his and I have always been jealous. But now it is my time. "It would truly be an honour to be part of such a movement Father." Astrid had a look as if she had eaten something rotten. "I don't want him to go Bernard he is only fifteen. He is our boy! He needs to have a loving mother and father at this age not a cruel instructor." The Fuhrer will be my father. Thought Hans bitterly as his mother look as if she was about to cry. Bernard gave his wife a distasteful look and said with an authoritative voice that Hans had always strived for. "One day our boy will be a man! Do you want him to be weak and feminine like a girl? Germany needs strong boys and men to defend against it enemies." Astrid was nearly crying now and had a weak tone that needed silence to fully understand. "There will be a time when he will be a man and that time will be very soon but don't you think that we should let him enjoy being a boy first." She is a traitor to the fatherland I must speak up for myself. "Mother I don't want to be a boy anymore I want to be a man who ready to fight and die for my nation just like my father." Astrid couldn't handle it anymore and stormed out of the room crying like a lover getting her heart broken. Bernard put his hands through his thick blond hair like he will commonly do while frustrated or stressed. "Your mother truly does not want you to join the youth Hans. Hans do you want to join the youth?" Hans had never answered a question before with such fast speed. " I would truly love to join the youth father." Bernard replied with an almost pride in his voice. "That's what I wanted to hear from you Hans. You will leave in a few days but you will still attend school begin to get prepared you have a whole new chapter of your life ahead of you."
Christian
Christian had his head laid on the top of his desk feeling drowsy and his eyes slowly closing. He could feel the pleasure of finally get some rest for a short moment until he felt something soft hit the back of his head. He looked up and around his classroom confused to who threw it. He then heard a fit of laughter behind him and instantly he knew who it was. It was Max and Wilhelm the two boys who loved nothing more but to make Christian's day worse. He decided to just ignore them but before he could turn back to the front the teacher called on him. "Christian can you please give me the answer." He panicked and had no idea what the teacher was talking about earlier. Please not again why does this always happen to me? He got out of the chair and stood up as tall as he could with his short appearance and was perplexed as to what to say. He suddenly heard a small whisper from someone beside him saying. "Because it is the right thing to do." He was too nervous to think clearly and repeated what he said. The teacher's face changed from confused to a large and ugly frown. "So you believe that the reason some people don't agree with the Fuhrer and his policies is the right thing to do." I am so stupid why I always fall for such things. Christian thought depressingly as the teacher came stomping towards him and grabbed him by the ear. "I swear teacher that is not what I meant to say!" He squealed as the teacher brought him into the hallway and the class snicker behind his back. The teacher put him against the wall and went back in the class to grab the ruler for his punishment. My parents are going to kill me if they know I got in trouble again. "Put your legs apart." He obeyed slowly and knew what was coming and the pain that would be inflicted on him. The teacher put his hand back with the ruler in place and hit his thigh. It gave him a large wince and he began to feel the tears welled up in his eyes. No I can't cry I can't. I'll never hear the end of it from the boys in my class. But he couldn't help himself and one large tear streamed down his face. After a few more hits and with a large and purple bruise with a small stream of blood dripping down his leg he walked back into the classroom. He quickly wiped the tears and looked at the class expecting that there would no one to show any pity or sympathy. In his surprize he saw for a brief moment a look of sadness on the tallest boy in the class. He was sent back to his desk and the class was silent until the recess bell went off and everyone poured outside with enthusiasm and excitement that Christian lacked knowing that he will be alone like he always was at recess time. Christian was a short boy with a small and thin body. His hair was dark like coal and his eyes were large and green. His family oddly enough appeared to be all of Aryan stock except him. His mother explained to him that he must have got isolated genes from somewhere generations ago. He never like that answer and always wished he had the looks and complexion of his siblings and parents. As recess started Christian went under the slide, where he would always go. He sat down under the slide and began to rub the painfully purple bruise on his thigh. He wished to go home but he realized there would be punishment there as well. Christian wished to look ahead hoping for a more joyful future but he couldn't see any only being fourteen made it worse. As his despairing thoughts passed through his mind it only got worse as Max and Wilhelm were not yet done having fun tormenting him. Both of them stood at one side of the slide and began to spit their venomous hate towards him. "Christian what are you doing under this slide? Are you watching girls under here you creep!" Said Max with obvious enjoyment in his tone. Wilhelm added in with delight. "You're not only a cry baby you are also freak!" Both them did their high pitched giggling that would come from boys their age. Christian could feel the tears at the back off his eyes again ready to pour out bound to cause him more suffering. All of a sudden Christian heard an unfamiliar voice from behind his tormentors. "Max Wilhelm what are you doing?" Both of them turned quickly with a visible nervousness that Christian picked up and enjoyed to watch. "Oh Hans how is it going?" Wilhelm said anxiously as he rubbed the back of his head. "Good but whom are you talking to?" Max quickly added in with a fear in his tone. "No one well no one in particular." Christian scuttled over and saw it was the same tall boy from class that was in the front row. Hans looked around Max and saw Christian scuttled in a corner with his knees high up and his hand around them in a defensive position against the verbal attacks. "It doesn't look like no one. Why don't you two go and play soccer or something they need more players." Wilhelm showed a sign of relief and turned to Max with ease. "Yeah let's go and play soccer there is nothing better to do." Max made a simple nod and the two of them were off running towards the rest of the class playing soccer. Hans ducked under the slide with his tall figure and said carefully. "Do you mind if I sit under here too?" Christian made a small whimpered. "No." Hans then subtly sat down beside Christian with a vague smile. For a moment there was an uncomfortable silence until Hans said with care in his tone. "So are you okay?" What is this another cruel joke. Christian though before saying. "I…I don't think so." Christian said with his eyes becoming watery and his nose getting runny. Hans said awkwardly with his hand in his golden hair. "Well I can help you with this." Christian put his head between his bare knees to cover his disgraceful sobbing face. "How are you going to help me with this?" Hans made a large swallowing sound and cleared his throat as he if were about to speak to a crowd. "Well I could give you some advice." As if it isn't anything I have heard before. Christian thought as he lifted his head and looked forward to ashamed to look at another boy with such feminine emotions. "You have to learn not to be such a weakling; Germany is looking for strong boys and men to defend it. Leave the crying and shivering to the women." How am I not surprised that would be his advice. "How am I supposed to defend myself against those two brutes every day?" Christian went from sorrow to slight anger in his voice. For a moment Hans was stumbled and replied with. "You have to at least fight back! You know how those two are truly cravens and nothing more." Christian turned to his him red faced and all. "That is because you are tall, you are strong, you are intimidating, and you are Aryan." Hans was stumped and Christian knew he would be with that response. "I can help you then." Hans said as he put his hand on his shoulder. Christian felt an odd sense of comfort. "How are you going to help me?" Hans pondered the question with an intentional fast pace and said. "I can't always be your guardian angel. But I can help you become stronger and help you become the man that the Fatherland needs."
Hans
Hans was walking home from school with the sun shining down on him and radiating his flawless pale skin. He walked with a certain pride in his step and posture as he made his short journey back to his home. Inside he felt good about helping that kid in his class even if it was a sort of tough love. But Hans knew that someone like that needed tough love from time to time. As he was walking he heard a small scuffle of feet behind him and instantly he knew who it was but played into their little game. He then heard a quick jump and both his eyes were covered by someone's hands. He heard a soft voice saying. "Guess who it is?" Hans made a small sigh and took the hands off of his eyes. "I truly wonder." Hans said with obvious sarcasm in his plain tone. He felt a hand go underneath the back of his belt and twirl him around to face the red haired girl that he knew was going to behind him. "Are you not excited to see me Hans?" This is not going to be easy. Hans thought dreadfully as he cleared his throat. "It's not that Agatha." She cut him off quickly before he could finish. "My father finely trusts me enough to walk to and from school without talking to you." Hans put his hand through his light hair and made a disappointed face. "Then you are breaking your father's trust." For a second she was stunned to hear Hans reply in such a way. "Well that doesn't matter to how much I love you Hans." She reached out and grabbed his hand but Hans pulled away. "You don't truly love me your just a stupid girl if you think you can love me." Hans saw the instant look of sorrow on her face and her already red cheeks getting brighter. "Don't you love me Hans?" For a moment there was a horribly awkward silence then Hans said quietly. "No Agatha I don't." Her eyes were watering like Hans's mothers. "But you said you did!" Hans looked around making sure no one would hear or see this scene. "We both know it was only an infatuation that was bound to end." "What the hell are you saying then!?" Agatha began yelling and echoing for the whole world to hear. "My father has taught me that I must keep my German blood pure and I can't taint it with yours. This will never work out the way you would want it to Agatha. I'm sorry but I have to go home now." It may be harsh but it is the truth. Hans thought as he turned around and continued walking home. He walked until he reached his house and went through the front door to be welcomed with loud screaming from two voices that were getting more intense. He heard from a feminine voice that echoed through the house. "How can you sell our son off like a piece of cattle!?" He heard a reply that sounded harsh and inpatient from his father. "How dare you accuse me of selling of my only son!" Hans wanted to avoid this conflict all together and tried to scurry up stairs without being noticed. His plan didn't go according as he heard his father call him over to his side. Hans solemnly marched over to his father dreading what will be asked of him. I have always hated when my parents make me chose between the two of them. Hans thought as he stood beside his towering father. "Yesterday after you left Hans personally told me that he would to join the youth. Isn't that right Hans?" He knew his father would ask him something like that and Hans agreed without hesitation of any sort. "Yes this true mother I am a loyal and enthusiastic believer in our Führer and fatherland." Astrid came closer to Hans and looked at him in the eyes. There was something in that look she gave that Hans had never seen before. "Hans right now it is easy for you to pledge your allegiance but when the time comes and you have to answer that call of duty that you seem so eager to answer then maybe you won't be so enthusiastic about your Führer." It took a few seconds for Hans to fully comprehend what was said to him. But before he could finish his deciphering his father said with a powerful and memorable voice. "I hope what you said was a mistake because it isn't his Führer it is ours." The way he said that made a chill go up his spine he seemed as if he was defending the existence of a god not a Nation's leader. Before Astrid could even speak again she was cut off by her dominative husband. "This discussion is over go back to whatever you were doing I'm going to have a talk with my son." She knew that saying anything in defiance would be futile and pointless so left the kitchen leaving Hans and his father. Hans turned to his father awkwardly rubbing his head not knowing what sort of emotion would be appropriate at this moment. In Hans's surprize his father rubbed the top of his head putting his hand through his thick golden hair. "Oh my blonde little man. I know that you will make me proud, you always have." Hans smiled and pulled his father's hand out of his hair. "I'm not a little man father I'm almost as tall as you." Hans then went on the tips of his toes to exaggerate his height and superiority over non-Aryans. His father only laughed and he took a seat. He made a small friendly hand gesture to signify for him to sit down as well. Hans sat down ready for whatever his father was going to throw at him. He quickly adjusted himself and got comfortable in case of some long lecture or conversation. His father cleared his throat as if ready to give one long and inspiring speech. "When you get to this camp you make think that it is a little different from the school that you are presently attending." Hans raised an eye brow to such a statement especially the unusual tone and body language that is father was giving off. "What exactly did you mean by different father?" He itched the back off his head uncomfortably and said. "Well this type of program focuses more on the physical abilities than on the intellectual ones." Hans made a small giggle and said. "Well I don't see what the big deal is here father you know that I'm the top of my class in gym and almost all of the subjects that our taught in the class room." His father made an uneasy laugh back. "I know that but you must understand that this isn't really like your gym class. You are going to have a drill instructor and sergeant instead of a gym teacher." Hans simply rolled his eyes and slumped back into the chair. "Father I know this and they are probably going to yell a lot too. Is that all because you have nothing to worry about I`ll be fine." Hans was slowly getting up and out of the chair before his father grabbed him by his slender arm and gently pushed him back into the chair. "You need to know that the things they teach there are all true. No matter how extreme it may sound at the moment it is heard. You must understand all these actions that are promoted are needed for the Fatherland to survive and prosper." Hans at that moment did not know what his father meant by that but simply told him that he would obey. He then went to his room and fell atop of his bed and began to rub his eyes in tiredness. Within a few short moments he was a sleep and that night he dreamed. He was in a small and oddly smoke filled room at a small table that had strangers he had never seen in his life before. There was an old man with a large white beard and was wearing some black clothing with a strange hat. Beside him was a woman that equalled his age look wise with short grey hair and a wrinkly face. On Hans's left there was a teenage girl older than him with dark curly hair and dark eyes. And on his right was a small boy with brown hair and brown eyes with a plain face. All of them including Hans had a plate in front of them with a tiny amount of food that would barely even fill the large and classical silver plates in front of them. For some reason Hans had an uncontrollable hunger in this dream and try to take a piece out of this small meal. The man looked up from what he was doing and said with sharpness in his voice. "Not yet my son as hungry as you may be you know that it is our custom to pray and say thanks for any meal no matter how large or small." Hans didn't understand this was not his father but he played along anyways. "As you say father." They all sat up except Hans who looked at them all wondering what they were doing. The old man pulled out a menorah with eight candles all branching from a stem. Hans did not know what the use of so many candles was for on such a contraption but Hans didn't want to question. Hans then sat up and everyone began grabbing each other's hands. He felt the little boys delicate fingers wrap around his and then the larger fingers of the girl around his other hand. They all closed his eyes and began to pray in a language that Hans had never heard before. He didn't understand a single word of it but found it interesting and unique from any language he had heard before. The praying was all of a sudden stopped by a harsh knocking on the door. "Open up now!" The old man stooped his praying and said in a hushed tone. "Dalia take both of your brothers up to the attic and hide where I showed you." Hans did not know what was going on and was grabbed by the collar of his shirt and pulled by the girl. "What is happening?" The girl quickly answered with a tone as if she was explaining something to a toddler. "The Nazis are here to take us from our homes." Hans still did not understand and said with more confusion in his voice. "Why would the Nazis take us from our homes?" The girl got frustrated and said with much anger. "Are you an idiot? We are Jews the government hates Jews and so does the rest of Germany!" The words had made him freeze and he realized he was in a nightmare instead of a dream. Everything he heard about the Jews and now he was one. He wrenched away from her hold and ran to a bathroom he saw them pass down the hallway. He looked in the mirror with large chocolate brown eyes and saw that all the distinguishable traits of an Aryan were gone and he had olive skin with curly light brown hair. It made him want to cry to see what him proud all be gone. He heard gunshots down the hallway and a faint scream that was ended abruptly by another gunshot. He heard large footsteps coming down the hallway and saw in the mirror a man in a Wehrmacht uniform have a smile on his face as he grabbed him by the shoulder and led him into the room with the bodies of the old couple. He pushed him in front of an SS officer who was Handsome and blonde. Hans was horrified as he knew it was his father with a Walter P38 in his hands. Hans fell down to his knees with watery eyes and began to beg. "Please sir you must listen to me!" His father grinned and rolled his eyes as he cocked his weapon. "No sir I am your son!" His father and the other men around him began to laugh at such a statement. "You insult me boy I would never go near a Jew especially sleep with one. Anyways I don't remember ever making any bastards with any women." Hans responded with tears rolling down his cheeks. "Please don't do this father I am your son Hans!" That wiped the smile off of his face and now he looked frightened but masked it with anger. "How do you know the name of my son boy?" Hans knew he was making some progress now. "Because I am Hans I am your son. When I turned fifteen on my birthday you got me a new bicycle. It was red and it was better than all of my friend's bikes. You told me that day that I deserved it for being such a good and obedient son." That was followed by an immediate smack from his father's gloved hand. "Enough of this shit! You there take care of this racial trash before I do." The man with a rifle who watched the whole thing simply said emotionlessly. "Yes sir!" The man pointed the rifle at Hans and pulled the trigger with a flash at the end of the rifle Hans woke up crying from such horrific nightmare. He hated his tears as they rolled down his pale cheeks and did not want to tell his father after what happened. Nor did he want to break and tell his mother what had happened and take her side over her father's patriotic side. But for one moment Hans did not feel patriotic at all he felt quite the opposite.
Christian
Christian was walking home looking down at his feet dwelling on the beating and the humiliation that had come with it. He also now feared what his father may do if he found out about what he had said in class and another beating may happen. Christian lived far from his school and would have to walk a great distance every time he wanted to go to school. He lived near the outskirts of town in a small farmhouse with older twin brothers and an elder sister. There he and his family would work hard for a meager living and wold mostly eat the food that came from their own fields and livestock. After a long journey from his school he was walking through the front of his family's property to find his older brothers playing football. Kicking the ball around the yard vigorously as the two handsome and flamboyant boys screaming playful insults at each other. They stopped in their tracks when they saw Christian walking to the door of his house. His brothers would love to tease Christian and attack him for their own enjoyment and pleasure. The one named Ruben yelled at Christian with glee in his voice. "Ah Christin sister is waiting to put you into a dress again." His twin named Bruno snorted laughter and said with sinister smirk on his face. "Not to mention father wants to see you too." Christian groaned and fear took him and they both could see it on his face. "Why do you look so afraid? You'll be fine if you didn't do anything wrong." Ruben said with a delight knowing that he was obviously in trouble for something. Christian wanted to say anything to his brothers who would just use it as fuel to make more fun of him. Christian walked into the house hating every step that he took walking towards it. As Christian walked into the house he was met with his much tall her sister with a large smile on her face. She got out of her hair and hugged him so tightly he thought the life was going out of him. Ever since Christian was born his sister loved him more than anything else in the world and would take care of him if the parents were busy and practically was more of a mother to him than his real mother. His sister took his hand and grasped it with her long fingers and tugged on him to follow her. She pulled him up the stairs giggling the whole way and brought Christian into her room with a big smile on her face. Christian may have been fifteen but her sister could pick him up to do how small and light he was. He began to blush out of embarrassment as if his father was watching. "I am not baby you should not do that." His sister made a pout facing to mock him and then kissed him on the forehead. "You're still a baby in my eyes." Girls are very strange. Christian thought as her sister went through her closet and pulled out a book it said "Relativity: The special and the general theory." At first glance Christian saw nothing important about the book until he saw the name of the author and it made him gasp. "Sister you know that is a book you can't have that was a book written by a you know what." She shrugged her shoulders and said with playfulness "A book written by a what?" Christian crossed his arms to try and look more serious but it failed as it made him look more adorable in his sister eyes. "Stop joking around with this stuff it isn't funny." Her sister rolled her eyes and sat beside him on the bed. "Yes Christian I know it was written by a Jew. I have to ask though have you ever met a Jew?" Christian looked down at his feet and thought for a second. "Well no but that doesn't mean anything." She snorted trying to keep back her laughter. "You are almost as bad as your brothers." Christian looked up at his sister jaw dropped her sister smiling dumbly at him. "You got to be joking don't compare me to them!" Her sister put her arm around him. "Yeah I know those two are big jerks to you." Christian sighed sadly for a minuet then wondered something. "How come they don't bother you the same way they do with me?" That made his sister laugh out loud. Christian was confused at her outburst. "The last time one of them bugged me I kicked Ruben right where it hurts." That made Christian smile brightly. "And where was that?" His sister was dumb founded at the question then realized. "Now you want me to blunt?" They both laughed together until Christian's sister looked at his leg and saw a purple mark. She went and grabbed his shorts and pulled them up a small bit to see the rest of his bloody and raw thigh. Christian panicked and pulled it down again and stood up off the bed. "I don't want to talk about it okay." She was shocked and quickly responded. "Christian why did you not tell me earlier?" Christian was walking out of the room then and his sister quickly got up and ran over and hugged him "My poor baby tell me what happened." Christian broke off the hug and pulled away from her angry. "I said I don't want to talk about it and I am not your baby!" They both then heard a deep voice booming from downstairs. "Christian get down here now." They both went silent and Christian slowly walked out of her room and began coming down the stairs. There his father waited a muscular and athletic man with a full head of thick brown hair and a light beard peppered with some grey. "Why did you not come to me right away?" He hit him on the back of the head with a small smack. "Papa don't hit him like that it is my fault he didn't come to you." His sister said from the stairs his father gave her a quick glance. "Go back to your room." She shamefully walked up the stairs and Christian shook nervously for his punishment. "Someone told me about what happened in class today. You were hit with a ruler for something disrespectful." Christian began to stumble with his words. "No...no papa that isn't what happened I was tricked into saying something wrong by another boy." His father didn't believe it. "Do you want to be punished again now for lying to me?" Christian was now visibly shaking. "No papa please don't I swear it will never happen again." His father still seemed unpleased "You have sworn me many things and yet you always break them, you are bullied and can't stand up for yourself like a real man, your disrespectful to you teacher, you cry like a girl and act like one, and you lie to me now." Christian stood there taking in all that was said about him feeling hopeless. His father sighed and said. "Maybe you are not a complete loss maybe you can be like your brothers one day. I am going to send you to one of those youth camps that the country has been going mad about. You will pack your things up and be gone in two days I can't change you into man like your brothers maybe toe whip of those instructors will teach you something I can't."