GIRLS IN RECREATION CAMPS [Maedel in Freizeitlager] official publication of the Reich Youth Headquarters [Reichsjugendfuehrung]
Political Education in the Recreation Camp
[Page 34]
We are a political Organization of Girls and acknowledge herewith the task which has been set for us by the National Socialist State: to remain alert and ready for our duty and to help with all our strength in the building of a National Socialist People. Politics today means to us not only the consideration of daily political occurrences, but Politics means to us also the ideological, spiritual, and cultural forming of the entire German people in the sense of National Socialist Demands. Our educational work is determined by this great political task. It has to readjust itself continually to these demands. Then there will emerge from the community where such work is done the person who is the embodiment of our way, healthy and capable, inwardly strong and womanly, consciously German and consciously National Socialistic.
2439-PS
These recreation camps, where our community becomes closely cemented, are an essential expression of our way. Our chief work in the summer month is therefore consciously the holding of recreation camps in which our political education pattern takes shape. Recreation camps force a cementing of community. Girls from all walks of life, from overpopulated cities as well as the wide open country, stand together under our flag for days and weeks, leaving behind all their ordinary interests in life—school and machine, lecture hall and household—and finding a vigorous and healthful life.
Political education in the recreation camp is not synonymous with scientific discussions, but is rather determined by the experiences shared by the camp community and is shaped accordingly. Our recreation camps are organized more loosely than the leadership schools [Fuehrerinnenschulungen], but in spite of all fun, rigid discipline prevails. Our girls should really be able to leave their daily troubles and cares behind during this week to ten days.
[Page 35]
Many who have not yet found us inwardly, acquaint themselves here with the life and the forms of the National Socialist Organization of Girls and become so attached to it that they cannot dissolve this bond upon their return to everyday life. * * *
Everything the girls experience here takes on a clear, visible pattern in their joint discussions, in which knowledge of their mission in our state, our educational pattern, and the National Socialist Ideology is imparted. During the domestic evenings [Heimabenden] the work done during the forenoon, and the work of the Fuehrer and his assistants, the work of the young creative forces in our ranks, is brought closer to them. During the forenoons devoted to reading, they acquaint themselves with the literature of National Socialism and so absorb lasting values. * * *
In clear recognition we created these recreation camps not only for the girls already in our ranks, but also for all the others. We want to do our work with a joyful sense of responsibility, with loyal performance of our duty, and with industry. In order not to become tired and sluggish under the burden of work which each working girl carries however, we need a time which permits quiet collection of strength—free time: Our recreation camps, in which the girls are schooled and prepared for their responsibility and duty to the people and the State, are a political necessity.
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2439-PS
(Pages 69 to 71] Borderlalld
The circular which called us to camps stated: each junior girl leader will give a survey of the historical and native development of her subdistrict [Untergau] and will consider how she would work this out with junior girls [Jungmaedeln].
Each of us then realized anew how many living witnesses of ancient history, memorials, walls and bulwarks, legends, tales and jokes, songs and old customs are still alive in her subdistrict.
We had been in camps for three days now. We had penetrated deeper and deeper into National Socialist ideology, emphasized especially the cultural desire of National Socialism; we had discussed our junior girl activities and had worked on the arrangement of our home; we had sung, gone on a short trip, and participated in practical junior girl sports. Today in our domestic evening we want to hear something about Pomeranian customs and Pomeranian History.
After supper we march silently down to the sea. * * *
Our Pomeranian coast lies before our eyes. Now Traute, from the village of Leba up on the Polish border, tells us about the immensity of the shore and on the sea. * * *
Then she suddenly becomes serious: "In our subdistrict we have 200 kilometers of border. Consider what that means: 200 kilometers of border. The Versailles Treaty separates German soil from German soil, blocks our access to the nearest port, and cuts off traffic to the east. Our border city of Lauenburg is flooded with agricultural products. One farm after another in our county gets into great difficulties since, because of the demarcation of the border, there is no longer a market outlet for agricultural products. In Lauenburg itself the greatest amount of unemployment in Pomerania prevails. The Winter relief work tries to alleviate the worst conditions of misery and distress during the winter. Everything is shut down—the factories, the brickyards, and all large plants. These are the effects of the demarcation of the border on our Homeland. * * *
"And the border itself; visualize a forest, through which a road leads to a railroad station. The road is neutral, the forest is German on the right and Polish on the left. I cannot tell you how one feels on this road; you would have to come and experience it all yourselves.
But we know that we are on outpost duty there. You can rely on us." Traute is silent. We all get up, grasp each other's hand, and our song is solemn now: "Holy Fatherland, in danger thy sons will flock around thee . . ." And then we stand around the flag and look silently toward the East.
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Extracts from a Hitler Youth book for girls, on programs in camps, including political instruction and education about the German-Polish frontier
Authors
Date: Date Unknown
Literal Title: Poiltical Education in the Recreation Camp (Freizeitlager)
Total Pages: 2
Language of Text: English
Source of Text: Nazi conspiracy and aggression (Office of United States Chief of Counsel for Prosecution of Axis Criminality. Washington, D.C. : U.S. Government Printing Office, 1946.)
Evidence Code: PS-2439
Citation: IMT (page 255)
HLSL Item No.: 450297
Notes:No date is stated.