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Different views of Nazi youth groups
Interpretation A Adapted from an interview with Kurt Zeisser in the 1960s, published in 1965.
Zeisser, who was from a Protestant family, lived in a small German town. He joined the Hitler Youth in 1930 when he was 13 and worked in his father’s printing business. In 1931 Zeisser’s father joined the Nazi Party to help his business and in 1932 he was given the contract to print the town’s new, Nazi newspaper.
The interpretation is Zeisser’s recollection of life in the Hitler Youth and why he joined.
I joined the Hitler Youth because I enjoyed the activities and doing things with my friends. My parents did not mind me joining. There was no political indoctrination.
Interpretation B Adapted from Melita Maschmann’s book, ‘Account Rendered’, 1963.
Maschmann joined a Nazi youth group for girls in 1933 when she was 15 and living in Berlin. She went on to work in the Propaganda Department of the League of German Girls (BDM). Her parents were wealthy and well-educated. They were killed in an Allied bombing raid. She was arrested by the American army in July 1945 but released, aged 30, in 1948.
My parents would not allow me to join a Nazi youth group, and my friends only cared about clothes and gossip, so I joined secretly. I enjoyed the competitive nature of the activities but what really attracted me were the ideas of National Socialism and my love of Germany. As a member I learned that the Nazis would do away with unemployment and help the poorer people. I was determined to stop the spread of Communism within the working class.
How does Interpretation B differ from Interpretation A about Nazi youth groups?
Explain your answer based on what it says in Interpretations A and B.
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Marking points
- 1 Identifies one specific difference in what Interpretations A and B say about Nazi youth groups.
- 2 Uses relevant content from Interpretation A to support the comparison.
- 3 Uses relevant content from Interpretation B to support the comparison.
- 4 Explains the contrast rather than merely copying or separately describing the interpretations.
Full-mark answer
Interpretation A presents the Hitler Youth mainly as an enjoyable social group: Zeisser recalls enjoying activities with his friends and says there was no political indoctrination. Interpretation B also mentions competitive activities, but Maschmann says that what really attracted her was National Socialism, the Nazis’ promises and opposition to Communism. Therefore, B presents political ideas as central to joining, whereas A presents enjoyment and friendship as central.
Why this answer loses marks
Interpretation A is positive and Interpretation B is negative.
The interpretations are not simply positive and negative. Identify a precise difference—such as enjoyment versus political motivation—and support both sides with what each interpretation says.