Three Hitler Youth Books – Two Copies of Schirach’s Die Hitler-Jugend & Geschichtsbuch Klasse 6

Description

This lot of three Hitler Youth books brings together two period copies of Baldur von Schirach’s Die Hitler-Jugend – Idee und Gestalt and a school history textbook, Geschichtsbuch für die deutsche Jugend – Klasse 6. Together they show two sides of how young Germans were shaped in the 1930s: the Hitler Youth’s own account of its purpose, and the history taught in the classroom.

What Are the Two Schirach Books?

Die Hitler-Jugend – Idee und Gestalt was Baldur von Schirach’s own account of the Hitler Youth, written while he was Youth Leader of the German Reich. The Deutsches Historisches Museum in Berlin holds a copy of the 1934 edition, marked “1.–75. Tausend” and published by the “Zeitgeschichte” Verlag und Vertriebs-Gesellschaft m.b.H., Berlin.

• First copy (photos 01–05): hessian-style cloth binding with dark Gothic lettering on the cover and spine. A loose or tipped-in leaf advertises “12 Bücher für die deutsche Jugend” from Koehler & Amelang, Leipzig, naming among its authors and subjects von Schirach, the flying aces Boelcke and Immelmann, General von Lettow-Vorbeck and Graf Luckner. It carries a pencil signature at the top. Interior illustrated pages are photographed.
• Second copy (photos 06–09): cloth binding with red-brown lettering. It has the printed motto “Jugend muß von Jugend geführt werden!” attributed to Adolf Hitler, and a title page reading “1.–75. Tausend”, “Zeitgeschichte” Verlag, Berlin W 35, which matches the 1934 edition.

Having two copies with different bindings side by side is useful for anyone interested in the publishing history of the book.

What Is the Geschichtsbuch für die deutsche Jugend?

The third book is volume 6 (Klasse 6) of the school history series Geschichtsbuch für die deutsche Jugend. Library records list Bernhard Kumsteller, Ulrich Haacke and Benno Schneider as authors of the series, with the Klasse 6 volume edited by Ulrich Haacke. The photographed opening section, “I. Urzeit (Ältere Steinzeit)”, begins with prehistory. Like all school textbooks of the period, its narrative should be read within the ideological framework of National Socialist education, not as neutral history.

Collector’s Note

Hitler Youth books such as Schirach’s Idee und Gestalt were printed in large numbers, so the interest of this lot lies in the combination: two different copies of the key Hitler Youth text with a classroom history book. It works well alongside our Wille und Macht magazines and Jugend um Hitler. For background, see my guide to WW2 German documents.

Condition

• Cloth bindings rubbed at edges and corners, with surface marks and wear to the spines.
• Age toning and occasional spotting to the pages.
• Pencil signature on the publisher’s advertisement leaf.
• The textbook shows wear to its boards and normal signs of use.
• None of the books has been collated page by page.

Please study all eleven photographs of these Hitler Youth books, which form an essential part of this condition description. The three books are sold together, exactly as shown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who wrote Die Hitler-Jugend – Idee und Gestalt?

Baldur von Schirach, Youth Leader of the German Reich.

Which edition is the second copy?

Its title page reads “1.–75. Tausend”, “Zeitgeschichte” Verlag, Berlin W 35, matching the 1934 edition.

Are the books sold separately?

No. The three Hitler Youth books are sold as one lot.

Historical Responsibility Notice

These Hitler Youth books are offered as historical artefacts for collecting, preservation, education and research. They contain National Socialist ideology and propaganda, which are retained because they are an original part of the books. Autographs & Militaria does not endorse or glorify National Socialist ideology. For our approach to this material, see collecting Third Reich material responsibly.

References & Further Reading

• Deutsche Digitale Bibliothek / Deutsches Historisches Museum, Baldur von Schirach, Die Hitler-Jugend. Idee und Gestalt, 1.–75. Tausend, Berlin 1934.
• Georg Eckert Institute textbook catalogue, Geschichtsbuch für die deutsche Jugend, Klasse 6 (edited by Ulrich Haacke).
• Autographs & Militaria, WW2 German documents.