Jungmädelbund

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The Jungmädelbund (literally "Young Girl's League") was the section of the Hitler Youth for girls between the ages of 10 and 14.

It is called Jungmädelbund in German, and commonly abbreviated in period and contemporary historical writings as JM. Since this was a girls' organization, it fell under the League of German Girls, which was led by the BDM-Reichsreferentin (National Speaker of the BDM), who reported to the overall head of the Hitler Youth, Baldur von Schirach (who was later succeeded by Artur Axmann).

[edit] About the Jungmädel

After the Gleichschaltung in 1933, the League of German Girls became the only girls organization in the Third Reich. All other groups, to include church groups and scouting organizations, were either absorbed into the Hitler Youth or forbidden. In 1936, the First Hitler Youth Law, made membership compulsory for all girls ages 10 or older. The same law also made membership in the male Hitler Youth compulsory for all boys above the age of 10.

New members had to register for their service between March 1st and March 10th of every year. Registration was held at a local League of German Girls administrative office, which was generally located at the local Nazi party building, called the Braunes Haus ("Brown House"). Girls had to have completed fourth grade and meet the following requirements:

be of racial / ethnic German heritage
be a German citizen
be free of hereditary diseases

If a girl met those requirements, she was assigned to a Jungmädel group based on the physical location she lived at. In order to become a full member, she had to now attend preparatory service which consisted in her participation of one Jungmaedel meeting, one sports afternoon which was to include a test of her courage, and a lecture about the tasks of the Jungmädel.

After she fulfilled these requirements, a ceremony was held to introduce new members into the rank of the Jungmädel on April 20th, Hitler's birthday. During the ceremony, new members were sworn in, presented with a membership certificate, and personally welcomed by their group leaders.

In order to become a "full" member, however, each girl had to pass the Jungmaedel Challenge (Jungmädelprobe), which consisted of participation in a one-day trip with the group, and a number of sports requirements. Girls had six month to meet all the requirements of the Jungmädel Challenge and, on October 2nd of each year, those who passed became full members in another ceremony where they were officially presented with the right to wear the black neckerchief and brown leather knot.

A girl was then a full member of the Jungmädel and remained in the group until the age of 14, at which point she transferred into the League of German Girls.

[edit] In fiction

Behind the Bedroom Wall, by Laura Williams, is a children's novel set in World War II about a Jungmädel girl whose family hides a Jew in their home.