Jungmädelbund
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).
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, including church groups and scouting organizations, were either absorbed into the Hitler Youth or banned. In 1936, the First Hitler Youth Law made membership compulsory for all girls aged 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. 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 geographical location she lived at. In order to become a full member, she had to now attend preparatory service which consisted of her participation of one Jungmädel 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 Jungmädel Challenge (Jungmädelprobe), which consisted of participation in a one-day trip with the group, and a number of sports requirements. Girls had six months 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 in which 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 Maidens (also known as the BDM, or Bund Deutscher Mädel).
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 2 Jews in their home. It was published in 1996.
- The Devil in Vienna by Doris Orgel. A young adult novel set in Vienna, it is about two girls of the same age, a Jewish girl and her close friend, an Aryan who is forced to belong to Jungmädel. As their beloved Vienna and everything they've taken for granted collapses around them, they strive to maintain their friendship.
Sources
- Chris Crawford. "Bund Deutscher Maedel: A Historical Research Site". Retrieved 2008-01-17.