Hitler's Baby Division
Hitler's Baby Division Hitler's Baby Division
Division,” derisively in radio broadcasts and propaganda leaflets, suggesting the milk bottle as its tactical symbol. Hitler, nonetheless, believed his youngsters would fight “fanatically” and predicted that the enemy would be “struck with wonder.” 26 By mid September most divisional sub units had been formed and training within them was proceeding smoothly. Some 16,000 boys had reported, although most equipment was still missing. At the end of September when the division had reached nearly full strength, it still had not acquired adequate medical services. Some sixty doctors and fourteen dentists, all former HJ members serving in various military units, were extracted by complicated negotiations among HJ, SS and OKW officials. Their services were overdue, for the type of training practiced by the SS seemed to result in many minor accidents, especially since they were dealing with extremely young soldiers. The chief of Armored Troops West, Geyr von Schweppenburg, complained at one point that there was a lack of adequate training in first aid. More serious diseases plagued some units. The Engineer Battalion, for instance, reported six cases of infectious hepatitis, eight cases of diphtheria and two cases of scarlet fever in a single month. Yet, at the end of October, the division was designated a full-fledged armored division, instead of an armored infantry division, and a few days later Hitler ordered that it be fully equipped immediately. 27 In his post-war memoir Kurt Meyer claimed that the youthfulness of the division was taken into consideration. New training methods “based on the traditional German youth movement” had been used instead of normal military practice. Convivial relationships between men and officers had been encouraged and close ties to parents and home were maintained. There had been no time for unnecessary drill or parade ground marching, since 20
emphasis had been placed on training under simulated war conditions. This claim of Meyer's is substantiated by the remaining records, at least as far as Fritz Witt is concerned, although he seems to have had considerable difficulty with lower ranking officers in showing equal understanding. Enlisted men, guilty of minor infractions, were frequently forced to sign ready made confessions and overpowered by accusations. Some unit leaders transferred recalcitrant youths to other formations in order to maintain "clean outfits," not in itself an unusual practice in any army but certainly of some significance in a HJ division touted for its pristine qualities. Witt reminded his officers that they were dealing with very young men whose training had been inadequate at home and had to be continued by them, providing a kind of second home for youngsters deprived of normal socialization. Company commanders should therefore assume a kind of fatherly responsibility and try to find appropriate training methods. Some serious accidents occurred when youthful recruits used weapons to even scores in the inevitable personal disputes. One such incident sent a young soldier to the hospital, but his adversary was excused on grounds of immaturity. Another recruit was caught stealing from a Belgian professor. The thief was given a mild punishment and the professor, whose stolen property had been returned, was supposed to have been informed of the punishment, but the regimental commander found that bit of civility to be unnecessary. Valuables in letters and packages from home were frequently filched, forcing Witt to order close surveillance of the mails. Despite many warnings by Witt, strange punishments continued to be practiced by lower echelon officers and NCOs. Electrifying door handles, shaving heads, and cleaning rifles between one and three in the morning were types of penalties cherished by some superiors. Witt forbade threats of heavy punishment for minor disciplinary infractions, 21
- Page 1 and 2: Hitler's Baby Division "The Baby Di
- Page 3 and 4: others. It was in the forefront of
- Page 5 and 6: The idea of creating a Waffen SS ar
- Page 7 and 8: temporarily for HJ Division candida
- Page 9 and 10: shifted to the HJ Division, but Han
- Page 11 and 12: 400 before examinations, since thes
- Page 13 and 14: commander of the division, ordered
- Page 15 and 16: Ziegler. Although the course had to
- Page 17 and 18: Hitler had originally ordered that
- Page 19: Commander SS Brigadier General Frit
- Page 23 and 24: percent of the required vehicles -
- Page 25 and 26: the conquest of Poland he volunteer
- Page 27 and 28: done because the planners believed
- Page 29 and 30: Ludwig (Stabsleiter of Gebiet Schwa
emphasis had been placed on training under simulated war conditions. This<br />
claim of Meyer's is substantiated by the remaining records, at least as far<br />
as Fritz Witt is concerned, although he seems to have had considerable<br />
difficulty with lower ranking officers in showing equal understanding. Enlisted<br />
men, guilty of minor infractions, were frequently forced to sign ready made<br />
confessions and overpowered by accusations. Some unit leaders transferred<br />
recalcitrant youths to other formations in order to maintain "clean outfits,"<br />
not in itself an unusual practice in any army but certainly of some<br />
significance in a HJ division touted for its pristine qualities. Witt reminded his<br />
officers that they were dealing with very young men whose training had been<br />
inadequate at home and had to be continued by them, providing a kind of<br />
second home for youngsters deprived of normal socialization. Company<br />
commanders should therefore assume a kind of fatherly responsibility and<br />
try to find appropriate training methods. Some serious accidents occurred<br />
when youthful recruits used weapons to even scores in the inevitable<br />
personal disputes. One such incident sent a young soldier to the hospital, but<br />
his adversary was excused on grounds of immaturity. Another recruit was<br />
caught stealing from a Belgian professor. The thief was given a mild<br />
punishment and the professor, whose stolen property had been returned,<br />
was supposed to have been informed of the punishment, but the regimental<br />
commander found that bit of civility to be unnecessary. Valuables in letters<br />
and packages from home were frequently filched, forcing Witt to order close<br />
surveillance of the mails. Despite many warnings by Witt, strange<br />
punishments continued to be practiced by lower echelon officers and NCOs.<br />
Electrifying door handles, shaving heads, and cleaning rifles between one and<br />
three in the morning were types of penalties cherished by some superiors.<br />
Witt forbade threats of heavy punishment for minor disciplinary infractions,<br />
21
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