Hitler's Baby Division

Ludwig (Stabsleiter of Gebiet Schwaben) to HJ Districts, “Sicherung...,” Streng vertraulich,
19.3.1943; Brandl to RJF, 1.4.1943; T-580/347/#2; See same folder for reports of various
Banne; Axmann to Leaders of Regions, "Sicherung...," 30.3.1943; HJ Gebietsführer Ludwig
Stinglewagner (Schwaben) to Leaders of HJ Districts, “Sicherung...," 31.3.1943; T-
580/347/42. See also HJ Gebiet Baden, Sondereilrundschreiben, 2.4.1943, T-
81/99/115703; RJF, "Sicherung...," 6.4.1943, T-580/347/#2.
17 Bann Kempten to Ludwig, “Sicherung des Unterführernachwuchses für die HJ Division,"
8.4.1943; Bann Nördlingen to Ludwig, “Sicherung...,” 10.4.1943; T-580/348/#2/2.
18 Axmann to Leaders of Regions, “Unterführernachwuchs und Freiwillige für die HJ Division,"
14.4.1943; WEL Kuchberg to HJ Gebiet Schwaben, “Unterführernachwuchs-
Unterführerlehrgang...,” 16.4.1943; "Aufstellung der tatsächlichen im WEL Kuchberg,"
17.4.1943; T-580/347/#2; “Unterführernachwuchs...," WEL Rundschreiben 4/43
(10.5.1943); T-580/350/#6/I.
19 Kurt Ziegler, WEL III/36, “Arbeitsbericht über den 2. Lehrgang vom 2.5.-30.5.1943,
Sonderlehrgang HJ Division,” T-580/351/#7.
20 The song titles can be translated as "A young nation rises" and "The world, its rotten bones are
shaking." The latter was composed by Hans Baumann, a celebrated HJ poet and songwriter who
held important positions in the organization before the war, survived the war, and later won
several prizes for contributions to children's literature, including one from the New York
Herald Tribune. The first verse of the song:
The world, its rotten bones are shaking in fear of a war with the Reds.
But we (Nazis) have rushed that monster, a splendid victory is ours.
We shall continue to march on, even if all be destroyed.
For today Germany heeds us, tomorrow the whole world.
And if the world lies in rubble from the battle
That disturbs us not at all, for we'll just build it up again!
Vernon L. Lidtke, "Songs and Nazis: Political Music and Social Change in Twentieth Century
Germany," in Stark and Lackner, Essays on Culture and Society in Modern Germany (Arlington,
Texas, 1982),193. Stachura, Nazi Youth, 212.
21 Schlünder to Stinglwagner, 10.5.1943 “Feier zur Überführung der Freiwilligen aus der HJ
in die HJ Division am 30.5.1943,” WEL-Rundschreiben 4/43 (10.5.1943), T-
580/350/#6/1; "Feier zur Überführung der Freiwilligen in die HJ Division, Wildflecken, am
Sonnabend, den 29. Mai 1943, 16:00 Uhr,” T/611/2/426 I; “Rede des Reichsjugendführers
am 29. Mai 1943 in Wildflecken vor den Freiwilligen der Hitler Jugend,” Geheim; "Rede des
RFSS am 29. Mai 1943...," Geheim, T-81/96/110517ff.
22 “Führerbefehl,” n.d. (April 1943?), T-175/108/2631252; Himmler notes, "Vortrag
beim Führer am 17.6.1943," T-175/94/2615102, 2615111; SSFHA, “Aufstellung der SS
Panzer Grenadier Division 'HJ',” Geheime Kommandosache, 24.6.1943, T-
175/108/2631214-5.
23 Panzermeyer, Grenadiere, 204-5; Stein, The Waffen-SS, 205-6; Ernst-Günther
Krätschmer, Die Ritterkreuzträger der Waffen-SS (Göttingen, 1955), 22-5. (check newer
edition)
24 Panzermeyer, Grenadiere, 205; Pohl to RFSS, “Verpflegung der Angehörigen der SS Pz. Gren.
Div. 'HJ'," 25.6.1943, T-175/70/2586532-3. Each week they were to receive 3.5 liters of
fresh milk, 1,750 grams of bread, 200 grams of meat, 140 grams of lard, 120 grams of sugar
and 245 grams of “nutrients.”
25 “Führerstellungbesetzung” 31.7.1943, T-175/18/2521572, 2521760. The * indicates
individuals who received the Knights Cross either before or after their assignment to the l2th
SS Panzer Division. For short biographies see Krätschmer,Die Ritterkreuzträger der Waffen-
SS. For company lists with birthdates and vocational distribution see T-354/154/3798022ff.
29