Shattered Youth in Nazi Germany: Primary Sources from the Holocaust

True Stories of Teens in the Holocaust

by Linda Jacobs Altman

Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party's rise to power in the 1930s changed life dramatically for all people living in Germany. Hitler used propaganda, fear, and brutality as his main weapons. Jewish children faced strong antiSemitism in their schools and on the street, and saw their families ripped apart. Non-Jewish children deemed "undesirable" suffered a similar fate. "Aryan" children were forced to enter Hitler Youth groups or endure humiliation. Told through the words of teenagers, author Linda Jacobs Altman uses primary sources to explore the destruction of childhood in Nazi Germany as the Holocaust took shape in Europe.

Genres: Holocaust

128 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Robbie Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book,gave a good view of what life was like for Jewish children and Aryan children deemed non desirable that were sent to concentration camps and the horrors they faced there.

[Cricket Muse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Linda Jacobs Altman has compiled first hand accounts that describe the destruction of Germany’s youth in Shattered Youth in Nazi Germany. Margaret Shannon’s contributing research provides insight and depth. The book emphasizes how Adolf Hitler attained power through fear and propaganda by backing up his ideas with violence to convince and coerce people to his mindset. One of his weapons of coercion was reaching the youth of Germany. His targets were not only Jewish children, but those of mixed heritage, especially those of African descent. He turned friends and classmates against one another and gathered his juvenile Aryan troops into the Hitler Youth movement. A resource of valuable perception when researching the Holocaust.

Complete with memoir excerpts and photos and illustrations, Altman’s resource book gives readers a neutral, yet focused look into how Hitler affected the heart of Germany by decisively attacking its youth. The interviews and illustrative material create a comprehensive portrayal of how the Holocaust affected both Jews and non-Jews. Divided into seven chapters the book traces the beginning of the Holocaust movement to the end of the war. Considering the book comes in under 130 pages, it is full of resources. There are first-hand accounts, photos, and illustrations, along with a timeline, chapter notes, glossary, and further research recommendations. Students ranging from ten and older will find this a valuable resource when exploring the complexities of the Holocaust.