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Tanya Parlet
History

John Nicols, Mentor
Daniel Pope, Mentor

In Order to Preserve Our Future: An Analysis of German and American Responses to the Problems of Depression-Era Youth

Although the severity of the Great Depression prompted the governments of America and Weimar, Germany to enact specific programs to combat the growing problems of youth, the Nazi government began its youth programs independent of the Depression. Within the Third Reich, all youth policy was subordinate to the primary ideal of creating the perfect National-Socialist citizen. However, citizens and elites of both states did recognize a common experiential gap between the generations. Yet, in addressing this problem each state enacted strikingly different solutions. To improve our understanding of the dichotomy between the German and American responses, it is necessary to explore important elements comparability. Though there were variations in degree, the programs in each country were centrally funded and administered. However, the programs implemented in each state held vastly different roles for families, churches, schools, and private and public youth organizations. An analysis of the policies adopted both in and outside the government to deal with youth problems in the 1930’s, along with participant and organizational accounts will increase our understanding of the often similar ideals, yet overall quite disparate approaches to assist and "improve" American and German youth.