German Boy: A Child in War

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As the Third Reich crumbled in 1945, scores of Germans scrambled to flee the advancing Russian troops. Among them was a little boy named Wolfgang Samuel, who left his home with his mother and sister and ended up in war-torn Strasbourg before being forced farther west into a disease-ridden refugee camp. German Boy is the vivid, true story of their fight for survival as the tables of power turned and, for reasons Wolfgang was too young to understand, his broken family suffered arbitrary arrest, rape, hunger, and constant fear. Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. Especially common in big cities, illegal youth groups rejected Hitler Youth culture. These youth groups tended to dislike conformity and militarization. They typically wore different styles of clothing and engaged in less structured social activities. Many illegal youth groups were for both girls and boys. Some even encouraged more fluid gender roles than the rigid Hitler Youth structure allowed. Riker was a German surname but has been used as a given name for some time now. It comes from the Germanic rike meaning, “rich”. Common German Names for Boys 1. Siemen Luis (Spanish origin), meaning "famous warrior". While this is one of the most common boys' names in Spain, it's also more popular than you may expect in Germany.

The Hitler Youth was an organization that educated and trained boys and young men in Nazi principles. It grew out of the youth group that Adolf Hitler formed for the Nazi Party in the 1920s. Baldur von Schirach headed the Hitler Youth beginning in 1933. By 1935 almost 60 percent of German boys were enrolled in the program. On July 1, 1936, it became a state agency that all young “ Aryan” Germans—white Germans of Germanic or northern European ancestry—were expected to join. In German the organization was called Hitlerjugend. It is an alternate way to spell the name Valdemar and also has Scandinavian roots. The name means “famous ruler”. 9. Waldheri Finn (Gaelic origin), meaning "bright, fair" is one of the most popular names in Germany. Sometimes an alternative spelling of "Fynn" is used. Armin (Iran, German origin), meaning "guardian" or "defender". This name is known because of the actor Armin Mueller Stahl, or the famous DJ Armin Van Burren.A first person narrative from the perspective of a young German boy who had to grow up way too fast during the final year of the war and the period immediately after Germany's crushing defeat. The author, Wolfgang Samuel, provides the reader with a realistic and stark description of the very dark days and nights of that traumatic period. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong. Sponsorship & Advertising Policy Young Wolfgang Samuel’s memoir begins in Sagan in Eastern Germany in the beginning of January 1945 when he had just turned ten. Ingrid is his six-year old sister, whom he adores. His mother is Hedy, a party-loving, short-tempered woman in her early thirties who is oblivious to the danger of Germany’s impending defeat in the World War and the even greater dangers of the advancing Russian army towards her town. Soon, Hedy comes to her senses and flees with her family to Berlin and then on to the Pomeranian town of Strasburg in a desperate bid to escape the Russians. They become unwanted refugees in their own homeland in the process. Tragedy strikes the family repeatedly. Wolfgang’s beloved grandfather remains behind in the Russian zone and is beaten to death by German communists. His aunt and cousin get raped by Russian soldiers. While his aunt dies of disease, his mother Hedy is raped and shot. Hedy survives, but is forced to sell her body to put food on the table for her children. Young Wolfgang observes that sex was the only currency for which one could get any goods because the German Mark was worthless and the family had no possessions worth exchanging for food. The narrative poignantly captures the innocence of Wolfgang as a ten year old boy, who does not really understand what exactly rape and sex are, even though he hears of these words all the time. We also see the the rapid growth of that little boy, still in his early teens, into a man prematurely, as life-changing events impact their lives one after another over the next four years. However, it would be wrong to see the narrative consisting only of hardships. Even in dire situations of danger at the hands of Russian soldiers, there is humor in the way the family survives. There are touching scenes when the family gets together with the grandparents and other relatives. We see what it takes to survive as a refugee and why survival is something they had to do again and again, as there was no assured safety or certainty about their future. Members of the Hitler Youth who were conscripted to the Volkssturm with a machine gun in the defence of Berlin in April 1945. (Photo by Arthur Grimm/ullstein bild via Getty Images) Where did children fight on the front lines in WW2? Jonas (Hebrew origin), meaning "dove". While not German, you probably know this name from the pop band The Jonas Brothers. In fact, it's one of the most popular names for boys in the world.

Upon reaching his 10th birthday, a German boy was registered and investigated (especially for “racial purity”). If qualified, he was inducted into the Deutsches Jungvolk (“German Young People”). At age 13 he became eligible for the Hitler Youth, from which he graduated at age 18. Throughout these years he lived a simple life of dedication, fellowship, and Nazi conformity. Parental guidance was minimal. From age 18 he was a member of the Nazi Party. He also served in the state labor service and the armed forces until at least the age of 21.Yes, and the credit goes to the Ottoman Empire. So, Achmad is the name of a testament. Have you heard the Arabic name Ahmed? Achmad is the German version of it.