Conflict between Schirach and Rommel.
As most forms of para-military training received high priority over more conventional sports the question arose as to who should provide and supervise this training, and this brought the German army into the picture since it alone possessed the necessary resources. The SS-Verfügungstruppen at the time could hardly be considered for the job, as the themselves were in the process of rigorous training partially carried out by army officers delegated for the task.
The army, of cource, saw in the Hitler Youth, as well as in the younger age groups of the storm troopers, an ideal reservoir of manpower well suited to plans envisaging the rapid expansion og Germany's military forces. Co-operation between army officers and Hitler Youth units already existed at various levels, but the attempt to institutionalise this relationship was not made before 1937 when the then Lieutenant-Colonel Erwin Rommel, at the time instructor at the War Academy in Potsdam, was assigned to the Hitler Youth to supervise their general standards of training and discipline. A wearer of Germany's highest decoration of the First World War, he was immediately hero-worshipped by the boys.
By comparison with this battle-hardened soldier, Schirach, in his arrogant attempts to assert himself, was bound to appear bombastic and effete. Rommel had nothing against the para-military training of the Hitler Youth, but the acquisition of a sound educational grounding coupled with good character-building appeared more important to him. He despised the kind of upper echelon Hitler Youth leader who advertised his new-found prominence with a chauffeur-driven car. As son of a schoolmaster he could very well appreciate the early difficulties between Hitler Youth and the educational authorities, and on a number of occations sided with the latter against the former.
When Rommel tried to act as mediator between Rust's ministry and Schirach, the Hitler Youth leader, immediately suspecting a plot against him by a combination of schoolmasters and army, took personal offence. Rommel told him point blank that if he, Schirach, was determined to be the leader of a para-military force he should first become a soldier himself. It was the end of Rommel's assignment with the Hitler Youth and thus for the time being the end of any formal relationship between the army and Hitler Youth.
Source: H.W. Koch: The Hitler Youth.
...
In 1937, Rommel conducted a tour of Hitler Youth (HJ) meetings and encampments, and delivered lectures on German soldiering while inspecting facilities and exercises. Simultaneously, he was pressuring Hitler Youth leader Baldur von Schirach, to accept an agreement expanding the army's involvement in Hitler Youth training. Schirach interpreted this as a bid to turn the Hitler Jugend into an army auxiliary, a "junior army" in his words. He refused, and Rommel, whom he had come to dislike personally, was denied access to the Hitler Jugend. An agreement between the Army and the Hitler Youth was concluded, but on a far more limited scope than Rommel had sought. Cooperation was restricted to the army providing personnel to the Rifle School, much to the army's chagrin. By 1939, the Hitler Jugend had 20,000 rifle instructors. Rommel retained his place at Potsdam and was awarded the highest war ribbons for excellent performance.
Source: Rommel, Erwin
.
As most forms of para-military training received high priority over more conventional sports the question arose as to who should provide and supervise this training, and this brought the German army into the picture since it alone possessed the necessary resources. The SS-Verfügungstruppen at the time could hardly be considered for the job, as the themselves were in the process of rigorous training partially carried out by army officers delegated for the task.
The army, of cource, saw in the Hitler Youth, as well as in the younger age groups of the storm troopers, an ideal reservoir of manpower well suited to plans envisaging the rapid expansion og Germany's military forces. Co-operation between army officers and Hitler Youth units already existed at various levels, but the attempt to institutionalise this relationship was not made before 1937 when the then Lieutenant-Colonel Erwin Rommel, at the time instructor at the War Academy in Potsdam, was assigned to the Hitler Youth to supervise their general standards of training and discipline. A wearer of Germany's highest decoration of the First World War, he was immediately hero-worshipped by the boys.
By comparison with this battle-hardened soldier, Schirach, in his arrogant attempts to assert himself, was bound to appear bombastic and effete. Rommel had nothing against the para-military training of the Hitler Youth, but the acquisition of a sound educational grounding coupled with good character-building appeared more important to him. He despised the kind of upper echelon Hitler Youth leader who advertised his new-found prominence with a chauffeur-driven car. As son of a schoolmaster he could very well appreciate the early difficulties between Hitler Youth and the educational authorities, and on a number of occations sided with the latter against the former.
When Rommel tried to act as mediator between Rust's ministry and Schirach, the Hitler Youth leader, immediately suspecting a plot against him by a combination of schoolmasters and army, took personal offence. Rommel told him point blank that if he, Schirach, was determined to be the leader of a para-military force he should first become a soldier himself. It was the end of Rommel's assignment with the Hitler Youth and thus for the time being the end of any formal relationship between the army and Hitler Youth.
Source: H.W. Koch: The Hitler Youth.
...
In 1937, Rommel conducted a tour of Hitler Youth (HJ) meetings and encampments, and delivered lectures on German soldiering while inspecting facilities and exercises. Simultaneously, he was pressuring Hitler Youth leader Baldur von Schirach, to accept an agreement expanding the army's involvement in Hitler Youth training. Schirach interpreted this as a bid to turn the Hitler Jugend into an army auxiliary, a "junior army" in his words. He refused, and Rommel, whom he had come to dislike personally, was denied access to the Hitler Jugend. An agreement between the Army and the Hitler Youth was concluded, but on a far more limited scope than Rommel had sought. Cooperation was restricted to the army providing personnel to the Rifle School, much to the army's chagrin. By 1939, the Hitler Jugend had 20,000 rifle instructors. Rommel retained his place at Potsdam and was awarded the highest war ribbons for excellent performance.
Source: Rommel, Erwin
.
