Teenage Sexuality in Nazi Germany

Throughout the Nazi rule of Germany, public officials and agencies were preoccupied with the moral and sexual development of its young people. The ideas of eugenics and racial identity were not new in Germany when the Nazis took power, but were embraced as dominant political ideology.

Yet, by examining police records, reports and other documents, it becomes clear that the Nazis were unable to control the sexual activity of its teenagers, especially during the war. With the absence of parents, the presence of soldiers and young people joining the work force, in some cases sexual activity increased, both heterosexual and homosexual.

Among the problems the Nazis faced:

---teen pregnancy---in 1935 in Mannheim, the 25 girls who went through their church confirmation were pregnant and the League of German Girls had to discharge 17 girls from their organization because they too were pregnant

---rape, primarily of children

---incest (this was believed to be caused by overcrowded living in apartments, and led to a program called "A Bed For Every Child" to combat sexual temptations)

---bestiality (but only in rural areas)

---dances (so much illicit sex would occur at such dances that girls would carry condoms in their handbags)

---sexually transmitted diseases (32% of the girls tested by the Munich police had an STD, usually acquired by sexual relations with [multiple] soldiers)

---homosexual activity in boarding schools amongst boys, with one another and teachers

---The Hitler Youth: meetings were held at night, resulting in teenagers roaming the streets alone; often teenagers would use these meetings as an excuse to parents to go out for illicit encounters. Some parents refused to allow their teenagers to attend, fearing for their children's virtue.

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