Young people who were raised to worship Hitler, who were indoctrinated from age six to believe and embody Nazi ideology, were left with a defeated Germany and a dead führer. The Hitler Youth organization had reached into and shaped every aspect of their lives from schooling to their relations with family and friends. Suddenly, it was gone.

Not only was the organization gone, but the National Socialists were also hated by the world, including many Germans. The atrocities committed during the Third Reich, especially the Holocaust, came to the forefront. Some Hitler Youths were horrified by the camps and the Nazi role in them. In general, Hitler Youth members had a difficult time reconciling themselves with a führerless, defeated Germany and the Holocaust. However, they were young and had a great deal...