Union of Belarusian Youth

The Union of Belarusian Youth was a collaborationist youth organization created in German-occupied Belarus during the Second World War. It was established on 22 June 1943 by order of Wilhelm Kube, the German Commissioner General for Belarus, and was modeled in significant respects on the Hitler Youth. Although presented as a Belarusian organization, it was designed to operate under the authority of the German occupation administration and to cultivate young people in accordance with German National Socialist ideology. The organization served several connected purposes. German authorities used it as a vehicle for political and cultural propaganda, seeking to portray their occupation policy as compatible with Belarusian national aspirations. It was also intended to prepare a pool of labor for the German war economy and to support the recruitment of young people into military auxiliary, police, and other occupation-related formations. Its financing came from several sources, including membership contributions, revenue from cultural events, donations, occupation-authority budget allocations, and payments or deductions associated with German enterprises employing its members. The Union was organized through small squads of approximately 15 to 20 members, generally grouped by age and sex. Boys' units were organized into larger unions, while girls' units were formed into circles. Local leadership was appointed through the organization’s district structure. Training institutions were established at Albertina in the Slonim district, Drazdy near Minsk, Florianovo in the Lyakhavichy district, and Minsk, where prospective leaders received political, organizational, and practical instruction. Approximately 1,500 junior, intermediate, and senior functionaries were trained in occupied Belarus between June 1943 and July 1944. By 1 July 1944, shortly before the German withdrawal from much of Belarus, the organization claimed or comprised units in 16 districts and more than 60 counties, with over 12,600 members. Around 3,500 were associated with the working group known as Germany and employed at German military enterprises. Members were also used in military construction and economic work. From spring 1944, recruitment was directed toward German military auxiliary formations, including units connected with the Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe, the Belarusian Home Defence, and Belarusian police battalions. The Union’s activities were affected by the advance of the Red Army, Soviet partisan activity, and the weakening of German control. Many ordinary members and some leaders defected to Soviet partisan forces. Approximately 3,000 active members left Belarus with retreating German forces. The organization continued operating in Germany until the spring of 1945, when the defeat of Nazi Germany brought its activities to an end. Some former members later participated in anti-Soviet resistance, but the organization itself did not survive the collapse of the occupation regime. The Union maintained a publishing and propaganda apparatus. Its principal periodicals included the magazine Long Live Belarus! and the newspaper Youth Call. It also issued educational and organizational material, including Diary of Orders, Training Leaflet, and Service of Young Men. Its senior leadership included chief conductor Mikhas Hanko for the male organization and Nadzieja Abramava for the female organization. Because it was created and controlled within the Nazi occupation system, the Union is principally remembered as a collaborationist institution rather than as an independent Belarusian youth movement.

The Union of Belarusian Youth emerged in the context of German occupation policy in Belarus during the Second World War. It was created on 22 June 1943 by order of Wilhelm Kube, the German Commissioner General for Belarus. German authorities presented the organization as a Belarusian youth institution, but its planned independence was limited: it was subordinate to the occupation administration and was intended to advance German political and labor objectives. Its ideological model was the Hitler Youth, and its program sought to educate a new generation in the spirit of German National Socialism. The Union combined propaganda, youth organization, vocational and political training, labor mobilization, and preparation for auxiliary service. German authorities hoped that it would help improve the image of the occupation regime, attract Belarusian youth to its side, and provide workers for the Third Reich. Its finances came from member contributions, proceeds from cultural events, donations, occupation-government funds, and deductions connected with German businesses that used members’ labor. The basic organizational unit was a squad of approximately 15 to 20 young people of the same age and sex. Several squads formed a boys’ community or a girls’ circle. District and county structures were led by appointed officials, while a central management staff coordinated the organization. Training schools operated at Albertina, Drazdy, Florianovo, and Minsk. Between June 1943 and July 1944, these schools trained approximately 1,500 functionaries. The Union expanded as the German occupation authorities attempted to consolidate their control. By 1 July 1944, it had units in 16 districts and more than 60 counties, with over 12,600 members. Approximately 3,500 were associated with the working group Germany and employed at German military enterprises. Other members performed military construction and economic work in occupied Belarus. From spring 1944, the organization also became connected with recruitment for Wehrmacht and Luftwaffe auxiliary formations, the Belarusian Home Defence, and Belarusian police battalions. Its position deteriorated as the Red Army advanced and Soviet partisan influence increased. Many ordinary members and some leaders defected to partisan forces. About 3,000 active members departed Belarus with retreating German troops. The organization’s headquarters moved from Minsk to Berlin in July 1944, and its activities continued there until spring 1945. After Germany’s defeat, the Union ceased to exist as an organized institution, although some former members later took part in anti-Soviet resistance. The organization also maintained a publishing program. Long Live Belarus! served as its principal magazine, while Youth Call functioned as its newspaper. Additional educational and administrative publications included Diary of Orders, Training Leaflet, and Service of Young Men. The male organization was headed by chief conductor Mikhas Hanko, and the female organization by Nadzieja Abramava. Historically, the Union is characterized by its incorporation into the Nazi occupation system and its role in ideological indoctrination, labor use, and military or police mobilization.

• 1945

  Activities ended

  [1]Union of Belarusian Youthen.wikipedia.org

  The Union ceased operating in Germany during the final phase of the Second World War.

• 1944

  Membership and territorial network expanded

  [1]Union of Belarusian Youthen.wikipedia.org

  By 1 July, units operated in 16 districts and more than 60 counties, with over 12,600 members.

• 1944

  Headquarters moved to Berlin

  [1]Union of Belarusian Youthen.wikipedia.org

  The organization transferred its headquarters from Minsk to Berlin in July as German forces retreated.

• 1943

  Organization established

  [1]Union of Belarusian Youthen.wikipedia.org

  Wilhelm Kube ordered the creation of the Union of Belarusian Youth on 22 June 1943 in German-occupied Belarus.

• 1943

  Leadership training network opened

  [1]Union of Belarusian Youthen.wikipedia.org

  Training schools were established in Albertina, Drazdy, Florianovo, and Minsk to prepare Union functionaries.

A purportedly Belarusian youth organization operating under German occupation authority, combining National Socialist ideological education, propaganda, leadership training, labor mobilization, and support for military auxiliary and police recruitment.

• Magazine

  Long Live Belarus!

  The Union’s principal magazine, used for propaganda, political communication, and the presentation of the organization’s Belarusian and National Socialist-oriented program under German occupation.

• Newspaper

  Youth Call

  A newspaper associated with the Union that supported its public messaging, organizational communication, and mobilization of Belarusian youth within the German occupation system.

• Organizational publication

  Diary of Orders

  An administrative and educational publication issued for the Union’s internal organization and training of members and functionaries.

• Educational publication

  Training Leaflet

  Instructional material used to support the ideological and organizational education of Union members and leaders.

• Educational and service publication

  Service of Young Men

  A publication connected with the Union’s training and service functions, including the preparation of young men for duties associated with the occupation administration and auxiliary formations.

• 1943

  Creation as a Nazi-controlled collaborationist organization

  The Union was created by German occupation authorities, modeled on the Hitler Youth, and subordinated to the occupation administration. Its program promoted National Socialist ideology and supported labor, military auxiliary, and police mobilization, making collaboration with Nazi Germany central to its historical identity.

  Source

Read more

• 1944Military and police auxiliary recruitment

  German-occupied Belarus

  From spring 1944, recruitment efforts directed Union members toward German military auxiliary formations, the Belarusian Home Defence, and Belarusian police battalions.

  Outcome. The campaign linked the organization more directly to the military and security structures of the occupation regime during its final period in Belarus.

  Source
• 1943Union formation and recruitment campaign

  German-occupied Belarus

  German occupation authorities promoted the Union as a Belarusian youth organization in an effort to influence young people, support the occupation regime’s propaganda, and develop a source of labor and auxiliary personnel.

  Outcome. The organization developed a territorial structure and attracted thousands of members, although its activities were later undermined by the Red Army advance, partisan activity, and German military withdrawal.

  Source

• 1944

  Expansion into labor and auxiliary military mobilizationStrategy

  Background

  As the German war effort deteriorated, the occupation authorities sought additional labor and military support.

  Action taken

  Union members were assigned to military construction and economic work, while recruitment expanded to German military auxiliary formations, the Belarusian Home Defence, and police battalions.

  Aftermath

  The organization became more closely associated with the coercive and military functions of the occupation regime.

  Source

• 1944

  Relocation of headquarters from Minsk to BerlinOther

  Background

  The Red Army’s advance forced German authorities and their affiliated Belarusian institutions to retreat westward.

  Action taken

  The Union moved its headquarters to Berlin in July 1944.

  Aftermath

  Operations continued in Germany only until the final collapse of Nazi Germany in spring 1945.

  Source

• 1943

  Adoption of a Hitler Youth-inspired organizational modelStrategy

  Background

  German occupation authorities wanted a Belarusian youth institution that could serve propaganda, ideological, labor, and recruitment objectives.

  Action taken

  The Union was structured around age- and sex-based squads, larger boys’ communities and girls’ circles, appointed local leaders, and a central management staff.

  Aftermath

  The structure enabled rapid expansion but reinforced the organization’s dependence on German occupation policy.

  Source

1. 1Union of Belarusian Youthen.wikipedia.org