Lisbeth Matze: Be(com)ing “German” – Nazi Youth Organizations in occupied Slovenia (1941-1945)

Introducing the PhD project on Nazi youth organizations in Austria and Slovenia (http://artes.phil-fak.unikoeln.de/35221.html), this talk focuses on the development of Hitler Youth-like structures, units and activities in the “Grenzland”-territories of Gorenjska and Štajerska. These Slovenian regions were put under civilian administration following their occupation by Nazi Germany in spring 1941. Graz and Klagenfurt served not only as the peripheral power centers of this occupation, but also set the respective directives concerning the formation of Nazi youth organizations. Which strategies where developed and probed in these regions and which means were implemented to secure a lasting grasp on the “German” youth in the borderland? What aspects fostered or hindered the envisaged indoctrination processes? Dealing with these questions, the talk outlines the National Socialist struggle for domination in the Austrian-Slovenian border region by examining practices of youth organization and the links established in this regard between Carinthia, Styria and the occupied regions.