German armed forces Hitler Youth Hitler Youth (
Hitlerjugend) was established as an organization in
Nazi Germany that physically trained youth and indoctrinated them with Nazi ideology to the point of
fanaticism. Even at the onset of war, the Hitler Youth totalled 8.8 million members. Numbers decreased significantly (to just over one million) once the war began, as many local and district leaders were conscripted for the national army. The previous average age for local and district leaders was 24, but following the onset of war, this had to change to those who were 16 and 17 years of age. These youths were in command of up to 500 boys. in March 1945 for the defence of
Lauban Huge numbers of underage males were removed from school in early 1945, and sent on what were essentially suicide missions. Hitler Youth activities often included learning to throw grenades and dig trenches, bayonet drills and escaping under barbed wire under pistol fire; the boys were encouraged to find these activities exhilarating and exciting. The Hitler Youth was essentially an army of fit, young Germans that Hitler had created, trained to fight for their country. They had the "choice" either to follow Nazi party orders or to face trial with the possibility of execution. Even younger boys from the ages of 10–14 years could be involved in the Hitler Youth movement, under the
Deutsches Jungvolk. Girls were also involved in Hitler Youth Operations, although in a limited capacity, through the
Bund Deutscher Mädel (BDM, the
League of German Girls). They were also required to run 60 metres in 14 seconds, throw a ball at least 12 metres, march for 2 hours and swim 100 metres.
SS Youth Division Towards the end of the war, the Germans established an entire SS Panzer Division with the majority of its recruits being 16- and 17-year-old boys from the Hitler Youth brigades. In the 1st Battalion over 65% were under 18 years old, and only 3% were over 25. There were more than 10,000 boys in this division. In the battle of the
Normandy beaches, the division suffered 60% casualties, most of whom were teenagers.
Other German involvement Berlin-Gesundbrunnen (Humboldthain), 1943 In late 1944, the
People's Army was formed ("Volkssturm") in anticipation of an Allied invasion. Men of all ages, from 16–60 were conscripted into this army. Children as young as 8 were reported as having been captured by American troops, with boys aged 12 and under manning artillery units. Girls were also being placed in armed combat, operating anti-aircraft, or
flak, guns alongside boys. Children commonly served in auxiliary roles in the
Luftwaffe and were known as
flakhelfer, from
luftwaffenhelfer. The
Japanese Imperial Army mobilized students aged 14–17 years in
Okinawa island for
the Battle of Okinawa. This mobilization was conducted by the ordinance of the Ministry of Army, not by law. The ordinances mobilized the student for a volunteer soldier for form's sake. However, in reality, the military authorities ordered schools to force almost all students to "volunteer" for soldiers, creating the . Sometimes they counterfeited the necessary documents of students. Many were killed such as in suicide attacks against a tank with bombs and in guerrilla operations. After losing in
the Battle of Okinawa in June 1945, the Japanese government enacted new laws in preparation for the decisive battles in the main islands. They were the laws that made it possible boys aged 15 or older and girls aged 17 or older to be conscripted into the army for actual battles. Those who tried to escape the call-up were punished by imprisonment. The Japanese surrender, however, had forestalled the Allied invasion of the Japanese main islands, and therefore rendered these child soldiers unnecessary. Many Polish political leaders fled
Warsaw at the onset of war, and those who remained were generally executed, jailed or forced to serve on the
Jewish Council (
Judenrat). Leaders of the Zionist Youth Movement who fled returned to Warsaw through a sense of responsibility as local leaders, for both youth in general and the wider
Jewish community. The Zionist groups' focus changed with the onset of war. Before the war, they focused on social and ideological development. Feeling a higher sense of responsibility to their people during the war, they set out to educate their people by setting up underground schools in ghettos.
Soviet Union , 1943. A number of child soldiers served in the Soviet Union's armed forces during World War II. In some cases, orphans also unofficially joined the Soviet
Red Army. Such children were affectionately known as "sons of the regiment" () and sometimes willingly performed military missions such as reconnaissance. Officially, the age of military conscription was lowered to 18 for those without secondary education and 19 for those with higher education. In 1943 and 1944, 16–17 years old boys (born 1926–27), many from Central Asia, were conscripted. These soldiers served in secondary units, not combat. Many were sent to the Far East, to replace units sent to the German front. After training and coming of age, these males were sent to the front too.
United Kingdom In the United Kingdom, boys of 17 were accepted into the
Home Guard (popularly nicknamed "
Dad's Army") when it was formed in 1940 in preparation for a German invasion and as a "last line of defense". On 27 September 1942, the minimum age for entry into the Home Guard was lowered to 16, provided that there was parental consent. The Secretary of State for War,
Anthony Eden, called for men between the ages of 17 and 65 for Home Guard duty, so it was voluntarily undertaken by those of the younger age. Initially a poorly organized militia, the Home Guard and its young volunteers became well-equipped and well-trained. More than 1,200 Home Guard men died as a result of German bombings. Some successfully lied about their age. The youngest member of the
United States military was 12-year-old
Calvin Graham. He lied about his age when he enlisted in the
US Navy, and his real age was not known until after he was wounded. " is a monument in
Warsaw to commemorate the youngest fighters of the
Warsaw Uprising.
Poland From 1939, Polish youth created multiple resistance organisations. Children also joined military organisations despite the age limit, where they acted as liaison or distributor. Children also fought in extreme situations like
Operation Tempest or
Warsaw Uprising. In November 1942 age ranges were put in place: school of military support, 12 to 15 years; 16–18 years also in military support,
Minor sabotage,
Operation N, liaison office and reconnaissance; older had military training and joined
Home Army. There were few well-known children aged below 14 who took part in military fights. == Legality ==