Childhood and Youth

Willi's "illegal" Hitlerjugend friends from Feistritz are in Klagenfurt on the big day March 12, 1938. Willi is the tallest one in center, Trude is second from right, looking back. Left to right: Minko, Pepi G., Herta, Willi, Sepp, Pepi W., Anni, Trude, Ilse.

Willi was later recognized with a special certificate and medal of remembrance for his participation in furthering the success of the Reunification of Austria to the German Reich.

From Willi's scrapbook: Top left: His Hitler Youth marched in Linz an der Doneau in March; top right: camping in Mallestig in June; center: his group arrives in Nuremberg; lower left: marching through the city; lower right: the stadium at the rally grounds; all three September 10-11-12.

In September 1938, Willi was privileged to attend the NSDAP annual gathering in Nuremburg, representing Klagenfurt with his Hitlerjugend comrades. They travelled by train and had a glorious few days, standing at attention for the Führer as he walked slowly past their formation on the "Day of the Youth". This is the souvenier program for the following day that he brought home with him and managed to save. In October he turned 19 and was "called to the colors."

From Trude's scrapbook: a ballot from the 1938 election to approve the Anchluss of Austria to Germany, and a newspaper picture of the Führer with a group of young supporters which includes Willi's sister Trude. He has identified her in the upper left. Willi was 18 yrs old at this time. Hitler's press chief Otto Dietrich is standing above and slightly to the right of Hitler, looking on.

On October 10th, Willi's underground (illegal) Hitlerjugend marched, camouflaged as Landdienst (Farmer's Support) or Grenze Jugend (Frontier Youth).  Top: Oberst Barger and nationalists march, in uniform and out; Center: Young men march in shorts and white shirts & socks (Willi is somewhere in the middle); Bottom: Young women (mädels) march (Willi's sister Trude is third from left). On the top right: Willi's 1937-38 Gymnasium class; bottom right: HJ group in winter 1937.