Gender Roles in Hitler Youth Quex

As a piece of propaganda, the film Hitlerjunge Quex speaks reams about the viewpoints of the National Socialist party.  This is not limited to official viewpoints about the Nazis versus the Communists, but also includes discussions of gender.  The film openly displays the alleged gender roles in both the Nazis and the Communists, and its clear to the viewer that one is “right” and one is “wrong.”

Femininity

For the feminine gender role, we have examples of a Nazi girl, a Communist girl, and German woman of the past.  The Nazi girl, Ulla, is obedient but also active and participating.  We see this in her respect for her brother, Fritz the Nazi Youth banner-leader, but also in her own participation and self-respect.  She is pretty, but does not flaunt or show her body in obvious ways (also signals of self respect). This example of femininity is juxtaposed with Gerde, the Communist girl.  She is openly lascivious, drinking and using her sexuality for her own gains.  She appears to have little self respect, and allows others to use her for their purposes.  Finally, Heini’s mother I believe is a symbol of an old Germany.  She is weak, and incapable of facing difficulties.  We never see her outside of the home, and she is incapable of protecting her family.  She is meant to be a sympathetic character, but also not one to idolize.

Masculinity

The masculine gender role is displayed by more players in the film.   The Communist male gender role is displayed by Stoppel and also, in part, by Heini’s roommate at the Nazi Youth boarding house.  Stoppel encourages stealing, tries to corrupt children to drink and smoke, and is generally just a bad guy.  Heini’s roommate, while in a Nazi Youth uniform, was shown from the get-go to not be a “true” Nazi boy in his attention to Ulla in the photograph and teasing of Heini.  These indications are proved to be true when he is swayed by Gerde to throw the Nazi pamphlets out.  Fritz and Heini are both examples of Nazi youth masculinity.  They have clear devotion and attention to family, while also giving themselves up for the “greater” good.  The troop leader is an ideal example of Nazi manhood.  He had served in the military for his country, and was still doing so by leading the youth. 

Hitlerjunge Quex clearly illustrates the appropriate and inappropriate gender roles for the German people, while also illustrating Nazis versus and Communists.  These juxtapositions show the “good” versus the “evil” in Germany at the time.