Gender Roles

Hans Steinhoff is able to effectively propagate National Socialist ideals through his representation of gender in Hitlerjunge Quex. The way gender is portrayed throughout the film clearly communicates the stereotypes that the Nazis seek to perpetuate in an attempt to disparage the Communist party and their followers. For example, the Communist character of Gerda is depicted as a woman of loose morals. Her lewd, vulgar behavior gains her no respect from her peers. As a result, she becomes a symbol of distraction and indiscipline. On the contrary, Ulla is portrayed as the ideal woman of the Hitler Youth. She dresses conservatively, follows orders, respects herself and her fellow peers, and is dedicated to the objectives of the National Socialists. Such juxtaposition of femininity is a clear expression of Nazi propaganda and is further communicated in the film’s representation of masculinity.

Masculinity in Hitlerjunge Quex follows the same pattern of ideals that can be seen through the film’s depiction of femininity. Heini’s father, a Communist, is unemployed, overweight, and a clear expression of economic privation. He along with his Communist colleagues lack direction in their lives and are repeatedly seen smoking, drinking, and causing unrest in the streets. In contrast, the Nazi men in the film are mostly healthy young men who are dedicated to the ‘betterment’ of Germany. The Nazi men become symbols of discipline and order, further accentuating the contrast between the National Socialists and Communists.