Gender

How is gender represented in Hitlerjunge Quex? Which concepts of femininity and masculinity are offered by the Communists? By the National Socialists?

There are very few women in Hitlerjunge Quex and each represents a different type of Woman, illustrating the good and bad concepts of femininity and what a woman's role should be. 

Heini's mother is the everyday woman, the woman over the common people and the working class. She is presented as weak, being completely controlled by her harsh husband. Her role seems to be to take care of the house and Heini and cater to her husbands needs, illustrating what the Nazi party envisioned the role of women to be. Although Heini's mother isn't the perfect feminine character, she is portrayed in a certain positive light. Unlike the father who wants Heini to join the communists, the mother seems to almost support Heini's desire to be part of the National Socialists. Another way the mother is shown in a positive light is when she gives Heini money to try to win the pocketknife, even when she clearly has very little money. This portrays the compassionate, motherly aspect of femininity and again defines the role of the German woman as a mother who is devoted to raising happy, healthy children. 

The other two women in the film contrast each other greatly, creating clear portrayals of good and bad femininity. The girl who is part of the communist group  is much less lady-like. While she is pretty and feminine in appearance she uses these attributes only for manipulation and evildoings. She also participates in what would generally be "masculine" activities, drinking, smoking, wearing pants, etc. This confusion of her femininity in a way portrays the communists as even more unorganized and lost and confused. It makes the communist ideals seem more wrong, that everything, including women, is out of place. 

The girl in the National Socialist group, Ulla is much more refined and knows her place. She is not overly effeminate but she doesn't wear pants and never participates in any rowdy activity boys might characteristically engage in. Ulla is the good definition of feminine. She is strong, but she is not masculine. She is pretty and girlish but she does not flaunt it. Lastly she supports Nazi Germany and is willing to fight for it.