Edelweiss Pirates
The Edelweiss Pirates was a group that offered children an alternative to the strict and regimented life of the Hitler Youth. Children who were 14 were allowed to leave school and therefore avoid the life of the Hitler Youth. They were not eligible for conscription until 17. By joining the Edelweiss Pirates they were allowed leisure activities and the opportunity to spend time with the opposite sex, things they did not get if they remained with the Hitler Youth.
There were different groups for the different regions and they would all have their own style of dress and their little badge to distinguish which group of Edelweiss Pirates they belonged to. On Nazi official in 1941 reported that there were more Kittelbach Pirates than Hitler Youth and that they were known to beat up the patrols. They were strongly against the authoritarian nature of the Nazi party and largely resorted to petty provocations as a way to rebel.
When the war started, the group took on a larger role by supporting the Allies and giving assistance to men who deserted from the German army. They would even gather up the propaganda leaflets dropped by the Allies and stuff them into people’s letterboxes. They declared eternal war against the Hitler Youth and would often ambush their patrols to beat them up.
The Nazi response was harsh. They would round up boys known to belong to the groups and shave their heads in order to shame them. In some cases, the pirates would be imprisoned or sent to concentration camps. In 1944 a crackdown of the group led to six of the teenagers being hanged. Despite this they never lost their spirit and continued helping deserters and anyone hiding from the Third Reich.