Hitler's Lost Boys: Talking to German Child Soldiers for the Last Time

by Christian Hardinghaus

Hitler’s Last The Child Soldiers of the Third Reich

As the Third Reich faced its downfall, Hitler turned to a desperate defense children. Fueled by relentless war propaganda, many members of the Hitler Youth believed that they could still achieve final victory and save Germany from collapse. By 1943, around 200,000 Luftwaffe auxiliaries, some as young as 15, were almost single-handedly defending German cities. In the fall of 1944, the Volkssturm became mandatory for everyone aged 16 and up, and by 1945, the Nazi regime even exploited 14-year-olds as stopgaps and cannon fodder in tank destroyer squads. In the final weeks of the war alone, over 60,000 child soldiers were killed.

Survivors of this brutal period continue to suffer from repressed war trauma, and most have never been able to or willing to speak about their experiences—until now. In this poignant work, 13 eyewitnesses break their silence, offering raw and unvarnished accounts of their childhoods amid merciless battles and grueling captivity. This book is a brand-new translation of the groundbreaking German bestseller "Die verdammte Generation." (2021)

Dr. Christian Hardinghaus, renowned for his gripping accounts of World War II, fulfills the dying wish of Hitler's child soldiers, bringing their extraordinary and long-hidden stories to English-speaking readers for the first time.

"Hitler's Lost Boys" is an essential document that sheds light on the horrors and resilience of a generation forced to grow up too soon.

Illustrated with 58 photographs and featuring an extensive glossary to guide readers through the language of wartime Germany.

“A lot of what's been said about the World War II in Germany is wrong, cowardly, and dishonest. Today, it's as if we were all forced to go to war. We were all proud soldiers and were defending our home and fatherland.”
(Hans Dieter fought as a teenager in the final battles of World War II)

417 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 12, 2024

About the author

About the Author

Dr. Christian Hardinghaus, born in 1978 in Osnabrück, Germany, is a German writer, historian, and media researcher with a Ph.D. A versatile author who moves skillfully between non-fiction and fiction, his works are consistently characterized by thorough historical research and psychological depth. He lives with his wife and two children in his hometown of Osnabrück, where he works as a full-time writer. Visit his official website at christian-hardinghaus.de for more information about his work and upcoming releases.

Academic Background

As the grandson of a doctorate-holding historical scientist, his fascination with history was practically laid in his cradle. After completing his high school education with a focus on history, he studied history, media, and literature, eventually earning his doctorate in 2011 in the field of propaganda and prejudice research. He rounded out his academic training with studies in psychology, pedagogy, and didactics, qualifying as a high school teacher for history and German. His research focuses include World War II, propaganda, everyday life in the Third Reich, and true crime phenomena.

Literary Work

Hardinghaus's literary portfolio encompasses both non-fiction books and novels, including thrillers. His non-fiction works and biographies document historical facts and extraordinary life stories, with particular emphasis on making history not just informative but experiential.

Among his most renowned works are the biography "Ferdinand Sauerbruch und Charité," exploring the life of the master surgeon and misunderstood resistance fighter, and "Das Wolfsmädchen" (The Wolf Girl). His scholarly work "Kriegspropaganda und Medienmanipulation" (War Propaganda and Media Manipulation) has been highly praised in academic circles.

Hardinghaus is particularly known for his "Generationen Reihe" (Generations Series), comprising "Die verdammte Generation" (The Cursed Generation), "Die verratene Generation" (The Betrayed Generation), and "Die verlorene Generation" (The Lost Generation). This remarkable series is based on over 100 interviews with witnesses of World War II, providing invaluable historical documentation through oral history.

His most internationally recognized work is "Verschollen in Panama" (Lost in Panama), investigating the mysterious disappearance of Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon. His most popular novels include "Ein Held dunkler Zeit" (A Hero of Dark Times), "Drei Tage im Feuer" (Three Days in Fire), and "Die Buchhändlerin von Königsberg" (The Bookseller of Königsberg).

International Presence

Due to growing international demand for Hardinghaus's non-fiction works, he has begun publishing several of his books in English. These translations include "The Cursed Generation," "Hitler's Lost Boys," and "Hitler's Betrayed Daughters" from his Generations Series, as well as "Still Lost in Panama," the English version of his investigation into the Kremers-Froon case. This expansion into the English-language market reflects the universal relevance of his historical research and storytelling.

Journalistic Background

His career as a writer began at the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung, where he gained valuable experience as a local journalist. Over the years, this developed into extensive journalistic work for renowned media outlets such as P.M., Psychologie Heute, and Gala. As a member of the German Association of Specialized Journalists, he actively works to strengthen serious journalism.

Knowledge Transfer and Media Presence

Today, Hardinghaus shares his expertise through lectures at schools and universities on historical topics, media education workshops, expert commentary in German and international media, and regular appearances on radio and television.

Reviews

[Gönül · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ich würdige durchaus die Mühe des Autors, die in den Interviews mit den Zeitzeugen stecken mag. Leider habe ich das Buch mit gemischten Gefühlen gelesen. Erstmal wirkten viele Geschichten wie eine Einanderreihung der Kriegsstationen der Personen, hierbei wurden detailliert verschiedene Arten von Waffen, Panzern etc. erwähnt, was für mich keinerlei Relevanz hatte. Mich hätten vielmehr die Emotionen, Träume und Ängste dieser Kinder interessiert. Zudem vermittelt der Autor zu sehr den Eindruck des Deutschen, der nichts gewusst haben will, was meiner Meinung nach etwas problematisch ist. Natürlich wurden während oder nach der Niederlage Deutschlands auch an den Deutschen Kriegsverbrechen begangen, was in dem Buch erwähnt wird allerdings lässt der Autor meiner Meinung nach unkommentiert inwieweit ein "Nichtwissen" der Gräueltaten der Nazis den Tatsachen entspricht.
Letztlich habe ich noch ein Problem mit dem Fazit des Autors, was ich nicht vorweg nehmen möchte. Eine ernüchternde Lektüre für mich.

[Kim Rothhanns · Rating 3 out of 5]

Herzzerreißend. Man bekommt einen guten Einblick in das Leben der Kinder im 2 Weltkrieg. Die eingefügten bilder lassen mich noch mehr daran teilhaben und mitfühlen. Aber dennoch schwierig zu lesen

[Niggls · Rating 3 out of 5]

Die Zeitzeugengespräche sind sehr interessant und lehrreich allerdings fremdle ich zunehmend mit den Schlussfolgerungen des Autors.

[Finja · Rating 4 out of 5]

So Lesenswert.
Im weiteren Hinblick krasse Dinge, die erlebt wurden und echt Beeindruckend wie die einzelnen Menschen überlebt haben.