Who were the Hitler youth?

It was an organization for boys and young men. You did not HAVE to belong, but, it was safer to join, for your family. The HY had many activities for young people, emphasizing physical fitness, and activities in which skills useful in a military context were learned, such as camping, hiking, map reading. There was a heavy dose of Nazi political brainwashing, and some of the most fanatical Nazis were produced from this system. There was an entire SS division, the 12th I believe, that was the "Hitler Youth" division, which was particularly noted for its savage ferocity and barbarity by Allied troops, appalled at this from the fuzzy cheeked boys of the "baby division". The companion organization for girls was the BDM - Bund Deutsche Madel.