The Swing Kids, originally known as the Swing Youth (Swingjugend) was a group jazz and swing lovers in Germany that formed in the 1930s. Mainly located in Hamburg and Berlin this group consisted of boys and girls ranging in age from 14 to 18 years old. Many of these admired the American and British way of life and opposed the National Socialist Ideology, especially the Hitler Youth (for boys) and the League of German Girls (Bund Deutscher Madel). The Swing Kids name was playing on the fact that Hitler required the youths of Germany to join youth oriented programs, but they were highly against this. Their love of swing dance and jazz music was an overall view of life for them, in which they strictly opposed Hitler and his youth organizations. Since jazz music was illegal in Germany, this groups focus turned into a political issue.
Although this group is now commonly referred to as the Swing Kids, this term was coined in 1993 by director Thomas Carter who created a movie with the title Swing Kids.
Although this group is now commonly referred to as the Swing Kids, this term was coined in 1993 by director Thomas Carter who created a movie with the title Swing Kids.
These youths rejected the Nazi Regime because of its ideology, uniformity, and its militarism. Many faced massive restriction on their personal freedoms in Germany and this angered them to fight against it. Their use of music and dance was a way for them to rebel in a way that was non-violent. This stood for their love of life, self-determination, non-conformism, freedom and independence, liberalism, and internationalism. Through their use of music, dance, clothing, and lifestyle, they were hoping to mimic the American way of life they admired.
In many other ways they also rebelled against the Nazi Regime including their disregard of night curfews, bans on dancing and listening to radio stations deemed “enemy”. Due to their resistance with the Nazi Regime, they faced many conflicts and had many skirmishes with the Nazis. They were also often discriminated against, faced many sanctions and acts of reprisals.
The Swing Kids consisted of small, loosely organized groupings of friends. The group was mainly centered in Hamburg, and as a result there were a lot of anti-Swing Kids movements here. They often faced detention and interrogations by the Gestapo, which resulted in many of the Swing Kids committing suicide. Between 40 and 70 of the Swing Kids located in Hamburg were deported. If under the age of 18, they were sent to youth concentration camps such as Moringen for boys and Uckemark for girls. If they were over the age of 18, then they were sent to adult concentration camps. Even while located in these concentration camps, they still maintained a strong sense of love and devotion to swing dance and jazz music, often risking their lives to sing and a little and dance some in their confinements. As hard as the Nazis tried to put down the Swing Kids movement, they were still able to maintain their group identity and were never fully put down by the Nazis.
In many other ways they also rebelled against the Nazi Regime including their disregard of night curfews, bans on dancing and listening to radio stations deemed “enemy”. Due to their resistance with the Nazi Regime, they faced many conflicts and had many skirmishes with the Nazis. They were also often discriminated against, faced many sanctions and acts of reprisals.
The Swing Kids consisted of small, loosely organized groupings of friends. The group was mainly centered in Hamburg, and as a result there were a lot of anti-Swing Kids movements here. They often faced detention and interrogations by the Gestapo, which resulted in many of the Swing Kids committing suicide. Between 40 and 70 of the Swing Kids located in Hamburg were deported. If under the age of 18, they were sent to youth concentration camps such as Moringen for boys and Uckemark for girls. If they were over the age of 18, then they were sent to adult concentration camps. Even while located in these concentration camps, they still maintained a strong sense of love and devotion to swing dance and jazz music, often risking their lives to sing and a little and dance some in their confinements. As hard as the Nazis tried to put down the Swing Kids movement, they were still able to maintain their group identity and were never fully put down by the Nazis.