Wandervogel is often described as a proto-Nazi youth movement. Is this accurate?
Not at all. It only appears this way to some because the Nazis appropriated so many elements of Wandervögel style and activities into their own youth movement. The Wandervögel were diametrically opposite to the Nazis in at least three respects. First, the Wandervogel movement began as a non-political organization, while everything the Nazis touched became belligerently political. Second, the Wandervögel were not systematically anti-Semitic and allowed Jews into its ranks. Third, the Wandervögel emphasized individual freedom and self-responsibility, whereas the Nazis enforced regimentation and unquestioning obedience to authority. This contrast can be appreciated through the romantic words of this Wandervogel song by Otto Roquette. These lyrics are very different from the marching songs of the Hitlerjugend, which so often spoke of spilling Jewish blood and fighting to the death: Ihr Wandervögel in der Luft, im Ätherglanz, im Sonnenduft, in blauen Himmelswellen, euch grüß’ ich als Gesell
