GUSTAV LENK
Gustav Lenk first led the Nazi Youth League, which became outlawed following the failed Beer Hall Putsch (coup). He then founded the Greater German Youth movement. After trying to challenge Hitler as absolute leader of the NSDAP, he was replaced by Kurt Gruber.
KURT GRUBER- LEADER 1
Kurt Gruber was a well-to-do, 21-year old law student when Lenk was removed from the picture. He'd proven to be a competent group leader and organizer, and more importantly, he was well-liked by Hitler. When the Greater German Youth was renamed the Hitler Youth, Gruber was named its first leader. He would remain its leader for 3 years.
BALDUR VON SCHIRACH- LEADER 2 (Most well-known)
Baldur von Schirach was the ambitious son of a wealthy Prussian army captain. Electrified by one of Hitler's speeches, he joined the Nazi Party at age 18 and quickly attained leadership positions and soon sought leadership of the Hitler Youth. He promoted himself as an able propogandist and attacked Kurt Gruber for the Hitler Youth's economic truobles. In 1931 (at age 24), he took control of the group, when Gruber was forced to resign.
ARTHUR AXMANN- LAST LEADER (Succeeded von Schirach)
9 years later, in 1940, when Baldur von Schirach joined the war effort, his deputy, Arthur Axmann took charge of the Hitler Youth and did so until its dissolution at the end of the war. Axmann, who was quick to deploy unprecented numbers of Hitler Youth to the front lines, was responsible for the large Hitler Youth presence towards the final years of WWII.
