B-Ration: Hitler Youth in the German Military

POV:WW2 — Cinematic Stories from World War II · Jun 18, 2026 · 2m

This is the latest in a bonus content series called “B-Rations" (B for Bonus). The next full episode of POV:WW2 will be the season 2 finale which will be released on June 25th!

Sources and for further research:

The Candy Ration & the Average Age of 18: Because most recruits in the 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend" were under the legal smoking and drinking age, they were issued sweets in place of the standard tobacco and alcohol ration; the division's average age, even counting its adult cadre, was only about 18. The detail is recorded by military historian Jon Latimer and is consistent…