Former member of the Hitler Youth - Gribnitz, Gary V | Georgia in WWII 

I always enjoy listening to those who give their perspective life experiences. Hope Mr. Gribnitz is alive and well. Thank you to all involved that help made this broadcast.

Too bad this episode was only a hour long,could have listened to him for awhile!! Much respect for him.

My father was in the youth. He said the same. It was like cub scouts in the beginning. He also went to technical school and became a engineer. This guy seems ok but most did not survive it sane. They were traumatized and 1000s committed suicide after the war. They broke them They were on the front fighting at 14. Most ended up broken alcoholics ridden with guilt and self hate. He is sugar coating children of war. They were traumatized children

A very well spoken German gentleman. Even with politics now, it is better to think for yourself, not let the politicians think for you. Kevin Phoenix

What a intelligent man, his observations are so correct, he reminds me of my uncle, who left Germany right before the war, he was well spoken and raised correctly, indeed a credit to his mother, and family. It's sad the youth of today, are not being instructed to be the best they can be,and to be respectful to people of all races and people. If a child is just taught that one thing ,respect, the rest falls into place on its own.

Interesting interview. I wish my grandfather would have done an interview like this at some point in his life. He was a part of this and has some very interesting and scary stories. We need to be careful in the what we believe in these times as it can happen again faster than anyone will ever see or notice. Be vigilant always and always keep your eyes and minds open!

All personal feelings aside, it had to be hard for him to do this interview. It's a very good thing he decided to do this. You can't hope to not repeat past mistakes without fully understanding how some of the largest mistakes were made. Also better to have the masses have a better understanding of the signs to look for.

After many years, my old boss admitted to being hitler youth. He never talked about it much but I know much of his family was killed by bombing.

I grew up in a VLA (Veteran's Land Act) land use area designated after WW2 where veterans got the first pick on the local land. The Veterans were primarily the Allied side of the war (my dad was a Canadian Army Veteran). Over time some German Wehrmacht Veterans also bought some properties and did very well as farmers. I grew up with the neighbour's kids and the barriers of the "sides" that were there during the times of WW2 gradually dissipated, and we all grew up together in relative peace. The barriers were there for many years, but we still communicate with each other.

When l was doing my engineering in the 1970s one of my boss's was also hitler youth. Reminds me of this well spoken guy.

Germans being so thorough and efficient is something normal at most times in their history. I was amazed how much more detailed training regimes in the German military were compared to most nations. They didn't miss a thing and made sure everyone knew all those small details and were not simply present in person on the day.

I was an exchange student in West Germany in 1979-80. The father of the first family I stayed with was in the Hitler Youth. He challenged me (I had already some knowledge of WWII as I had read Spandau by Albert Spear) to learn WWII from the German point of view. I am still learning to this day. And this interview brings back the good memories of learning from that very kind man.

Much respect for this gentleman. And thank you for posting this.

A Excellent Video.. Highly Recommended.. Thank You For Sharing..

fantastic interview,

I worked with a lovely German guy who was also in the hitler youth who explained to me how as a young boy how exciting Germany was in the years of hitler and the fervour and craziness of the late thirties but even if you did not want to join you had no choice.

I will try to make this short. Interview with a British author not old enough to go fight in WW2. He started to write a book about the Hitler Youth. He interviewed Germans his age about there experiences and to his dismay /surprise he was finding out it wasn't what he was expecting to hear. For the overwhelming majority of the time they worked doing civic good. Helping the old cleaning everything. They would pick something out and deal with it. Girls and Boys. He asked about the rabid indoctrination he had always heard about. He was told over and over again that there would be a party member from the city once a month for a evening and talk to them. It completely changed everything. He couldn't help compare them to what he was doing at the same time in England. I will add the same goes for the United States. The Germans kept the youth busy with creative work. At the same time he was in a neighborhood gang, getting into trouble nonstop. I wish I could remember the auther or the name of the book.

Great interview,

Great interview what a smart man. Thank You

Very insightful. Thank you

I worked for a construction company in Canada in the 1960's . It was English owned . The company president in our area was English , the Estimator was German and had been in the Hitler Youth , and the local manager was from the Republic of Ireland . There were of course Canadians in other roles . It all made for an interesting dynamic that seemed to bubble under the surface along with unusual tales around the lunch room table !

I don’t think this aired in 2007 as the description states since he speaks about the 2008 recession. But that’s just a minor point. Thanks for posting.

Imagine seeing a comment saying “thank you for your service” lol. Amazing interview

Great interview.. I'd love to talk to him for hours!

*I love that he looks more at the positive points of what he’s gone through.*

Thanks for adding - Vielan Danke

Very interesting. Glad recorded.

Growing up in the late 60’s and 70’s as an Italian American 🇺🇸 man on Long Island we grew up with the same level of respect ✊🏿 for your elders and for women. For all of your fellow man. Treat every mother’s son fair fair and to help your neighbors. Not memememe disrespectful like I encounter today

Insightful

A young lady that I was dating back in the late '80s, her dad was in the Hitler Youth. We were talking and he told me stories about how the Allies would do their bombing runs. there were some bombs that did not explode. As a result of that he told me that him and his friends would gather everything together, and pour gasoline or some kind of flammable liquid over them and light everything and watch them explode. he said it's a wonder that none of them were ever killed.

Fascinating interview,a real insight on being part of the HJ

What a nice gentleman and an interesting turn of events for him.

Very interesting story. Must've been hard also.

What an experience.

Don't ever think that ever one is the same we are all different in some ways

My boss and l were nearby to a building that blew up and l mean close. He said to me that is nothing, l was in Dresden! He died in the early 90s. Lung disease.

I bet he didnt add that in his resume

Hello, I’m a sophomore at Ramapo College of New Jersey and my professor has asked us to do a review on documentary’s about “The Hitler Youth”. Part of the assignment is to reach out to the people who made the documentary. If you can answer a few of my questions that would be great. What makes you credible to speak upon this topic?

So very interesting listening to his memories. Bless him and the others of the Hitler Youth. Such a lovely man with a sense of humour

I like this guy cool stories

My family is German. Those are all German qualities he describes. Well behaved, disciplined children. My grandmother would never tolerate bad behavior.

Someone who has core values - for a change. If he were alive today (and I hope he is), he would shudder. I see "Air Date: 2007". This couldn't be, because Gribnitz talks about the 2008 recession.

37:20 - The tank commander was Michael Wittman

This was filmed roughly 14 years ago I did math based on him joining in 1939 and him being 8 years old.

I dont blame him especially if he was raised to think that since he was a child In the youth program

He was born only two years before my late father. Amazingly different upbringing, as Gary was marching in a fascist organization while my father spent his summers digging for clams on the Massachusetts coast.

Wait, he mentions the 2008 economic crisis, but this was aired in 2007? Time travel????

Crazy he moves from an English German accent to an English accent. Very interesting

many things were held in high regard , but never free thought or expression,,

Fascinating.

how does he speak english so well

I thought kids had to be Hitler youth. No choice. They taught kids to be tough. No weak kids. They had to fight each other. But were taught comraderere so they enjoyed it and didnt rebel. I knew a farrier that was a hitler youth. Very gruff person. He said to my mom, didnt she think hitler was handsome? My mom was in shock. He was many things but handsome? No way. We thought wow was he indoctrinated, but he clammed up after that.

I found the last minute or so very relevant and valid.Pretty smart guy ,this ex Hitler Youth member.His observations about mankind and today’s political divisions are very germane.( no pun intended).

At the risk of sounding crass, I hope he's still with us. Very thought provoking and inspiring interview, I'm curious if after this interview how or if it changed his life in anyway. If anyone knows him or more about him? I'd like to see a follow-up interview with him or maybe a family member or close friend. If by chance they see this comment I love to hear from them. Thank you.

Years ago I knew a guy who was Hitler youth. He was very strange, a Korean war vet, who owned his own company. A strange guy fascinated by weapons.

Such a wise Gentleman, love him.

~Bom relato!

He speaks very good English.

This guy obviously had a smart dad.

"You are not immune to propaganda"

The real JoJo Rabbit! 🤩

I am from india but loved the history of germany.. I want to know more of germany...!🙋

This man just looks good for his age. Being in Hitler youth just makes them more resilient in times of war. Although being in a nazi organisation is bad. Propaganda aside it is a organisation that fosters unity and cohesion among the German people. It fosters leadership and confidence among youths. No wonder he looks young as he is constantly challenged and having a sense of purpose in life is very important. Having discipline and a healthy lifestyle inculcated in them is what makes them live a long and healthy life.

My dad worked for one of the hitters youth back in the 50s. Taught my father so much about business and importance of saving money and being able to fix anything that he runs across. Never hired anyone to do anything. Researched it Educate urself and do it.

What a man!

Honest.

yay.

Yup l met quite a few HJ’s in Canada plus ordinary Wehrmacht soldaten. They were OK guys.

American Government Schools are horrendous.

The greatest thing to take away from this interview is told at the end. Think for yourselves! Why do we have now, or have ever had in the past, political leaders. It’s all bullshit and they know it. Everyone’s gotten soft and it pisses me off to no end.

He might migrated to US after the war

No wonder why communists were trash to Nazis, just look what they have done to no only russian people, but for all "non arians". It's hard to love and have empathy in or right after a war. This wise sir seems to have a fond memory on his Nazi glorious times.

My Opa was part of the hitler youth. Took him until he was about 85 years old to talk about it

Convenient that he was not in town on krystalnaught...(spelled wrong)..would be more interesting if he was honest about it all. Very sanitized story in my opinion.

I love when you said democracy with a crock coming from a Nazi that's rich

He had a good life while millions dying. I can’t fathom. Hopefully he learned how wrong it was.

There's a great video out there might be just audio on RU-vid that has a probably one of the few recordings of Hitler speaking in his normal voice nothing at all like you're listening to and probably this point of the video of his speeches I think he was talking to Manheim at the time and the recorder secretly recorded it and it's not that long but when I heard his voice I got goosebumps not good Goosebumps bad Goosebumps I got like this like you were hearing literally not the not the faked voice of a demon or the devil but the actual demon or devil it it was yeah I try and find it put in a search on RU-vid or even Google and listen to it if you have an interest in this era of of history and hear what it sounded like when he was just talking to someone else pretty cool if that's the right word

I appreciate the interview there are two sides of every story that needs to be heard in order to get an understanding,thank you,just fascinating,we learn something new each and everyday as we live,praise the Lord God,bless the Lord Jesus Christ,amen!!!!!

In my vision, everyone who marched into hell was following the crowd or their leader.

Wish they would interview some of the women.

Funny, I just interrogated my son if he fell in love after his grades dropped downwards.. Because I definitely had this problem. So it's very interesting to hear this grandpa's opinion on that.

Stay what you are, never give up.

All gov leaders messed up.

My German teacher in H.S. was a Hitler Youth...

My great grand father dated someone in the hitler youth 😅 kinda funny honestly because my grandma told me this

Always nice to hear the reflections of someone who experienced this crazy time. All we know of that time was allied propaganda from some of the co-criminals who never paid their due.

The problem with this is that there were *ACTUAL HITLER YOUTH WAR FIGHTERS* so this discussion really doesn't have much to give in relation to the actual attempt by *"Hitler Youth Leaders"* to in fact create a 4th Reich after the 3rd Reich had as per Hitler's last will and testament *be carried on* which is quite the remarkable achievement really. Anyhow this is very much a missed opportunity although *"Boys from Brazil"* was a great out-take on the idea and the thinking of the *THOUGHTS* that young children brought up in such a Regime ... well again this misses the point of the truly electricfying spell just one guy had over all of Germany and of all people. Churchill in an ironic way measures up exceptionally well as Hitler's foil and it's interesting to to how superior Hitler would regularly castigate his *"3rd Reichians"* compared to Churchill in the realm of propaganda. Hitler also had the utmost respect for what Historians claim were thought of as *"under-mensch"* but in fact Hitler very much strongly believed...and why he was so *DANGEROUS* was his belief in bringing this peasant class into the German blood stream with proof positive as to the Slavic Races/Peoples being *STUPIDLY LED* by Stalin but hardly inferior in the least. And of course very modern, *"chic"* if you will...talk about problem solvers who worked well under pressure! It is truly a missed opportunity as to how *"Hitler Thought Applied"* is still with us even today and indeed hardly limited to just Western Civilization in the least. *"Right out of Central Casting"* as they would say in Hollywood and indeed nothing *"banal"* in the least about the entire Rise and Fall so, yes...very much a missed opportunity here but a few very good books on the subject. Indeed here is the USA mocked and ridiculed for being dorks behind computers taking on *ALL* of Putin's Russia and just *BITCH SLAPPING THAT THING* whilst Europe the great moral and hardly bon vivant basically like *"meh, screw that Glory crap. We want whores and Super Yachts."* I wouldn't even believe this possible if I didn't see it with my own eyes.

Democracy...look what happened to democracy... you could imagine the face of the 2 yanks when they realised how right he is

You didn’t change much, ubermansch

He was a war criminal that should of been sent to the gas champers for helping the war effort.

If democracy is so bad, why did he immigrate to the United States?

How nice for him and family..."plenty of food, did not want." While millions were starving...

This man jumped from one cult to another.

He's probably still doing great in 2022 at 88 years old!

very interesting interview,you ve got to have values first, whenever someone tries to indoctrinate you into hurting other humans you ve got to think for yourself

Lots of people commenting on the intelligence of this very articulate gentleman. But how can a person of such intelligence be a Jehova's witness? It's an absolute contradiction.

He slags off democracy but what does he think replaced Nazism and eventually restored Germany to a pre-eminent position once again in Europe? Churchill summed it up best, democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time. I must add that we can hardly look to religion for a solution given that Europe has been torn apart for almost 2000 years because of religious feuds. Once the Roman gave up it didn't take long for the Catholic Church to take their place and for the Vatican to echo to the screams of people being tortured within its walls and then of course the Inquisition. The USA constitution is a result of the religious wars that tore Europe apart for so long.

What a disciplined society Germany was then . Salute to the mothers.

It would be great if someone sat down with him and explained all the amazing positive attributes of NS ideology. And also how mass extermination was a lie to demonize them.

My grandpa was part of the hilter youth