Hitlerjugend: An In-Depth History:

Wehrertüchtigungslagern (WEL)

by Arvo L. Vercamer

In March of 1942, per Hitler's decree, the German Nationalist Socialist party began to organize military fitness camps, Wehrertüchtigungslagern (WEL), for all male youths aged between 14 and 18 years. The goals of the various classes in the camps were to provide positive Nationalist Socialist indoctrination to its members and also to prepare the youth for future military service (akin to basic infantry training). The program was strong in physical fitness regimens as well as military disciplines such as, but not limited to weapons handling, map reading skills, marksmanship, camouflage intricacies, etc.

Gerd Hein was selected to be the Inspector General of the WEL camp system. Gerd Hein was a Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak leaves award recipient and later, he was promoted to be a battalion commander (Btls.Kdr.) in the 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitlerjugend". By May of 1942, the first WEL camps were ready for operation.

The majority of the WEL's were designed to operate in both summer and winter seasons. Because of the close association between the Wehrmacht and the WEL's, the Wehrmacht provided nearly all of the needed training equipment and hardware for the HJ recruits to use. The facilities were not like regular military barracks; they were far more full service in scope with complete dining facilities, lecture halls, shops, etc. A key goal of the camps was to eliminate social backgrounds; sons of German Barons and nobles bunked together with sons of farmers and blue-collar workers. Each camp was supposed to contain ample sports facilities, shooting ranges and a swimming pool and was designed to accommodate close to 500 boys. Each recruit received a thorough medical examination upon entry and if required, would receive full dental care - the young boy should arrive in the Wehrmacht with good teeth!

In general, the duration of each WEL course was three weeks, though of note is that all of the HJ volunteers for the 12th SS Panzer Division served for four weeks (this was a situation unique only to those HJ candidates). Each WEL class could accommodate approximately 200 HJ boys. 15 combat experienced German Heer (Army) or Waffen-SS non-commissioned officers were assigned as basic instructors to each class running. A HJ-Führer, typically a Heer or Waffen-SS officer, would be the commander over each class of HJ boys. At the completion of the regular WEL classes, the HJ candidate was normally returned to his home. Badges and certificates could be won for extra special achievement; this was an added incentive to do one's best. Nearly every HJ member received, at the end of his training session, a "Kreigsausbildungsschein" (K-Schein) - a certificate stating that the recruit is certified to fight in a war.

By the end of 1943, over 225 WEL camps were erected throughout the German Reich. Of those 225, 39 WEL camps were staffed exclusively by the Waffen-SS. The WEL camps at Kaiserslautern, Kuchberg and Wildflecken were just a few of the WEL camps operated by the Waffen-SS.

Regardless of where the HJ recruit was trained, they counted as being among the best soldiers Germany had to offer. Of the approximately 500 "Ritterkreuzträger" of the German Armied Forces of the Second World War, 17 HJ members received the "Eichenlaub zum Ritterkreuz"; 5 HJ members received the "Schwerter zum Eichenlaub" and two HJ members received the "Eichenlaub mit Schwertern und Brillianten".

These individuals included, Hauptmann (CPT) Joachim Marseilles (the star of Africa with 152 aerial kills to his credit); Hauptmann Baumbach; Oberleutnant Ostermann, etc.

The following known WEL camps were known to have been established (additional sites are sure to have existed):

HJ-Gebiet 1 (Ostpreussen) - WEL II - Rodensee

HJ-Gebiet 2 (Mark Brandenburg) - WEL I - am Odersee

HJ-Gebiet 3 (Berlin) - WEL - Dreetz am Schäferberg

HJ-Gebiet 3 (Berlin) - WEL I - Glöwen

HJ-Gebiet 3 (Berlin) - Sommerlager - Klein Koris

HJ-Gebiet 4 (Niederschlesien) - WEL - Kunzendorf

HJ-Gebiet 4 (Niederschlesien) - WEL IV - Bartnig, Kreis Militsch

HJ-Gebiet 4 (Niedersch.) - Vormilitärische Schiessausbildungslager - Gross Iser

HJ-Gebiet 5 (Ostsee/Pommern) - WEL - Gross Born bei Neustettin

HJ-Gebiet 5 (Ostsee/Pommern) - WEL I - Goddentow, Kreis Lauenberg

HJ-Gebiet 5 (Ostsee/Pommern) - WEL II - Westfahlenhof

HJ-Gebiet 5 (Ostsee/Pommern) - Sommerlager - Lubmin

HJ-Gebiet 6 (Nordmark) - WEL IV - Leck-Schmörhohn

HJ-Gebiet 6 (Nordmark) - Sommerlager für Motor-HJ - Fissau bei Eutin

HJ-Gebiet 7 (Nordsee) - unknown

HJ-Gebiet 8 (Niedersachsen) - WEL II - Hämmelheide

HJ-Gebiet 9 (Westfahlen Nord) - WEL - Augustdorf bei Sennelager

HJ-Gebiet 9 (Westfahlen Nord) - WEL I - Haltern in Westfahlen

HJ-Gebiet 9 (Westfahlen Nord) - WEL IV - Mariawald

HJ-Gebiet 10 (Ruhr Niederrhein) - WEL III - Harzbeck bei Geldern

HJ-Gebiet 11 (Köln-Aachen) - WEL - Geilenkirchen

HJ-Gebiet 11 (Köln-Aachen) - WEL - Germeter

HJ-Gebiet 11 (Köln-Aachen) - WEL - Kohlenscheid

HJ-Gebiet 11 (Köln-Aachen) - WEL - Marlsbeuden

HJ-Gebiet 11 (Köln-Aachen) - WEL - Süggerath

HJ-Gebiet 11 (Köln-Aachen) - WEL I - Schleiden bei Eiffel

HJ-Gebiet 11 (Köln-Aachen) - WEL II - Zweifall bei Stolberg

HJ-Gebiet 12 (Moselland - Westmark) - unknown

HJ-Gebiet 13 (Hessen Nassau) - WEL - Breitscheid im Westerwald

HJ-Gebiet 13 (Hessen Nassau) - WEL - Stegskopf im Westerwald

HJ-Gebiet 13 (Hessen Nassau) - WEL II - Hunstandt im Taunus

HJ-Gebiet 13 (Hessen Nassau) - Sommerlager - Geilnau

HJ-Gebiet 14 (Kurhessen) - WEL II - Homberg

HJ-Gebiet 14 (Kurhessen) - WEL III - Kiegenhain, Bezirk Kassel

HJ-Gebiet 14 (Kurhessen) - WEL IV - Post Rörschein/ ü. Treysa

HJ-Gebiet 14 (Kurhessen) - WEL V - Post Rörschein/ü. Treysa

HJ-Gebiet 15 (Mittelland) - WEL I - unidentified location

HJ-Gebiet 15 (Mittelland) - WEL II - Reuden bei Zeitz

HJ-Gebiet 16 (Sachsen) - WEL - Neukirchen, Kreis Chemnitz

HJ-Gebiet 16 (Sachsen) - WEL - Aschberg

HJ-Gebiet 16 (Sachsen) - WEL - Dahlen, Kreis Oschatz

HJ-Gebiet 16 (Sachsen) - WEL - Schibach, Kreis Oelsnitz

HJ-Gebiet 16 (Sachsen) - WEL II - unidentified location

HJ-Gebiet 16 (Sachsen) - WEL III - Straschnitz

HJ-Gebiet 16 (Sachsen) - WEL VI - Schloss Haienwalde bei Zittau

HJ-Gebiet 16 (Sachsen) - WEL XII - Altenberg

HJ-Gebiet 16 (Sachsen) - Kriegs Sommerlager "Buch" - Dahlener Heide

HJ-Gebiet 17 (Thüringen) - WEL - Bad Berka

HJ-Gebiet 17 (Thüringen) - WEL - Vacha

HJ-Gebiet 17 (Thüringen) - WEL II - Ohrdruf

HJ-Gebiet 17 (Thüringen) - WEL IV - Ranis

HJ-Gebiet 18 (Franken) - unknown

HJ-Gebiet 19 (Hochland) - WEL - Treuchtlingen

HJ-Gebiet 20 (Württemberg) - WEL - Hechingen bei Württemberg

HJ-Gebiet 20 (Württemberg) - WEL - Mochental bei Württemberg

HJ-Gebiet 20 (Württemberg) - WEL II - Altensteig bei Nagold

HJ-Gebiet 20 (Württemberg) - Ausbildungslager - Oberstauffen

HJ-Gebiet 21 (Baden) - WEL - Unloffen

HJ-Gebiet 21 (Baden) - WEL II - Hauenstein im Pfalz

HJ-Gebiet 21 (Baden) - WEL III - Harrenalf im Schwarzwald

HJ-Gebiet 21 (Baden) - Führersommerlager - Oberehnheim bei Srtassburg

HJ-Gebiet 22 (Bayreuth) - WEL II - Guttenthau bei Kemnath

HJ-Gebiet 22 (Beyreuth) - WEL III - Erasbach bei Neumark

HJ-Gebiet 23 (Mittelelbe) - WEL - Bernburg

HJ-Gebiet 23 (Mittelelbe) - WEL - Huysburg

HJ-Gebiet 23 (Mittelelbe) - WEL - Thale

HJ-Gebiet 24 (Mecklenburg) - WEL I - Waren

HJ-Gebiet 24 (Mecklenburg) - WEL II - Waren

HJ-Gebiet 25 (Westmark) - Seegelflug Sommerlager - Gemersheim im Pfalz

HJ-Gebiet 25 (Westmark) - Seegelflug Sommerlager - Fröhnerhof

HJ-Gebiet 25 (Westmark) - Seegelflug Sommerlager - Niederbronn

HJ-Gebiet 25 (Westmark) - Seegelflug Sommerlager - Ochsenfeld

HJ-Gebiet 25 (Westmark) - Seegelflug Sommerlager - Rodern

HJ-Gebiet 25 (Westmark) - Seegelflug Sommerlager - St. Avold

HJ-Gebiet 25 (Westmark) - Seegelflug Sommerlager - Schalkendorf

HJ-Gebiet 25 (Westmark) - Seegelflug Sommerlager - Schallodenbach

HJ-Gebiet 26 (Hamburg) - unknown

HJ-Gebiet 27 (Wien) - WEL - Gross Hollenstein

HJ-Gebiet 27 (Wien) - WEL - Raab an der Thaya

HJ-Gebiet 27 (Wien) - WEL III - Ritzmannshof bei Zwettl

HJ-Gebiet 27 (Wien) - Reichsstreifendienstlehrgang (SRD) - SS Kraftfahrerschule Schönbrunn

HJ-Gebiet 28 (Niederdonau) - Lagerschule - Thumersbach

HJ-Gebiet 29 (Oberdonau) - WEL I - Vorchthof

HJ-Gebiet 29 (Oberdonau) - WEL II - Kammer-Schörfling

HJ-Gebiet 30 (Steiermark) - WEL - Sommeregg

HJ-Gebiet 30 (Steiermark) - WEL I - Haslau bei Birkfeld

HJ-Gebiet 30 (Steiermark) - WEL II - St. Ruprecht an der Raab

HJ-Gebiet 30 (Steiermark) - WEL III - Kreis Cilli

HJ-Gebiet 30 (Steiermark) - Schilager - Lachtalhaus

HJ-Gebiet 30 (Steiermark) - Führerlager - Pragehof im Untersteiermark

HJ-Gebiet 30 (Steiermark) - Ausbildungslager Marine-HJ - Wörthersee

HJ-Gebiet 31 (Kärnten) - WEL - Gries

HJ-Gebiet 31 (Kärnten) - WEL - Nötsch im Gailtal

HJ-Gebiet 31 (Kärnten) -WEL - Steinfeld bei Drautal

HJ-Gebiet 31 (Kärnten) - WEL der Grossgermanischen Jugend - Seeboden am Millsee

HJ-Gebiet 32 (Salzburg Ostmark) unknown

HJ-Gebiet 33 (Tirol Voralberg) - WEL I - Maurach am Achensee

HJ-Gebiet 33 (Tirol Voralberg) - WEL II - Buchau am Achensee

HJ-Gebiet 33 (Tirol Voralberg) - Lager - Melkalm

HJ-Geibet 33 (Tirol Voralberg) - Lager - Schwendt bei Kösseo

HJ-Gebiet 34 (Düsseldorf) - WEL I - Gemünd

HJ-Gebiet 34 (Düsseldorf) - WEL III - unidentified location

HJ-Geibet 35 (Sudetenland) - WEL - Wildflecken

HJ-Gebiet 35 (Sudetenland) - WEL I - Heinrichsgrün

HJ-Gebiet 35 (Sudetenland) - WEL IV - Rochlitz-Franzental an der Isar

HJ-Gebiet 35 (Sudetenland) - Führernachwuchslager - Königshütte

HJ-Gebiet 35 (Sudetenland) - Sommerlager - Wranitz bei Sasautal

HJ-Gebiet 36 (Schwaben) - WEL - Schloss Frundsberg bei Mindelheim

HJ-Gebiet 36 (Schwaben - WEL - unidentified location

HJ-Gebiet 36 (Schwaben) - Vormilitärischer Schilehrgang - Nebelhorn

HJ-Gebiet 37 (Danzig Westpreussen) - WEL - Zempelburg

HJ-Gebiet 37 (Danzig Westpreussen) - WEL I - Bodenwinkel

HJ-Gebiet 37 (Danzig Westpreussen) - WEL I - Lautenburg in Westpreussen

HJ-Gebiet 38 (Wartheland) - WEL - Zirke, Kreis Birnbaum

HJ-Gebiet 38 (Wartheland) - WEL I - Bergstadt

HJ-Gebiet 39 (Mainfranken) - unknown

HJ-Gebiet 40 (Oberschlesien) - WEL II - Bad Gottschalkowitz

HJ-Gebiet 40 (Oberschlesien) - Schilager - Zwadron

HJ-Gebiet 41 (Ost Hannover) - unknown

HJ-Gebiet 42 (Westfahlen Süd) - WEL - Bühlert, Kreis Monschau