Read Children to a Degree - Growing Up Under the Third Reich for Free Online Page B

over 100 words and correct, you lost points because you ‘rattled’ on.
    In short, your answer had to be precise and to the point.
    Both boys passed the academic requirements with flying colors. A week later their parents received the final results. Harold had been accepted to a school specializing in sciences. There were over 30 Napola schools in Germany at that time teaching political leadership, sciences and linguistics. Karl had been rejected. No reason was given. Karl’s mother was even more disappointed than Karl.
    “How could this be?” she asked her husband, who was also disappointed. “Karl is just as smart as his friend Harold.” Herr Veth did not answer. He thought that he had let Karl down in his research of their Aryan lineage.
    Karl was thinking already in a totally different direction. “Among other things, you have taught me to roll with the punches. And roll I will. I will make you proud of me. Just give me some time," he announced to his parents.
    “What do you intend to do?” asked his worried mother.
    “I have an idea,” answered Karl, “but before I tell you I need to gather some additional information.” He turned to face his father. “I would like to talk with the school director. Could you please go with me?”
    Herr Veth was surprised. In his school days the students avoided the principal like the plague. Yet his son wanted a meeting. “Of course I will go with you,” he answered Karl.
    The next day, Karl went to the school office and obtained all the propaganda leaflets flaunting the benefits of a KLV camp, or children evacuation camp.  The school authorities wanted to entice the parents to send their children out of the city, preferably to relatives in the country. If the parents did not have any connections in the country, the schools offered evacuation camps. The children would be housed on farms or, sometimes, in resorts.
    The benefits were obvious. The students would be safe from the bombing attacks and could study without air raid interruptions.
    An additional benefit for the parents was the fact that in the near future all of the unimpaired fathers would be drafted and the mothers might also be drafted to work in defense plants. Since the evacuation camps were provided without any costs to the parents they were an ideal solution.
    Karl’s next move was an unscheduled visit to see Rudy at the Jungvolk office. “Heil Hitler,” he shouted as he entered the room.
    He clicked his heels and was careful to stand at attention until his salute was returned. Rudy remembered the boy. Not by name, but he had seen him twice a week attending the afternoon gatherings.
    “What was your name?” he asked as he scrutinized the boy.
    “Karl Veth,” came the answer.
    Rudy liked what he saw. He noticed the polished shoes and the correct position of the summer regulation cap on the head: two fingers wide above the right ear, three fingers wide above the left ear and four fingers wide above the eyebrows.  Many of the boys could never get it right. But Karl wore his cap as if he were a role model. His belt buckle was shiny and the belt was spotless.
    “Rudy,” began Karl, "I applied for the Napola but got rejected. However, I know that I passed the academic requirements and here are my report cards to prove it.” Karl handed Rudy his report cards and stepped back to resume his position of standing at attention. “I would like to join a KLV camp, but not with boys in my age group. I'd like to join as a study assistant for the younger children. Is there any way that you can give me an assignment as a Jungvolk reporter?”
    Rudy looked at the report cards and was amazed when he read all the remarks. “Explain, Karl, and stand at ease.”
    Karl moved his left foot forward and shifted his weight to his right leg. “Well, I could write about the camp activities for our Jungvolk paper. But that is not all. My father and I have a meeting with our school principal coming up. It would be helpful