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