Edelweiss Pirates by Ella Vance

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Quote:

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Hitler’s power may lay us low,And keep us locked in chains,

But we will smash the chains one day,

We’ll be free again

We’ve got fists and we can fight,

We’ve got knives and we’ll get them out

We want freedom, don’t we boys?

We’re the fighting Navajos!

Sources:

ellavance — 2025-03-07 18:50:11 UTC

Rossen, Jake. “The German Teens Who Rebelled Against Hitler.” Mental Floss, Minute Media, 9 June 2016, https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/73451/german-teens-who-rebelled-against-hitler

Accessed 4 March 2025

“The Edelweiss Pirates, 1939-1945.” Libcom.org, Anarchist Federation, 3 September 2006, https://libcom.org/article/edelweiss-pirates-1939-1945. Accessed 4 March 2025

Songs played and sang by the Edelweiss Pirates:

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The Edelweiss Pirates were a loosely organized group of youths opposed to Nazi Germany. They consisted of kids ages 12-17, who were mostly boys. the group went on from the 1930's-1940's.

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They named themselves after the Edelweiss flower, which was pinned to their lapels as a sign of their affiliation.

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Hitler youths spotted on the streets were challenged to fights by the pirates.

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They were considered meddlesome only for the fact that they led by bad example. They took up small, working-class towns like Cologne and Essen.

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They wore checkered shirts, white socks, and scarves. They stood out from the attire of the Hitler youth. they also let their hair grow long.

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They carried guitars and other instruments. They sang parodies of Hitler youth songs while camping and hiking.

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In other areas with more officials, the pirates were beaten and had their heads shaved to send a message. The pirates put up anti-nazi graffiti, sent people air-dropped leaflets, and spread word that army deserters and camp escapees could stay in their homes.

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They began organized raids on munition factories. another faction of the group was the swing/jazz youth. They rebelled by embracing the banned music and culture of the American enemies.