The Free German Youth is a community of young people who come together with all youth at work, study, sport, music, song, and dance, and develop a joyous life. The German youth has its true fatherland in the German Democratic Republic. That is why the members of the Free German Youth employ all their powers to further strengthen their workers’ and farmers’ state, and through their example win over the entire youth for participation in this work of peace.
The members of the Free German Youth regard it as their honor and duty to defend, selflessly and full of sacrifice, peace, their Socialist homeland, and the great achievements of the workers’ and farmers’ state, and to acquire pre-military knowledge and skills. Service in the armed organs of the German Democratic Republic is a duty of honor for every member of the Free German Youth.
Fraternally connected to the Free Federation of German Trade Unions, the largest mass organization of the workers in the German Democratic Republic, the Free German Youth develops the class-consciousness of young workers in city and countryside, so that they will live up to their responsibility as the core of our Socialist youth league.
The Free German Youth is an inseparable part of the National Front of the Democratic Germany. It works closely with all democratic parties, organizations, and patriotic forces. Through its active work, the FDJ contributes to solidifying the moral-political unity of our nation.
The Free German Youth, as the strongest youth organization in Germany, promotes all efforts that serve the joint struggle of the entire German youth for the preservation of peace, for a confederation of the two German states, for a united, democratic, and peace-loving Germany, against imperialism, militarism, Fascism, and the preparations for nuclear war in the Western zone. It awakens in the hearts of the youth a passionate hatred for and revulsion against the militarism in West Germany, against all enemies of the youth who threaten their life and happy future.
In the spirit of brotherly bonds, the Free German Youth especially champions a deepening of relations with young workers in West Germany. It supports all measures by the democratic West German youth organizations that serve peace and the creation of democratic conditions in West Germany. The FDJ is helper and comrade to all young patriots of West Germany who advocate peace and the happiness of the young generation.
The Free German Youth acts in accordance with the principles of proletarian internationalism and friendship among nations. It educates the young generation to love and respect all nations. It fights resolutely against chauvinism and war-mongering. [ . . . ]
Source: Dokumente zur Geschichte der Freien Deutschen Jugend [Documents on the History of the Free German Youth], Vol. 4, East Berlin, 1963, p. 11 f; reprinted in Dierk Hoffmann and Michael Schwartz, eds., Geschichte der Sozialpolitik in Deutschland seit 1945. Bd. 8: 1949-1961: Deutsche Demokratische Republik. Im Zeichen des Aufbaus des Sozialismus [History of Social Policy in Germany since 1945, Vol. 8: 1949-1961: German Democratic Republic. Under the Sign of the Build Up of Socialism]. Baden-Baden: Nomos, 2004, no. 8/196.
Translation: Thomas Dunlap
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