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This is an extremely rare Nazi book published in a very limited quantity by and for HJ-Hochschulgruppe Bann 107 at the University of Leipzig. Hitlerjugend sieht England (The Hitler Youth sees England) is the title on the cover, and on the title page it says Zehn sächsische HJ-Führer fahren nach England or "Ten HJ Leaders from Saxony Travel to England."

In the foreword dated August 1938, the trip is explained: who the participants were, the goal of the trip and the preparations. They planned the trip to study the history of Great Britain, its laws, its racial policies, political parties, religion, influence on the European continent, etc. during the year prior to the trip, "English language only" evenings were organized during which English newspapers were read and discussed.

According to the Hitler Youth Leaders, the British citizens they met during their weeks in England had a lopsided view of the country of Germany and their conclusion was that systematic anti-German propaganda in parliament, the media, and in church was the reason.

The constant, repeated use of anti-German political buzz-words to frighten the population was a "characteristic of English foreign policy", according to the HJ-Führer. But, even though the untruthful public agitation was obvious to them, no discussion or meeting was ever ended without the knowledge that the will to understand each other was there.

Photos on glossy pages show historical buildings at Oxford, students at Eaton, political posters, advertising and church billboards as well as army recruiting posters, Sir Archibald Flower of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, busy ship traffic on the river Thames, Eastend's slums, Westminster Abbey, 10 Downing Street, and much more.

This is a very rare pre-war Nazi book that seldom becomes available for sale. The only other copy we can locate on the internet is in the library of Buchenwald Concentration Camp, near Weimar. This example of Hitlerjugend sieht England: zehn sächsische HJ-Führer fahren nach England; im Jahr der Verständigung 1938 is complete and in very nice used condition. No odor.

The three-week trip of the ten Hitler Youth Leaders, members of the HJ-Hochschulgruppe at the University of Leipzig, took place in the year 1938, the "Year of Understanding".

During the first part of the trip famous sights were on the itinerary, such as Eton College, Oxford University, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, Windsor, etc. After that, industrial cities like Liverpool and Birmingham were visited to observe the lives of factory workers, and afterwards a week was spent in London. The group had also visited World War I battlefields, monuments and cemeteries in Belgium on the way to England.

The author of the Vorwort stresses that this book should not just be seen as a simple travel report, but more as a sketch of experiences and impressions, all focussed on the goal of mutual understanding between two peoples.

The 6-½ x 9-¼ inch softcover book has 17 glossy photo pages and 22 text pages. Chapters cover impressions of the different places visited in Belgium and England. The history of Eton and Oxford made a big impression, as did the difference in education style. Different types of English people are described (upper class and lower class) as well as their living circumstances. The group visited the Cadbury chocolate factory and Sunlight soap factory and during their time in Liverpool (England's "Gateway to the World") they received a guided tour by the German Consul General. At the National Art Gallery there was a temporary exhibition of French and English modern art, and they observed that the source of most pieces was Germans who emigrated to Britain. In the book, this section of the museum is referred to as a Schreckenskammer entarteter Kunst, or "horror room of degenerate art".

The impressions of their stay in London are very interesting. While there, the importance, scope and wealth of the British Empire became obvious. They noted how simple and unassuming Downing Street 10 looked in contrast with the impressive nearby Parliament building and Big Ben. The beauty of Westminster Abbey, the impressive art collections of many museums, the Tower of London above the busy Thames river, slums on the east side of London, the "biggest city in the world".

The HJ leaders were clearly amazed by the different subjects covered by the public speakers in Hyde Park - pro-Communist, anti Mussolini and Franco, pro and anti-war, religion, etc. The book also contains a chapter on political impressions - Prime Minister Chamberlain's thinking versus that of Foreign Minister Eden, membership in the Völkerbund or not, the British view on Austria's reunification with Nazi Germany, etc. British newspaper headlines and radio broadcasts are quoted as well as anti-German British propaganda movies.