Optocht Jeugdstorm 1935 - 1937

This photograph by J. Otto depicts a parade of the Jeugdstorm, the Dutch youth movement associated with the NSB, the National Socialist Movement in the Netherlands. The image creates meaning through several visual codes. The uniformed boys, marching in lockstep, evoke military discipline and obedience. The flags they carry, while not overtly displaying Nazi symbols, hint at the political allegiances of the group. This was a time when political ideologies were being visually marketed to the masses, and the Jeugdstorm utilized these tactics to attract young people. The photograph provides insight into the social conditions that fostered such movements in the pre-World War II Netherlands. The NSB sought to capitalize on existing social divisions. Institutions such as schools, youth groups, and the media, became battlegrounds for ideological influence. To fully understand this image, a historian would consult archives, personal accounts, and propaganda materials. Analyzing the social and institutional context allows us to interpret its role in the broader history of political movements and their impact on society.