Baldur von Schirach was born 9 May 1907 in Berlin, the son of Weimar Theater director Karl von Schirach and his American wife, Emma. His mother’s ancestors included two signatories of the Declaration of Independence and he was the grandson of a soldier who lost a leg at the Battle of Bull Run. Young Baldur grew up in a well-to-do environment. He met Hitler in 1925, and joined the NSDAP (as member No. 17,251), after beginning his studies at the University of Miinchen.
In 1927 he dedicated himself to building up the National Socialist German Students’ League. The aristocratic von Schirach was a convinced anti-Semite, an opponent of Christianity, and of his own caste. He proved himself an outstanding organizer and propagandist of National Socialism among high school and university students. His organizational successes as leader of this group led to his appointment as Reichsjugendfiihrer in the NSDAP.