--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When Hitler declared war on the United…" description: "\"When Hitler declared war on the United States, he was betting that German soldiers, raised up in the Hitler Youth, would always out fight American sold..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/177/stephen-ambrose-10501_american-soldier_when-hitler-declared-war-on-the-united-s_2839170.jpg" --- # When Hitler declared war on the United States, he was… ![“When Hitler declared war on the United States, he was betting that German soldiers, raised up in the Hitler Youth, would always out fight American soldiers, brought up in the Boy Scouts. He lost that bet. The Boy Scouts had been taught how to figure their way out of their own problems.” quote by Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/177/stephen-ambrose-10501_american-soldier_when-hitler-declared-war-on-the-united-s_2839170.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/177/stephen-ambrose-10501_american-soldier_when-hitler-declared-war-on-the-united-s_2839170.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/177/stephen-ambrose-10501_american-soldier_when-hitler-declared-war-on-the-united-s_2839170.jpg) > “When Hitler declared war on the United States, he was betting that German soldiers, raised up in the Hitler Youth, would always out fight American soldiers, brought up in the Boy Scouts. He lost that bet. The Boy Scouts had been taught how to figure their way out of their own problems.” [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hitler’s belief that militaristic youth would outfight American scouts proved false; scouts taught problem‑solving. **In simple terms:** Hitler thought his youth troops would beat American scouts, but scouts were resourceful. Key Takeaway Value practical problem‑solving skills. Themes war youth training military strategy Mood analytical historical Type educational reflective When to use this quote - military training - youth programs - historical analysis Key Concepts education adaptability leadership Questions to Reflect On - What lessons do scout skills offer modern training? - How do cultural values shape military effectiveness? A Different Perspective Oversimplifies complex war outcomes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-soldier/) [Betting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/betting/) [Boy scout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boy-scout/) [Boys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/boys/) [Hitler youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hitler-youth/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Problem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem/) [Soldier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soldier/) [United states](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/united-states/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [“Adolf Hitler declared war in 1941. By 1942, Allen Dulles was moved to Switzerland for the purpose of rounding up and importing German scientific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-brussell/adolf-hitler-declared-war-in-1941-by-1942-allen-dulles-was-moved-to/) [Mae Brussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-brussell/) > [When they the American soldiers came, they found fit comrades for their courage and their devotion… Joining hands with them, the men of America…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/when-they-the-american-soldiers-came-they-found-fit-comrades-for/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [American soldiers in battle don't fight for what some president says on T.V., they don't fight for mom, apple pie, the American flag...they fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-moore/american-soldiers-in-battle-don-t-fight-for-what-some-president-says/) [Hal Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-moore/) > [The Dead and Those About to Die is a gripping, first-hand account of the desperate battle for Omaha Beach on D-Day by the legendary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlo-d-este/the-dead-and-those-about-to-die-is-a-gripping-first-hand-account-of/) Carlo D'Este > [The question becomes what kind of coalition can we build that will make a transition and empower the people of Iraq? The American soldiers'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-jackson/the-question-becomes-what-kind-of-coalition-can-we-build-that-will/) [Jesse Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-jackson/) > [It doesn t require any particular bravery to stand on the floor of the Senate and urge our boys in Vietnam to fight harder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mcgovern/it-doesn-t-require-any-particular-bravery-to-stand-on-the-floor-of/) [George McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mcgovern/) > [We are the only country who is an ally of the United States that never asked for American soldiers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/we-are-the-only-country-who-is-an-ally-of-the-united-states-that/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [I will not support putting American soldiers into Iraq as an occupying force. I don't think that is in our interest, and I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hillary-clinton/i-will-not-support-putting-american-soldiers-into-iraq-as-an/) [Hillary Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hillary-clinton/) > [ And when they \[American soldiers\] came, they found fit comrades for their courage and their devotion. ... Joining hands with these, the men of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/and-when-they-american-soldiers-came-they-found-fit-comrades-for/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [We know that there were so many Japanese American soldiers in World War II who were fighting in Europe despite the fact that their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamlyn-tomita/we-know-that-there-were-so-many-japanese-american-soldiers-in-world/) [Tamlyn Tomita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamlyn-tomita/) > [My favorite picture is a picture of American soldiers surrounding a guy in a foxhole, Iraqi soldier, and the American guy says, "We're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-h-w-bush/my-favorite-picture-is-a-picture-of-american-soldiers-surrounding-a/) [George H. W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-h-w-bush/) > [Do not degrade me in the military uniform I wear for it represents the love I have for my country, and the sacrifices myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-david/do-not-degrade-me-in-the-military-uniform-i-wear-for-it-represents/) [Larry David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-david/) > [There were almost 11,000 American soldiers killed in Germany in April of 1945, the last full month of the war. That's almost as many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/there-were-almost-11-000-american-soldiers-killed-in-germany-in-april/) [Rick Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-atkinson/) > [I have found over the years that American soldiers and airmen thrive on competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-tunner/i-have-found-over-the-years-that-american-soldiers-and-airmen-thrive/) William H. Tunner > [ American soldiers \[are\] going into the homes of Iraqis in the dead of night, terrorizing kids and children, you know, women, breaking sort of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/american-soldiers-are-going-into-the-homes-of-iraqis-in-the-dead-of/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) ## More by Stephen Ambrose > [Trial by jury. Live wherever you can make a living. How could a government based on such principles fail?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/trial-by-jury-live-wherever-you-can-make-a-living-how-could-a/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [The great wars of the 20th Century made it into the worst Century ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/the-great-wars-of-the-20th-century-made-it-into-the-worst-century-ever/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [It is through history that we learn who we are and how we got that way, why and how we changed, why the good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/it-is-through-history-that-we-learn-who-we-are-and-how-we-got-that/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [There are many more want-to-be writers out there than good editors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/there-are-many-more-want-to-be-writers-out-there-than-good-editors/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [The number one secret of being a successful writer is this: marry an English major.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/the-number-one-secret-of-being-a-successful-writer-is-this-marry-an/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [It would not be possible to praises nurses too highly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/it-would-not-be-possible-to-praises-nurses-too-highly/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries you have these great nation states hurling their young men at one another. The victory was really going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/in-the-nineteenth-and-twentieth-centuries-you-have-these-great-nation/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [You don't hate history, you hate the way it was taught to you in high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/you-don-t-hate-history-you-hate-the-way-it-was-taught-to-you-in-high/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [The American Constitution is the greatest governing document, and at some 7,000 words, just about the shortest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/the-american-constitution-is-the-greatest-governing-document-and-at/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [We are part of a country that outshines those that have gone before us and most of those in existence today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/we-are-part-of-a-country-that-outshines-those-that-have-gone-before/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [Washington, not Jefferson, freed his slaves upon his death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/washington-not-jefferson-freed-his-slaves-upon-his-death/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [American corporations hate to give away money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/american-corporations-hate-to-give-away-money/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [Washington's character was rock solid. He came to stand for the new nation and its republican virtues, which was why he became our first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/washington-s-character-was-rock-solid-he-came-to-stand-for-the-new/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [In America, Jefferson noted with approval, women knew their place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/in-america-jefferson-noted-with-approval-women-knew-their-place/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) > [Dams have harmed our wildlife and made rivers less useful for recreation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/dams-have-harmed-our-wildlife-and-made-rivers-less-useful-for/) [Stephen Ambrose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) [Explore all 65 Stephen Ambrose quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/) ## More American soldier quotes > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [American soldiers had to guard prisoners on the inside while receiving mortar and weapons fire from the outside. Guantanamo is distant from any battlefield,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yoo/american-soldiers-had-to-guard-prisoners-on-the-inside-while/) [John Yoo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yoo/) > [“Ask an American soldier to identify himself, and he probably will say he is “in the Army.” By contrast, a Marine— especially if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-ricks-2/ask-an-american-soldier-to-identify-himself-and-he-probably-will-say/) [Thomas E. Ricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-ricks-2/) > [If today is anything like the typical day of the past 3 years, three American soldiers will die in Iraq or Afghanistan, the Taliban…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alcee-hastings/if-today-is-anything-like-the-typical-day-of-the-past-3-years-three/) [Alcee Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alcee-hastings/) > [“Looking up, Missouri saw a formation of low-flying P-47's on the horizon, heading up the coast from Naples...Sergeant Missouri laughed aloud. "They're sending us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-daly/looking-up-missouri-saw-a-formation-of-low-flying-p-47-s-on-the/) [Maureen Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-daly/) > [There's something about an American soldier you can't explain. They're so grateful for anything, even a film actress coming to see them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlene-dietrich/there-s-something-about-an-american-soldier-you-can-t-explain-they-re/) [Marlene Dietrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlene-dietrich/) > [It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zell-miller/it-is-the-soldier-not-the-poet-who-has-given-us-freedom-of-speech/) [Zell Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zell-miller/) > [Because Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama failed to provide a status of forces agreement and leave sufficient troops in there, we are back at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-pence/because-hillary-clinton-and-barack-obama-failed-to-provide-a-status/) [Mike Pence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-pence/) > [I'm shooting a gangbanger, but as a dignified man. That's pretty much what war photography did: seeing images of soldiers in a dignified way.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamel-shabazz/i-m-shooting-a-gangbanger-but-as-a-dignified-man-that-s-pretty-much/) [Jamel Shabazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamel-shabazz/) > [I have found over the years that American soldiers and airmen thrive on competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-tunner/i-have-found-over-the-years-that-american-soldiers-and-airmen-thrive/) William H. Tunner > [When this war is over, the Japanese language will be spoken only in hell!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-halsey/when-this-war-is-over-the-japanese-language-will-be-spoken-only-in/) [William Halsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-halsey/) > [Sacrificing American soldiers or innocent civilians in an unprecedented preemptive attack on a separate sovereign nation may well prove itself a most temporary medicine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-penn/sacrificing-american-soldiers-or-innocent-civilians-in-an/) [Sean Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-penn/) > [There were almost 11,000 American soldiers killed in Germany in April of 1945, the last full month of the war. That's almost as many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-atkinson/there-were-almost-11-000-american-soldiers-killed-in-germany-in-april/) [Rick Atkinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-atkinson/) > [It is unacceptable to risk the lives of American soldiers and sailors merely to accommodate the sexual lifestyles of certain individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-craig/it-is-unacceptable-to-risk-the-lives-of-american-soldiers-and-sailors/) [Larry Craig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-craig/) > [Do not degrade me in the military uniform I wear for it represents the love I have for my country, and the sacrifices myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-david/do-not-degrade-me-in-the-military-uniform-i-wear-for-it-represents/) [Larry David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-david/) [Browse all 87 American soldier quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-soldier/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When Hitler declared war on the United States, he was betting that German soldiers, raised up in the Hitler Youth, would always out fight American soldiers, brought up in the Boy Scouts. He lost that bet. The Boy Scouts had been taught how to figure their way out of their own problems.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Ambrose" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/when-hitler-declared-war-on-the-united-states-he-was-betting-that/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American soldier" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/when-hitler-declared-war-on-the-united-states-he-was-betting-that/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/177/stephen-ambrose-10501_american-soldier_when-hitler-declared-war-on-the-united-s_2839170.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/177/stephen-ambrose-10501_american-soldier_when-hitler-declared-war-on-the-united-s_2839170.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/177/stephen-ambrose-10501_american-soldier_when-hitler-declared-war-on-the-united-s_2839170.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When Hitler declared war on the United States, he was betting that German soldiers, raised up in the Hitler…” — Stephen Ambrose", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Stephen Ambrose", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-ambrose/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When Hitler declared war on the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/when-hitler-declared-war-on-the-united-states-he-was-betting-that/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-ambrose/when-hitler-declared-war-on-the-united-states-he-was-betting-that/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```