At age 13 Hardy became a member of the Hitler Jugend (Hitler Youth) as did all 13 year old German boys then. The purpose of the organization was to prepare the boys for military service. This should not somehow be held against him, however, as even the current Pope Benedict XVI was at one time a member. At age 15 Hardy made his film debut in a German picture (The Young Eagles) but his acting career was interrupted when he was drafted into the German Infantry in 1944 at age 16. Years later, H ...[Read Story]