Old enough to do the job, too young to ask the right questions.
IMO it's more reminiscent of Red Guards from Cultural Revolution era China.
And university students during the Iranian Revolution.
Nazi took power in a quite similar way. One difference was that the German governmental workers was already primed to obey them (cause it was primary composed of ex soldiers), but similarities are there.
But like, any authoritarian needs to do the same - get rid of opposition, install loyalists and make everyone afraid.
History has one answer for the deployment of reams of young fiery-loyalist men to the front lines: cannon fodder.