Description
Physical description
Cap
Soft peaked service dress cap with a light khaki coloured body and flexible black leather peak. The cap is piped around the upper crown with rose pink piping and features a black leather chinstrap. To the centre of the band is fitted a diamond-shaped red and white enamelled badge that has a black mobile swastika to the centre. Above this is fitted a white metal eagle and swastika badge of 1929 pattern with the black painted swastika.
Label
With origins dating back to a youth section of the National Socialist movement that began in 1922, the Hitler Youth became an independent organisation in 1933. Earlier, as part of the SA, many youths had been involved in and become casualties of violent struggles with followers of other political movements, their uniforms being indistinguishable from the Storm Troops. With the formation of the HJ, their own distinctive armband and uniforms confirmed their status.
The Boy Scout movement was outlawed in Germany in 1933 and in the same year all other youth groups were incorporated into the Hitler Youth, the emphasis of the movement's existence being to foster a martial spirit and develop an obedient succession of generations that would promote the Nazi ethos and continue the cause. From 25 March 1939 it was compulsory for all boys and girls to serve from ages 10 to 18 (21 for girls).
Although a political arm of the State the HJ was attractive to youngsters, the State funded yearly outdoor camps where members could hike, swim, compete in sports activities, field craft, etc, whilst at weekends scaled down versions were available, with occasional excursions to places of historical or educational value being available in between. Special courses of a technical nature were held for Motor HJ, Marine HJ and the Flieger HJ.
The natural line of progression was thus set that children would serve in the movement then transfer for labour service in the RAD, followed by conscription into the armed forces. Those that showed ability were schooled into further educational where their talents might be encouraged to apply for special roles within the SA, SS, RAD and even the adult leadership of the HJ.
From the onset of the Second World War the duties of the HJ expanded as manpower became scarcer. HJ members became tram conductors, postmen, and carried messages and worked on railway services. As the Reich moved on the defensive many assisted the emergency services as Allied aircraft targeted cities and towns, and also formed anti-aircraft batteries (10,000 volunteered to serve in the 12th SS Panzer-Division Hitler Jugend in 1943). Finally the Hitler Youth movement died in the ashes of Berlin among the onslaught of the Red Army as the Soviets took the capital in 1945.
History note
With origins dating back to a youth section of the National Socialist movement that began in 1922, the Hitler Youth became an independent organisation in 1933. Earlier, as part of the SA, many youths had been involved in and become casualties of violent struggles with followers of other political movements, their uniforms being indistinguishable from the Storm Troops. With the formation of the HJ, their own distinctive armband and uniforms confirmed their status.
The Boy Scout movement was outlawed in Germany in 1933 and in the same year all other youth groups were incorporated into the Hitler Youth, the emphasis of the movement's existence being to foster a martial spirit and develop an obedient succession of generations that would promote the Nazi ethos and continue the cause. From 25 March 1939 it was compulsory for all boys and girls to serve from ages 10 to 18 (21 for girls).
Although a political arm of the State the HJ was attractive to youngsters, the State funded yearly outdoor camps where members could hike, swim, compete in sports activities, field craft, etc, whilst at weekends scaled down versions were available, with occasional excursions to places of historical or educational value being available in between. Special courses of a technical nature were held for Motor HJ, Marine HJ and the Flieger HJ.
The natural line of progression was thus set that children would serve in the movement then transfer for labour service in the RAD, followed by conscription into the armed forces. Those that showed ability were schooled into further educational where their talents might be encouraged to apply for special roles within the SA, SS, RAD and even the adult leadership of the HJ.
From the onset of the Second World War the duties of the HJ expanded as manpower became scarcer. HJ members became tram conductors, postmen, and carried messages and worked on railway services. As the Reich moved on the defensive many assisted the emergency services as Allied aircraft targeted cities and towns, and also formed anti-aircraft batteries (10,000 volunteered to serve in the 12th SS Panzer-Division Hitler Jugend in 1943). Finally the Hitler Youth movement died in the ashes of Berlin among the onslaught of the Red Army as the Soviets took the capital in 1945.
