Figure 1.--This German snapshot is undated, but we would guess it was taken about 1940. This Schirmmütze was not the HJ uniform cap, but we know the boy was in the HJ because he has the HJ diamond pin on it. He does, however, not seem to be wearing the standard HJ jacket.

The Schirmmütze was very popular with German boys, but was worn over a fairly narrow window. We first notice German boys wearing these caps in the 1920s, but as far as we can tell, they were not very common. We assume they were ailititary cap. We note a boy wearing a Schirmmütze about 1920. He was part of an unidentifioed youth group. The other boys are mostly wearing other headwear, including caps and hats. We do not see large numbers of boys wearing these caps until the mid-1930s. The Hiotler Youth adopted as a the winter unigform cap. We assume they were coying a Wehrmachy cap. Thus we believe that the Schirmmütze was first worn by boys in large numbers during the 1930s. Most of the images we have found show the boys wearing the dark HJ uniform cap version beginning in the mid-30s. We notice a few boys wearing the lighter colored cap, perhaps grey like the Wehrmnacht cap. It was widely worn during the War (1939-45). We also notice German boys continued to wear the Schirmmütze after the War. Unlike other HJ caps, the Schirmmütze does not seem to have avquired a NAZI taint, despite the fact that it was aidely worn Wehrmacht cap. We notice it throughout the 1940s and the early-50s. We rarely see it in the 1960s, especially after the early 60s.

The 1920s

We first notice German boys wearing these caps in the 1920s, but as far as we can tell, they were not very common. We assume they were a milititary cap, but we do not know if the caps were worn by the Reichwehr or to what extent. We note a boy wearing a Schirmmütze about 1920. He was part of an unidentified youth group on a hike. The other boys with him are mostly wearing other headwear, including caps and hats. This is so far the only Schirmmütze we have noted during the 1920s. The HJ was founded in the 1920s, but we do not see the boys wearing these caps in the 20s.

The 1930s

We are not suew when the Wegrnacht adopted it as part of the unifoem. UIt waorn by bith he Heer asnd Luftwaffe. We do not see large numbers of boys wearing these caps until the mid-1930s. The Hiotler Youth adopted as a the winter unigform cap. We assume they were coying a Wehrmachy cap. Thus we believe that the Schirmmütze was first worn by boys in large numbers during the 1930s. Most of the images we have found show the boys wearing the dark HJ winter uniform.cap version beginning in the mid-30s. We notice a few boys wearing the lighter colored cap, perhaps grey like the Wehrmnacht cap.

The 1940s

It was widely worn during the War (1939-45). We also notice German boys continued to wear the Schirmmütze after the War. Unlike other HJ caps, the Schirmmütze does not seem to have avquired a NAZI taint, despite the fact that it was aidely worn Wehrmacht cap. We notice it throughout the 1940s and the early-50s. We rarely see it in the 1960s, especially after the early 60s.

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Created: 10:15 PM 4/24/2008
Last updated: 5:26 AM 8/11/2011