Hitler Youth: Activities--Skiing

Figure 1.--Here we see an undated photograph of HJ boys involved in some sort of competition or skills testing. The boys are not wearing HJ uniforms, but they are clearly HJ members as they have HJ armbands.

We have some limited information about skiing as a Hitler Youth activity. I am not sure how common skiing was in Germany. It does snow a great deal during the Winter. How common it was for German boys in the 1930s to have skis. Surely it was common in some rural areas, especially the southern Alpine region. I think it was less common for city boys unless they came from affluent families. We note HJ activities combining skiing with military activities such as rifelry. HJ ski units during World War II were used in Wehrmacht mountineering units.

Skiing in Germany

I am not sure how common skiing was in Germany. It does snow a great deal during the Winter. How common it was for German boys in the 1930s to have skis. Surely it was common in some rural areas, especially the southern Alpine region. I think it was less common for city boys unless they came from affluent families.

Skiing and the Hitler Youth

HJ units in the Tyrolean area of the Reich were permitted to use skis as their mode of transport (1933). Although we have few details at this time. Here we see an undated photograph of HJ boys involved in some sort of competition or skills testing. The boys are not wearing HJ uniforms, but they are clearly HJ members as they have HJ armbands.

Ski Uniform

A special ski uniform was designed suitable for wear during the winter months. A black ski cap with a short peak and a buckled flap, which could be folded down to protect the ears and neck, was worn. The HJ diamond was on the front of the cap. HJ units in the ‘Hochland’ and ‘Deutsch-Osterreich’ area wore and edelweiss design badge, made of pressed aluminium with a black swastika on a yellow background as a centrepiece. This badge was worn on the left side of the cap. The tunic was a tan, weatherproof, hip length, pullover style with a laced front and a fold down collar. Instead of the arm-band the HJ diamond cloth patch was sewn on to the left sleeve. The tunic was worn over the trousers which were blue/black and tucked into the socks. Tan lace-up anklets were also worn. The HJ belt was worn over the tunic at the waist. [Muir]

World War II

The HJ ski units became mountaineering units (Gebirgs-HJ) (1939). They were trained for the Army Mountain Troops. The instructors were Waffen-SS Gebirgstruppen (Army Mountain Units) or the Deutsches Alpenverein (civilian members of the Nazi German Alpine League). A report indicated that 30 members of these units attended a training course at the eeres-Hochgebirgsschule (Army Mountaineering School) at Fulpmes near Innsbruck (1940). It was a pre-condition that the HJ members be expert skiers. They wore formal military uniform with the black ski cap with the HJ diamond on the front and the Deutscher Alpenverein style edelweiss badge on the left side. The HJ belt, and armband were worn. On completion of the course the HJ members were awarded the mountaineering badge, the HJ diamond mounted on an edelweiss with crossed skis in a circular surround bearing the legend ‘Ski HJ Fuhrer’. This badge was worn on the left breast pocket immediately below the HJ badge. [Muir]

Sources

Muir, John. E-mail message, December 2, 2005.