Hitler Youth Membership Book



Figure 1.--Here is a Hitler Youth membership book. Notice the HJ logo and the boy's membership number 394173. The large scrip reads Mitgleids-Ausweis der Hitler Jugend which means Membership Card (or papers) the Hitler Youth.

Hitler Youth members were issued membership books. The first page of the membership book had the diamond shaped logo of the Hitler Youth. The books included identity photographs and basic information such as the youth's birthdate and when he or she joined the HJ organization. There was also a page for recording the payment of dues. Here a small pink stamp with the letters HJ was pasted in, indicating that the member had paid the monthly dues. The text of the membership card was written in the old-style German script. This makes it difficult to read the text in the book with the existing scan that we have. We hope to eventually transcribe and translate the text. The membership book here was for a boy who joined in Octiber 1933. He was only a member for about a year because he was already an older boy when he joined.

Background

It is common in Germany for political parties, the unions etc. to have a „Mitgliedsausweis“ or „Mitgliedsbuch“ similar to the one seen here for a political party's (NAZI) youth organisation--the Hitler Jugend.

Issuance

Hitler Youth members were issued membership books. I am not sure when this began. I assume it may have been begun when the HJ was founded. The book here was issued in October 1933, a few months after the NAZIs seized power. Note that the membershio number is 400,000. We do not know how the design and format of these books changed over time. The HJ was rapidly expanded after 1933 and the membership would eventually number in the millions.

Usage

I am not sure just how books like this were used. Presumably the boys felt proud to have them. I am not sure if there was any ptractical use. Registration of course meant that the NAZIs opened a record of the member. I supose the book would have been useful if the family moved. The youth would have proof of membership in a new HJ unit. I am unsure at this time, however, as to any other practial use. Perhaps it was used when entering the Reich Labor Service or applying fir jobs.

Cover

The first page or cover of the membership book had the diamond shaped logo of the Hitler Youth. Notice the HJ logo and the boy's membership number 394173 (figure 1). The large scrip reads Mitgleids-Ausweis der Hitler Jugend which means Membership Card (or papers) the Hitler Youth. A HBC reader has managed to translate almost all of the cover. The words in the upper right corner are difficult to read. It probably says " nicht abtragbar! " which means more or less--not redeemable. Another reader says that it is more likely „Nicht übertragbar“ (not transferable). Another reader tells us, "I've no doubt that it reads "nicht übertragbar!' if only for the number of letters (eleven). It is a common statement on that kind of document, even today. "nicht abtragbar" doesn't make much sense and it has only nine letters. Incidentally, the usual adjective derived from the verb "abtragen" is "abträglich", meaning harmful or detrimental." The rest of the cover says in large letters "Mitglieds-Ausweis der Hitler-Jugend". The rest of the text reds,"Bannstempel" by itself. At the bottom it says "(Dieser Ausweis ist Eigentum des Reichsjugendführers und auf Anforderung sofort zurückzugeben)" This would translate as Membership ID of the Hitler Youth. Jurisdiction stamp. (This ID is property of the Reichs (State) Youth Leader and has to be returned on demand.) Where it says Bannstempel you see a vague stamp underneath. Unfortunately the stamp is indestinct beyound a vague purple circle. The wording of the whole thing is already typical NAZI-language.

Identity Information

The books included identity photographs and basic information such as the youth's birthdate and when he or she joined the HJ organization. The text of the membership card was written in the old-style German script. This makes it difficult to read the text in the book with the existing scan that we have. We hope to eventually transcribe and translate the text.

Dues

There was also a page for recording the payment of dues. At least I believe this is what the page was for. Here a small pink stamp with the letters HJ was pasted in, indicating that the member had paid the monthly dues. I am not sure just what the dues were. I'm not sure how the HJ dealt with youths who missed meetings and didn't pay their dues.

Individuals

We have very few examples of these membership books at this time. We will add any additional books as we acquire images of the books. The membership book here was for a boy who joined in Octiber 1933. He was only a member for about a year because he was already an older boy when he joined.

Soviet ID Cards

We are cirious as to the ID cards other youth groups may have had. We have been looking for Young Pioneer membership books. So far we have found Soviet IDs for teenagers, but no Young Pioneer membership vooks.







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Created: 7:43 PM 7/3/2005
Last updated: 8:07 PM 7/6/2005