Hitler Youth Uniforms: Neckerchief

Figure 1.--This picture shows the black neckerchief worn by Hitler Youth boys. Notice the holder or woggle this boy wears with it.

Hitler Youth boys wore large black neckerchiefs. I'm not sure what the German term was. It was one of several items picked up from the Boy Scouts. The Boy scouts were famous for the msany ways thry found to use the neckerchiefs. This does not seem to have been the case for the HJ. As far as know they were always black. This is all we have seen in the available photgraphs. we have never seen any other neckerchief than the black one. Nor have we ever seen any kind of design on these scarves, they were all plain black. They were often fairly large neckerchiefs. We have seen boys wearing different size neckerchiefs. We are not sure yet about the neckerchief holder or woggle. We do not think there was any standard style, but here we are not sure yet. A kind of round woven holder (woggle) seems common. We have not noted any of these holders with any kind of NAZI device on them. Almostall images we have found of the boys show them wearing the neckerchiefs. Only rarely do we see the boys without them.

Terminology

Hitler Youth boys wore large black neckerchiefs. I'm not sure what the German term was.

Boy Scouts

This seems to be a popular device that the Hitler Youth adopted from Scouting. The Boy scouts were famous for the msany ways thry found to use the neckerchiefs. This does not seem to have been the case for the HJ. Arguably the most popular part of the Scout uniform is the kerchief or Scout scarf. Baden Powell suggested that a kerchief be worn for a variety of reasons. Some other early Scouters were not convinced that it was necessary. The kerchief, however, proved popular with the boys and was retaned. In fact, most other major uniformed groups which followed the Scouts, including the Hitler Youth and Young Pioneers, also adopted kerchiefs. Many Scouts today no longer wear recognizeable uniforms often wear the Scout kerchiefs. Early Scouts and Cubs all wore the same kechiefs, but in many countries different groups of Scouts wear group kerchiefs.

Color

As far as know, the HJ neckerchiefs were always black. This is all we have seen in the available photgraphs. we have never seen any other neckerchief than the black one.

Pattern

Nor have we ever seen any kind of design on these scarves, they were all plain black.

Sizes

They were often fairly large neckerchiefs. We are not sure about the precise size. There seems to be different sizes in the available images. We have seen boys wearing different size neckerchiefs.

Holder

We are not sure yet about the neckerchief holder or woggle. We do not think there was any standard style, but here we are not sure yet. A kind of round woven holder (woggle) seems common. We have not noted any of these holders with any kind of NAZI device on them.

Usage

Almost all images we have found of the boys show them wearing the neckerchiefs. And almost never do we see a unit with some boys wearing the neckerchief nd others without them. Only rarely do we see the boys without them. We see only occassional images of the boys without the neckerchief. We think this may because their leaders told them to take the neckerchiefs off in hot summer weather, although the shirts were often not buttoned when wearing the neckerchiefs. Apparently HJ leades thought it was important that the boys wear their uniforms smartly and with the same items.