Hitler Youth Uniforms: Garments


Figure 1.--This boy looks to be about 10 years old. He looks to have just joined the DJ. He does not yet have any badges on his shirt. The most recognizable feature of the Hitler Youth uniform was the brown shirt based on the brown shirts worn by the SA. Note the epaulettes on his shirt. Image courtesy of the PH collection. Click on the image to learn more about this photograph.

There were two sections to the boys units of the Hitler Youth, the Deutsche Jungvolk for the younger (10-14) boys and the Hitler Jugend proper for the older (15-18) boys. There were differences in the uniforms of the two groups. Some of the uniform items were identical, but there were important differences. The most obvious uniform item was a brown shirt. The Hitler Youth began as a unit of the SA or Storm Troopers. The SA was known as the Brown Shirts. This ame brown shirt was used by the Hitler Youth. THe uniforms items were no only affected by the age level, but also there were seasonal uniform items. The other major uniform item was black short pants. There were also a variety of accessories and patches. Members of the DJ wore only a single shoulder strap on the right shoulder of their tunics and blouse. It was black with a black edging and showed the number of the DJ unit in white cotton.

Variation

We note several variations in the garments worn by HJ boys. The HJ changed uniforms garments slightly over the years. The most obvious change was in the headwear. There were several other smalkler changes such as in the belt buckle design. We also note fewer boys wearing the leather strap and belt after World SWar II began (September 1939). The most oThere were two sections to the boys units of the Hitler Youth, the Deutsche Jungvolk for the younger (10-14) boys and the Hitler Jugend proper for the older (15-18) boys. There were differences in the uniforms of the two groups. Most of the uniform items were identical. It is difficult to tell the difference between the DJ and HJ boys in the summer uniform, except by the age of the boys involved. Perhaps there was a difference, but we have not yet found what it was. There was a difference in the winter uniform, but we are mot entirely sure it was a manditory difference or just reflected the age of the boys and the way older boys dressed. We see many DJ boys wearing short pants with the winter uniform while the HJ boys seem to wear the long knicler ski pants.

Specific Garments

We have begun to collect some basic information on specific Hitler Youth uniform garments. The Hitler Youth has had different styles of caps. There were was a military cap with a bill and a forage-style cap. The military cap with a bill appears to have been worn in the early years. The campaign style seems to have been done in a dark color and a light brown. There was also a black ski-style cap worn with the Winter uniform. There was a dark jacket worn with the winter uniform. The most obvious uniform item was a brown shirt based on the brown shirts worn by the SA which played a major role in the NAZIs seizure of power. Hitler Youth boys wore large black neckerchiefs. A variety of pants were worn by HJ boys. This dependended on age, season, and rank. The major uniform item were black short pants worn with the summer uniform. Younger DJ boys also wore the shorts with the winter uniform. Older boys wore long knicker ski pants. HJ leaders wore brown jodpurs. The Hitler Youth boys wore wide belts. Many also had narrower shoulder straps. The belts were worn in silver-colored belt buckles. Motice the one worn by the boy here (figure 1). The buckles were done in two styles. Sonme had the HJ single lighting bolt symbol. Other had the NAZI eage within a wreath. Hosiery and footwear varied.

Insignia and Accessories

Many accessories were associated with the Hitler Youth uniform. These were worn with both winter and summer uniforms. The boys wore a swastica belt buckle. A proud momenent in each Hitler Youth boy's life was when he was awarded his dagger escribed with the motto "Blood and Soil" ("Blut und Ehre") Hitler Youth boys wore a leather waist belt and cross strap. For the purpose of a command structure, Germany was divided up into a number of Hitler Youth Districts or HJ-Gebiete. Arm badges in the shape of a triangle were worn on the left upper arm of their shirts or tunics which showed the name of the wearer's HJ District. All male Hitler Youth members were issued with a short bladed knife, the HJ-Fahrtenmesser or Travelling Knife. This was carried in a metal sheath worn from the waist belt. This was for many of the boys one of their most prized possessions.

Unidentified Images

We note a number of images that look to be Hitler Youth boys, but where the uniforms show some irregularities. We note one inidentified image without any provinance.






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Created: 4:41 AM 9/20/2004
Last updated: 10:46 AM 7/8/2007