Figure 5.--This looks like a photograph of Hitler Youth boys. HBC is not, however, positive. The photograph does not provide a good look at either the uniforms or the flags. We wonder if the boys might belong to a NAZI-sponsored youth groups in one of the occupied countries.

This looks like a photograph of Hitler Youth boys. HBC is not, however, positive. The photograph does not provide a good look at either the uniforms or the flags. We wonder if the boys might belong to a NAZI-sponsored youth groups in one of the occupied countries. We belierve that the Dutch NJS is the most likely group, but we are not yet positive.

Image Assessment

At first glance this looks like a photograph of Hitler Youth boys. HBC is not, however, positive. The photograph does not provide a good look at either the uniforms or the flags, although neither the flags or the badges on the uniform appear to be Hitler Youth parphanelia. Neither of the flags are the red and white striped flag with the swastica of the Hitler Youth, although Hitler Youth boys also caired other flags and banners as well. We wonder if the boys might belong to a NAZI-sponsored youth groups in one of the occupied countries. We note that the boys wear ankle socks. Most photographs of Hitler Youth boys show them wearing kneesocks.

Reader Comments

HBU readers have provided some comments on this image.

German reader

A German reader comments, "I agree that the boys probably do not belong to the Hitler Jugend. They might be of another youth group that had to join the Hitler Jugend. But on the other hand all youth groups were disbanded and the members were absorbed into the Hitlerjugend. On one of the boys arms an eagle or falcon can be seen. Although the left flag can't be seen clearly, you can see a wing of the eagle or falcon. Thus these boys aren't belonging to the HJ, because they had a swastika as an emblem. And the bird of the Luftwaffe (German air force) had thiner and longer wings." HBC believes that the boys are more likely boys from a NAZI-approved youth group in one of the occupied countries such as the Netherlands. The Hitler Jugend absorbed most of the German youth movements in 1933. This photograph has more of a 1940-43 look to it than the early 1930s, note in particular the ankle socks.

American reader

An American reader writes, "That eagle looks American. Could they have been with the German-American Bund?" HBU doesn't think so. Here the background doesn't look right. American boys had begun to wear ankle socks, but the ones here dion't look right to me. Also the boys' short are shorter than the ones worn by American boys at the time. Also the uniforms are more elaborate than the ones I have noted Bund boys wearing. All of the Bund boys in uniform I have seen show them in camp settings, not parading openly in city streets. Also the boys here have uniforms that are more elaborate then the uniforms we have noted of Bund boys.

British reader

A HBU reader writes, "I am in no doubt the boys in the B&W Nazi-esque image are definitely members of the Hitler Jugend (HJ). All the accessories confirm it." Here we disagree with our reader's assessment. There certainly are some similarities such as the nlack shorts and a belt buckle shaped like a HJ belt buckle. The uniform while similar does not look to us like the HJ uniform. First of all while difficult to assess in a black and white photograph, the shirts do not look brown to us. Rather they look like a lighter color such as light-blue. Second, the boys even though in a formal occassion do not wear caps. Generally HJ boys did. Third, the boys wear ankle socks. We nmote few images of HJ boys wearing ankle socks, especisally on formal occassions. Fourth, note the shulder epaulettes. They look differnt from the HJ which did not wear anything like that. Fifth, the badges are not right. We note none of the standard HJ badges nor the HJ arm band. We can mske out one badge, but it does not look like any HJ badge we have ever seen. Readers may want to review thed HBC HJ badge an insignia and patch page. Our British reader writes back, "Ha! It was the DJs who wore the caps, and the HJ only until the mid-1930s (surely you have loads of images of HJs without caps. I personally have hundreds in books - far more than WITH). You won't see many HJs wearing caps afterwards unless it was the Winter uniform. The cross-straps, neckties and (what we Brits would call) woggles and shoulderboards are all HJ. The belt buckle looks just like an HJ one to me and as for the colour of the shirts, it could EASILY be the usual HJ colour. I actually OWN an HJ shirt and the colour is actually quite a light brown. The flags could simply be ones for a ceremony; HJs would rally all over the place with flags from their locales all the time. I have several books dealing with HJ insignia so if I get the time (isn't that the problem with us all?) I will try to get a source for the patch on the right shoulder - but it doesn't look at all unusual to me. Happy to be proven wrong, but I don't believe I am!" Our reader makes some good points. The comments about the DJ/HJ caps are escpecially interesting. This is a topic HBU has only begun to address. I don't think I am wrong, about the color. Also I havevnever seen HJ boys with these shoulder boards. Then again I don't have images of Dutch NJS boys with shoulder pads either.

Dutch reader

A Dutch reader writes, "Interesting picture. I do agree that the uniforms resemble the NJS's. However, the building looks strangely un-Dutch. The windows are small in relation to the façade and the height/width ratio of the window is rare in Dutch buildings. Its sunshade seems to be made of reed which is equally rare. To the right there seems to be a triangual bay window with a rooflet of slate or some similar material. It all looks more like a South or East European country to me. I am attaching three smallish pics of NJS-members." There were right wing groups set up in German's southern European Axis allies (Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Romania). HBU has, however, no information on nationalist youth groups in these countries. HBC has added the images provided to the NJS link below.

Australian reader

I would just about stake my reputation and say this photo is of German HJ. In spite of what others say, the short socks - which were worn by HJ, usually knee socks rolled down - and no headdress (not uncommon during parades) everything else points to HJ standard bearers. The bar on the shoulder strap of the boy on the left show him to hold the rank of either Rottenfuhrer or Kameradschaftsfuhrer. The shoulder patch of the boy on the right is a standard bearer badge. I have a known DJ photo showing a flag banner. The metal gorget was introduced for standard bearers in July 1938. I would therefore suggest the photo is pre-1938. The pattern on the flag close to the face of the boy on the left seems to perfectly match the tail of the eagle on the flag held by the DJ group. In the early years it was common for each Bann to carry flags with their own unique emblem on them. I have photos of some of these. Wouldn't it be great if these two young men, the flower of German youth, survived the War and we could give them a call to ask them!!!! I think I am a bit of a romantic when it come to history - OH! for a time machine. [Muir]

HBC Assessment

While we are still not positive, we believe that these boys most likely belong to the Dutch pro-NAZI Dutch Nationale Jeugdstorm (NJS). This was the Fascist youth groyp organized in NAZI-occupied Netherlands. We do not, however, have enough information on the NJS uniform to be sure of this.

Sleeve Patch

Note the eagle sleeve patch that one of the boys is wearing. This is very destinctive. It may eventually help us identify the group here.

Sources

Muir, John. E-mail message, September 18, 2005.