Original Items: Only One Set Available. Here we have a nice small set of badges and pins from the Deutsche Jägerschaft ('German Hunting Society'), used to indicate membership or support of the organization. The DJ was the official hunting society in NSDAP Germany, 1934–1945, and membership was mandatory for all who possessed a hunting license. As with other state organizations, it was run like a paramilitary organization, and had its own insignia, uniforms, and ranks. The emblem of the organization was a stag skull with antlers surrounded by D. J., and with a swas in a starburst inside the antlers, and was applied to various items they used.

The items in this set all have the DJ insignia on them, and run the gamut of different styles of membership insignia. There is an aluminum badge with a pinback measuring 1 11/16" by 1 5/16", a small buttonhole badge, a stickpin with just the insignia on the end, and another stickpin with the insignia on a round background, with a 1936 date at the bottom.

Definitely a great little set to add to your collection!

The Deutsche Jägerschaft was created through the Reichsjagdgesetz ('National Hunting Act') of 1934. Existing hunting societies were disbanded and the membership transferred to the new society.

The group mission was typical of NSDAP organizations:-
- Educate the hunting community to practice an ethical hunting culture.
- Preserve the wildlife population unchanged to the benefit of future generations.
- Jews were excluded from membership even if they owned hunting grounds.

The Deutsche Jägerschaft was a statutory corporation with mandatory membership for all who possessed a hunting license. The membership was in hunting matters subordinate to the jurisdiction of the Deutsche Jägerschaft through its system of honorary courts. Deutsche Jägerschaft was led by Hermann Göring, as Reichsjägermeister, and was governed by the Führerprinciple. Elected officials did not exist; all functionaries were appointed by their superiors in the internal chain of command. Göring's deputy and leader of the daily work was Walter von Keudell until 1937. Administrative leader was Oberstjägermeister Ulrich Scherping.

Deutsche Jägerschaft was organized in a number of Jagdgaue. Some Länder had a Landesjägermeister as leader of the Gaujägermeisters. Each Jagdgau contained a number of Jagdkreise under a Kreisjägermeister. Each Jagdkreis had a number of Hegeringen ('Game Management Areas') under a Hegeringsleiter. Thüringen, for instance, formed a Jagdgau with 15 Jagdkreise that were state wildlife agencies. The Institute für Jagdkunde ('Hunting Science Institute') and the Deutsche Versuchsanstalt für Handfeuerwaffen ('German Research Station for Small Arms') also came under the Deutsche Jägerschaft.