{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-hj-enamel-cap-badge-insignia-by-fritz-zimmermann-of-stuttgart-with-1943-dated-hj-war-service-card-rzm-m1-72","title":"Original German WWII HJ Enamel Cap Badge Insignia by Fritz Zimmermann of Stuttgart with 1943 Dated HJ War Service Card - RZM M1\/72","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOriginal Items: Only One Set Available. This is a very nice original German WWII HJ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMützenabzeichen\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, or cap badge, accompanied by a named \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1943 dated HJ Kriegsdienstkarte\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, or War Service Card, issued through \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBann Rochlitz (214) \/ 1\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe card is one of the numerous identification and service documents issued to members of the HJ during the National Socialist period. It measures approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e3 7\/8 x 5 1\/8 inches\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and remains in very good condition overall, showing only the expected staining and age toning.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe card appears to have originally formed part of a larger document or had an additional section that is now missing. It is filled out in an older German handwritten script, possibly Sütterlin or another form of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKurrentschrift\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, which we have not been able to decipher with confidence.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe accompanying enamel badge is marked:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eM1\/72\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e((RZM))\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eM1\/72\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e manufacturer code identifies \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFritz Zimmermann of Stuttgart, Germany\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe badge is constructed from a die stamped nickel alloy base with a silvered finish and white, black, and translucent red enamel. The diamond shaped obverse carries the familiar HJ emblem, consisting of a black swas (hook cross) centered over a silvered diamond and surrounded by alternating red and white enamel quadrants.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe reverse retains its horizontally mounted bent wire attachment clasp and is clearly marked with the RZM code.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe badge measures approximately \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e25mm tall by 13mm wide\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe silvered finish remains well preserved on the reverse and is still partly bright. The front has lost more of its original plating and now displays an attractive mustard colored patina around the border. The enamel remains complete, with no obvious cracks or major losses that we can see.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRZM\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, or \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eReichszeugmeisterei\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, regulated the manufacture and distribution of authorized insignia, uniform items, and equipment for the NSDAP and affiliated organizations. Beginning in the mid 1930s, approved manufacturers were assigned identifying codes intended to standardize production and quality. In this system, the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eM1\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e category designated metal badges, while \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e72\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e identified Fritz Zimmermann of Stuttgart.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe HJ itself developed from earlier National Socialist youth organizations established during the 1920s. By the early 1930s it had expanded dramatically under party control, with separate age groups for younger boys, older boys, and girls.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe junior boys’ organization, the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDeutsches Jungvolk\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, generally included boys from approximately 10 to 14 years old, while the HJ proper included older boys. Girls were organized separately through the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBund Deutscher Mädel\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, or BDM.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFollowing the National Socialist seizure of power in 1933, independent German youth organizations were progressively absorbed or dissolved, and the HJ became increasingly central to state directed youth training and ideological indoctrination. Legislation in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1936\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e formally established the HJ as the state youth organization, and participation became increasingly compulsory as the regime tightened its control over German youth.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is a very attractive small grouping, combining a desirable \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFritz Zimmermann M1\/72 enamel HJ cap badge\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e with an original \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1943 dated HJ War Service Card from Bann Rochlitz 214\/1\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The strong enamel, clear RZM markings, and surviving named wartime document make the set especially appealing for research and display.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44926384078917,"sku":"ONSV26PCS093","price":150.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV26PCS093__01.jpg?v=1777471764","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-hj-enamel-cap-badge-insignia-by-fritz-zimmermann-of-stuttgart-with-1943-dated-hj-war-service-card-rzm-m1-72","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}