{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-hj-iron-proficiency-badge-with-achievement-record-book-named-to-ludwig-schmitt","title":"Original German WWII HJ Iron Proficiency Badge with Achievement Record Book Named to Ludwig Schmitt","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Items: Only One Set Available. As with any paramilitary organization, the HJ National Youth Organization had numerous awards and achievement badges, as well as the documents to record their progress. This is lovely Iron-Grade German WWII \u003cem\u003eLeistungsabzeichen der HJ\u003c\/em\u003e (Proficiency Badge of the HJ), instituted as the first HJ award by \u003cem\u003eReichsjugendführer\u003c\/em\u003e Baldur von Schirach on May 1st 1934 as an incentive for HJ members to increase their proficiency in military oriented athletics, academics, field exercises, and shooting. The badge was established in three grades, Silver, Bronze and Iron, with the age of the recipient being the determining factor of which grade the individual was eligible for. Seventeen year old's were eligible for the Silver badge, sixteen year old's for the Bronze badge and fifteen year old's for the Iron badge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach HJ member was issued a \u003cem\u003eLeistungsbuch\u003c\/em\u003e (Qualification book) to record their achievements and verify their right to wear the badge when awarded. Originally the badges were worn on the left breast pocket of the HJ service uniform but later regulations altered wear to the right breast pocket. As with most awards a cloth version was also authorized for wear by qualifying personnel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe design of the badge features a single \u003cstrong\u003eᛏ\u003c\/strong\u003e Tyr rune as a background, which signified \"leadership in battle\" per the NSDAP pseudo-runic alphabet. In the center is a \"mobile\" NSDAP swas (hook cross), surrounded by runic style text reading \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFÜR LEISTUNGEN IN H.J.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e (for performance in the HJ). The badge measures just over 2 inches by 1 1\/8 inch, and is completely non-magnetic. The reverse of the badge features a large brass safety pin type attachment, which is fully functional. The reverse is \u003cstrong\u003e(RZM)\u003c\/strong\u003e Marked with \u003cstrong\u003eM1\/36\u003c\/strong\u003e indicating manufacture by \u003cem\u003eBerg \u0026amp; Nolte of Lüdenscheid\u003c\/em\u003e, a known maker of this badge\u003cspan\u003e. There is also serial number \u003cstrong\u003e58672\u003c\/strong\u003e stamped on the arrowhead. It is finished in black, the color for \"iron\", just like with wound badges. The badge is in very good shape, showing just a bit of wear around the edges and on the back.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe included Record Book is completely correct, and page 5 is filled out with the personal details of the owner, showing that \u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLudwig Schmitt \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003ewas born \u003cstrong\u003eMarch 14 1931\u003c\/strong\u003e, and entered the DJ \u003cstrong\u003eApril 20, 1941\u003c\/strong\u003e, not long after they were eligible to join. It indicates their unit number, address, and other information. The later pages show all of the achievements they accrued, and would make a fantastic transcription and translation project.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis German WWII HJ proficiency grouping combines an Iron-grade \u003cem\u003eLeistungsabzeichen der HJ\u003c\/em\u003e with a named \u003cem\u003eLeistungsbuch\u003c\/em\u003e belonging to Ludwig Schmitt. The badge retains its black finish, functional pin, \u003cstrong\u003eRZM M1\/36\u003c\/strong\u003e marking for Berg \u0026amp; Nolte, and Serial No. \u003cstrong\u003e58672\u003c\/strong\u003e, while the record book preserves Schmitt’s personal details, DJ entry date, unit information, and subsequent achievement records. Together, the badge and booklet provide a particularly informative look at the HJ proficiency system and the way individual progress was documented\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOf Note:\u003c\/strong\u003e In late 1934 items manufactured for the NSDAP and other organizations, including membership pins, came under the quality control of the RZM, \u003cem\u003eReichzeugmeisterei\u003c\/em\u003e, (National Equipment Quartermaster) and as a result were marked with the RZM logo when appropriate. The registry was based at the Brown house in Munich and NSDAP party headquarters in Berlin. The RZM ensured that the manufacturers of military items were consistent in design, quality of materials and other characteristics of the items. It also defined standards of design, manufacturing and quality and published an authoritative color chart for textiles.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAH believed German youth to be the future of his 3rd Reich. The HJ \u003cem\u003eAH Jugend or HJ\u003c\/em\u003e) was formed officially in 1935, and with the exception of NSDAP ideology indoctrination was very similar to the Boy Scouts. Beginning at about the age of ten years, both boys (\u003cem\u003eAH Jugend\u003c\/em\u003e) and girls (\u003cem\u003eBund Deutscher Mädel\u003c\/em\u003e) were enlisted in the Party-run organization. The The \u003cem\u003eDeutsches Jungvolk\u003c\/em\u003e (DJ) was the junior branch of the HJ, for boys aged 10 to 14.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHistory of the HJ National Youth Organization:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn 1922, the Munich-based NSDAP established its official youth organization called Jugendbund der NSDAP. It was announced on 8 March 1922 in the Völkischer Beobachter, and its inaugural meeting took place on 13 May the same year. Another youth group was established in 1922 as the Jungsturm Adolf “AH”. Based in Munich, Bavaria, it served to train and recruit future members of the Sturmabteilung (SA), the main paramilitary wing of the NSDAP Party at that time.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne reason the HJ so easily developed was that regimented organizations, often focused on politics, for young people and particularly adolescent boys were a familiar concept to German society in the Weimar Republic. Numerous youth movements existed across Germany prior to and especially after World War I. They were created for various purposes. Some were religious and others were ideological, but the more prominent ones were formed for political reasons, like the Young Conservatives and the Young Protestants. Once AH came onto the revolutionary scene, the transition from seemingly innocuous youth movements to political entities focused on AH was swift.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing the abortive Beer Hall Putsch (in November 1923), NSDAP youth groups ostensibly disbanded, but many elements simply went underground, operating clandestinely in small units under assumed names. In April 1924, the Jugendbund der NSDAP was renamed Grossdeutsche Jugendbewegung (Greater German Youth Movement). On 4 July 1926, the Grossdeutsche Jugendbewegung was officially renamed HJ Bund der deutschen Arbeiterjugend (HJ League of German Worker Youth). This event took place a year after the NSDAP Party was reorganised. The architect of the re-organization was Kurt Gruber, a law student from Plauen in Saxony.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter a short power struggle with a rival organization—Gerhard Roßbach's Schilljugend—Gruber prevailed and his \"Greater German Youth Movement\" became the NSDAP Party's official youth organisation. In July 1926, it was renamed H -Jugend, Bund deutscher Arbeiterjugend (\"H” Youth, League of German Worker Youth\") and, for the first time, it officially became an integral part of the SA. The name H -Jugend was taken up on the suggestion of Hans Severus Ziegler. By 1930, the Hjugend (HJ) had enlisted over 25,000 boys aged 14 and upward. They also set up a junior branch, the Deutsches Jungvolk (DJ), for boys aged 10 to 14. Girls from 10 to 18 were given their own parallel organization, the League of German Girls (BDM).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn April 1932, Chancellor Heinrich Brüning banned the H Youth movement in an attempt to stop widespread political violence. However, in June, Brüning's successor as Chancellor, Franz von Papen, lifted the ban as a way of appeasing “AH”, the rapidly ascending political star. A further significant expansion drive started in 1933, after Baldur von Schirach was appointed by H as the first Reichsjugendführer (Reich Youth Leader). All youth organizations were brought under Schirach's control.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45588798341189,"sku":"ONSV26MJL068","price":350.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV26MJL068__01.jpg?v=1787336871","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-hj-iron-proficiency-badge-with-achievement-record-book-named-to-ludwig-schmitt","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}