Original Item: Only One Available. The organization of the HJ Youth had numerous districts, and within these individual regiment style units called Bann were formed, which would often be named after army regiments raised from the area. Within these were smaller company sized units, and the Bann and company would be indicated on the shoulder straps, which also indicated the rank within the organization. The organization and classifications changed multiple times though the history of the organization, which can make identification somewhat difficult.

This is a very nice German WWII HJ National Youth organization tan uniform "pullover" style shirt for a Hi**erjunge (Soldat) rank member of Bann 40, Gefolgschaft 20 in the "General-HJ". In this case "Gefolgschaft" means retinue, which was the term used from 1936-1938. It has the correct 19-36-1938 pattern shoulderboards, an HJ armband, pins on the chest, and even a bakelite whistle attached to the left shoulder strap. The shirt features two pleated chest pockets with scalloped buttons, held closed by plastic HJ / DJ marked buttons, which are RZM marked on the back. The front closure has two of the same buttons at the bottom, with a smaller plastic button at the collar.

The left shoulder bears a Gebietsdreieck district triangle badge marked Süd Württemberg, or South Württemberg. The multi-piece cotton HJ National Youth Association armband is sewn onto the left sleeve with tack stitches, and it is in very good condition, showing some age toning and wear, but no major damage. The 1936-1938 pattern tan shoulderboards do not have any added rank insignia, so they are for the lowest rank of Hi**erjunge (Soldat), and they have red-piping, which indicates membership in the "General-HJ". They both bear bear chain-stitched number 40, for the Bann, and the 20 on the buttons indicates the Gefolgschaft, or company. The whistle is attached to the left shoudler with a red and white twisted cord, which we do not know the significance of.

The left pocket has an enamel HJ Membership Pin attached on the pleat, which marked with (RZM) M1/13 on the back, for manufacture by L. Christian Lauer, Nürnberg. It is in very good condition, with fully intact enamel, and the borders showing a lovely patina. The right pocket shows a H.J. Reichsportwettkampf Abzeichen (HJ National Sports Competition Badge) from 1935.

Overall condition is very good, showing wear from service and use, with some stains and fading, but no major damage such as tears or holes. There is some stitch repairing to the inside of the collar where it was becoming threadbare. It has a great service worn look that is impossible to duplicate. Ready to research and display!

Approximate Measurements:-
Collar to shoulder: 9"
Shoulder to sleeve: 21”
Shoulder to shoulder: 15"
Chest width: 19”
Waist: 20"
Hip: 20"
Front length: 27"

In 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.

One 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.

Following 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.

After 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).

In 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.