Original Item: Only One Available. This is a great looking German WWII HJ National Youth Organization Skimütze (Ski Cap). These were the standard headgear for DJ and HJ members during the winter months, and they are quite a bit more insulated than the summer issued caps. While they are called "Ski Caps", they were definitely used for general use.

The cap is constructed of very dark blue or black worsted wool gabardine cloth, with fold-down panels with rounded scallops to the front and forward sides, covering the entire neck on the sides and rear when in use. When not in use, the panels are raised with their ends resting upon the visor, being joined together by an aluminum buckle. The visor is reinforced with cardboard, and covered in matching gabardine cloth.

The front top of the cap has a very nice early pattern enameled HJ diamond emblem, which consists of a black mobile swas inside a white square diamond, which is surrounded by alternating white and red quadrants. The borders between sections are plated metal, which now has oxidized to a lovely gray patina. We cannot see any maker name on the back of the pin.

The interior of the cap is lined with black cotton twill, which has crisscross stitching to hold the insulation in place. There is a leather sweatband around the bottom edge, which shows significant wear and staining from service. There is an area at the back of the cap where it has torn out. There is also an original RZM label on the interior, but it is very faded, so we can only make out a few parts, such as "HJ - DJ".

Overall condition is very good, with just a few spots of wear and mothing to the wool body. The visor is still quite well shaped, with just a bit of bending to the cardboard stiffener, and no cracks, though there are some parts that are a bit weak.

Overall, this is a great example of an HJ Skimütze, ready to research and display!

HJ believed German youth to be the future of his 3rd Reich. The HJ (National Youth Organization) 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 (jugend) and girls (Bund Deutscher Mädel) were enlisted in the Party-run organization.

The HJ Skimütze Ski Cap was based on the Bergmütze (Mountain Hat) used by Austrian and German Gebirgsjäger (Mountain Troops) during WWI. Germany had adopted it in 1915, and after the war it spread throughout the military. It has the same fold down flaps, which can be placed over the ears during cold weather, and is secured with a buckle.