Original Item: Only One Available. AH believed German youth to be the future of his 3rd Reich. The HJ (AH Jugend or 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 aged 14-18 (AH Jugend) and girls aged 14-18 (Bund Deutscher Mädel) were enlisted in the Party-run organization. Within the organization, a degree of military style ranks were maintained, as well as the various "corps" or branches that existed in the Wehrmacht.

This was known as a HJ youth overseas cap or Allgemeine jugend Sommer-Mütze (General HJ summer cap). It is a cotton twill tan colored cap with light blue rayon piping, which we believe indicates the branch within the HJ National Youth Organization. The front features the correct BeVO HJ red and white diamond insignia, hand stitched to the outer fabric.

The interior of the cap is the same "whipcord weave" tan canvas as the exterior, and is size marked 57 on the inside of the crown. The sweatband is pressed paper or fiber type oil cloth, and goes all around the interior of the cap.

Overall condition is very good, showing light wear from service to the exterior, mainly degradation / fraying of the blue piping. The khaki tan color is well retained, and there is only light staining and no major tears or damage. The interior is similar, though the sweatband looks to have gotten stuck together during long storage where the cap was pressed flat, and when the cap was opened up the top layers tore off, stuck to the other side.

This cap would make a wonderful piece for any German WW2 collection.