Hitlerjugendführer: Leader in the Hitler Youth

     In 1933, the Hitlerjugend (HJ; Hitler Youth) became the official youth organization of the NSDAP (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei; National Socialist German Workers’ Party). Starting at age 10, boys were expected to participate in the HJ and once in, received indoctrination on NSDAP ideology and as time went on, the HJ became a para-military organization with military training taking more and more precedence over more mundane activities such as camping. As German armed forces suffered more and more losses, it was only a matter of time before the HJ became a manpower pool to be tapped. At first, HJ boys took the places of adult firefighters, postal workers, railroad personnel, etc. who were called to arms. By 1943, plans were in place to begin using the HJ in combat, the most notable being the 12th. SS-Panzer-Division Hitlerjugend. When the Volkssturm (the German militia) was organized in October 1944 and any man aged 16-60 was conscripted into it, HJ youth were among them. It was said that HJ combat squads fighting in the last gasp for Germany amongst the rubble during the Battle of Berlin in 1945 were the fiercest of fighters, in part to their entrenched ideological beliefs in German superiority.

     While not a great photograph, it shows an HJ leader (the HJ armband can just be seen on his left arm) with a full complement of para-military awards. On his right breast pocket is the HJ Proficiency Badge. This was considered a very prestigious award, showing both the physical and ideological proficiency of the wearer. On his left breast pocket is the round Ehrenzeichen der NSDAP (NSDAP party badge) which displayed his membership in the NSDAP and beside it is the HJ membership pin. Below the party badge is the political SA-Wehrabzeichen (SA Sports Badge) which was awarded for excellence in physical fitness and athletic competition. The final award is the Deutsches Reichs-Sportabzeichen (German National Sports Badge) which was the military equivalent to the SA Sports Badge.

     Interestingly, the German Sports Badge (first appearing in 1913) is still able to be earned today and is the oldest German decoration still being issued. Today, it is a civilian issued award, given through the Deutsches Sportabzeichen (German Olympic Sports Confederation). The award is open to German military personnel and military men and women from allied nations (including the United States) as well as civilians. To earn it in one of three grades (Bronze, Silver, Gold), points must be earned in five events which test swimming, jumping, endurance, speed, and physical strength. To earn the badge in Bronze, at least 4 points must be earned, Silver is a minimum of 8 points, and Gold a minimum of 10 points. The badge, as it was during the war, is still held in high esteem and its awarding is a requirement for admission into some German police services.