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Hitler Youth (NSDAP, Germany)

hitler jugend, hj

Last modified: 2017-03-25 by pete loeser
Keywords: nsdap | hitler youth | hitler jugend | hj |
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[Hitler Youth (NSDAP, Germany)] 29:50 Image by Jaume Ollé

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Introduction: Hitler Youth Organization
Hitlerjugend Organisation

     The Hitler Youth (Hitler Jugend) was both the name of all youth organizations of the Third Reich (including the German Youth (Deutsche Jungvolk), the League of German Girls (Bund Deutscher Mädel), the Young Girls (Jungmädel), and the name of one of the suborganizations, for boys between 14 and 18 years old.
     The Hitler Jugend was founded in 1926 as a part of the Sturmabteilung (SA). After the Nazis came to power in 1933 the non-Nazi youth organizations of the Third Reich were either disbanded or absorbed into the Hitler Jugend with the exception of the Catholic organizations which survived until 1936. Membership in the Hitler Jugend (or one of its suborganizations) was made obligatory in 1 December 1936 when the Hitler Youth Act (Gesetz über die Hitlerjugend) was passed. In 1939 the Hitler Jugend (and its suborganizations) had approximately 9 million members.
Marcus Wendel, 1999


Hitler Youth Organization Flag
Hitler Jugend Organisationsfahne

A red-white-red striped flag (white stripe slightly smaller). In the center a white square standing on its point, with a black swastika. Ratio: 29:50. [Illustrated at top.]
Norman Martin, Feb 1998

I saw this flag abundantly in the film Swing Kids which is set just before World War Two in Germany. The description of it is very simple: horizontally divided red-white-red, with a black swastika on a white square over it. In the film, I saw it waving in classes and on a field, at a sort of academy of the Hitlerjugend. It is strange though that it actually looks like the Austrian flag with just a swastika on it, but I do not think that could be the explanation, since the film was not set in Austria. The other flag also present in the film was the red flag, with the swastika on a white disc.
Filip Van Laenen, 3 Oct 1996

There was no black diamond border - this is a modern rendition that is incorrect.
Rick Prohaska, 14 Jan 2010


HJ Regimental Flag
HJ-Bannfahne

[Hitler Youth Regimental Flag (NSDAP, Germany)] 29:50 Image by Jaume Ollé
Regiment no. 33 - Bann Nr. 33

A red-white-red striped flag (white stripe slightly smaller). In the center a black Prussian type regimental eagle (type of eagle used on Prussian regimental flags since the 18th century) with a white sword and black hammer in its claws. Above the head a white scroll with regimental letter. Th Flag ratio is 29:50.
Norman Martin, Feb 1998


HJ Company Flag
HJ-Gefolgschaftsfahne

[Hitler Youth Company Flag (NSDAP, Germany)] 29:50 Image by Jaume Ollé
Company no. 2 of Regiment no. 86 - Gefolgschaft Nr. 2 im Bann Nr.86

There was no black diamond border - this is a modern rendition that is incorrect.
Rick Prohaska, 14 Jan 2010


HJ Trumpet Flag
HJ-Fanfarentuch

[Hitler Youth Regimental Flag (NSDAP, Germany)] 1:1 Image by Jaume Ollé

There was no black diamond border - this is a modern rendition that is incorrect.
Rick Prohaska, 14 Jan 2010


Other Scout Groups incorporated into Hitler Youth

Colonial Pathfinder Flag - South West Africa Wing
Kolonial Pfadfinder - Súdwest-Afrika Flúgel

[Hitler Youth Colonial Pathfinder (Germany)] Image from Esteban Rivera, 22 February 2017

On 8 July 1934 several different traditionally German scout groups of South-West Africa met at a rally in Windhoek (now capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia) and pledged their allegiance to the NSDAP and were incorporated as wings of the Hitler Youth. These Pathfinder members wore regular HJ uniforms but at first used a colonial style flag reminiscent of the Imperial War Ensign, but defaced with a triangle insignia in place of the Imperial German eagle. The triangular insignia was an abstract design representing the hawthorn tree. By late 1939 or early 1940 the hawthorn symbol was replaced by a swastika on this flag. (Source)
Esteban Rivera, 22 February 2017


HJ Flags and Construction Details

This plate shows several HJ flags, some of which do not appear above.
Zach Harden, 29 Sep 2001

The image is quite interesting in that it apparently shows construction details for the HJ flags.
Santiago Dotor, 2 Oct 2001

These flags (with a few others) can be found in the Organisationsbuch der NSDAP, 7 ed., table 54, facing p. 442. Since this is in German and hard to get, I suggest trying to get hold of D. Littlejohn, The Hitler Youth, Columbia, S.C., 1988, which has a nice chapter on HJ flags on pp.75-80; even better is J.R. Angolia, The HJ, San Jose, California, 1992, Vol.2, pp.216-259, with many photos and illustrations and in many cases good detail on dimensions.
Norman M. Martin, 2 Oct 2001


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