Original Items: Only One Lot of 8 Available. This is a wonderful lot of items which were more than likely brought home by American soldiers at the end of World War II. They are in lovely condition and are perfect for the young collector who is looking to add a variety of medals and insignia to bolster their collections!
The Following Items Are Included:
– Volkssturm Armband: The armband appears to not have been issued and has only minor fading present. It measures 16 ¾” x 3 ¼”. The Volkssturm was a levée en masse national militia established by NSDAP Germany during the last months of World War II. It was not set up by the German Army, the ground component of the combined German Wehrmacht armed forces, but by the NSDAP Party on the orders of Adolf H and established on 25 September 1944. It was staffed by conscripting males between the ages of 16 and 60 years, who were not already serving in some military unit. The Volkssturm comprised one of the final components of the total war promulgated by Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels, part of a NSDAP endeavor to overcome their enemies’ military strength through force of will. Volkssturm units fought unsuccessful futile battles against the Allied forces at the end of the war and on several occasions, its members participated in atrocities accompanied by German civilians and the HJ Youth, which were overseen by members of the SS or Gau leaders.
– HJ Youth Armband: The armband is in a lovely field worn condition with minor age toning and stains present. The armband is a 2 piece construction with the black swas embroidered on the central white diamond which is sewn onto the front. The armband measures approximately 10” x 4” and is sewn together in the back.
– HJ Sleeve Diamond – Süd Hochland: This is a pair of sleeve diamonds still on an original fabric sheet, uncut. This HJ Sleeve Diamond is a desirable piece, from the Süd Hochland district. These district triangles indicated the area where a youth unit was based. The Süd Hochland district was the area around Munich, the capital of the National Socialist movement. This triangle is a textbook example, made in “BeVo” machine woven construction. The front is very clean, with the “Süd Hochland” wording in yellow rayon thread, on a black backing. The reverse of this HJ sleeve diamond shows details of the typical machine woven construction. There are no stitch holes or other signs of having ever been used. Overall, this district triangle sheet is in excellent condition, with only extremely slight age toning. It’s a nice, representative example of this popular pattern of HJ Youth insignia.
– HJ National Youth Organization BeVo Diamond Insignia: It still has the original paper RZM tag on the back.
– HJ Youth DJ Sigrune Sleeve Badge: The DJ, Deutsche Jungvolk, (German Youth), originated in Vienna Austria in 1929, and was eventually to become the young branch of the HJ, for boys from 10 to 14 years old. The sigrune first became associated with the DJ on November 9, 1929, the sixth anniversary of the failed Beer Hall Putsch, when the Gauleiter of Vienna presented them with their first official flag, consisting of a black field with a central silver sigrune. The sigrune was adopted as the official emblem of the DJ and was utilized on a variety of flags, belt buckles and assorted insignia. This example is a machine woven, white Sigrune on a red oval field on a tan backing.
– DJ Youth Belt Buckle & Pin: This DJ EM Buckle is a great example. It’s a prewar piece, stamped from brass. This pattern of buckle was worn by members of the Deutsches Jungvolk, a H Youth organization for boys aged 10 to 14. The front of this DJ EM Buckle retains nearly all of the original, thick, plated finish. The bold and striking “victory rune” emblem of the DJ was not plated, and the golden color of the brass contrasts handsomely with the nickel plating. The front of the buckle shows typical marks from wear. The reverse also has virtually all of the original plating. It’s complete and functional, with a soldered catch that shows some wear from having been worn on a belt. This is an attractive buckle, with a striking design. It shows honest wear from use and remains in very good condition. The diamond DJ pin is in lovely condition and remains undamaged.
– “ZELTLAGER DER FRANK HJ 1936” Tinnie: “Frankish Tent Camp for the HJ 1916”
All items come more than ready for display!
The HJ or jugend, and often abbreviated as HJ in German, was the youth organization of the NSDAP Party in Germany. Its origins dated back to 1922 and it received the name AH-Jugend, Bund deutscher Arbeiterjugend (“HJ, League of German Worker Youth”) in July 1926. From 1933 until 1945, it was the sole official youth organization in Germany and was partially a paramilitary organization; it was composed of the HJ proper for male youths aged 14 to 18, the German Youngsters in the HJ (Deutsches Jungvolk in der AH Jugend or “DJ”, also “DJV”) for younger boys aged 10 to 14, and the League of German Girls (Bund Deutsche Mädel or “BDM”).