Original German WWII HJ Youth Organization Leaders Belt Buckle by C. Theodor Dicke – RZM M4/22 Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice WWII German HJ Youth Organization Leader’s Belt Buckle (Koppelschloß). It is a 1936 pattern, die stamped, three piece, alloy construction buckle with a nickel/silver plate. These were used on both the standard leather belt, as well as the brocade belt, and would match the color of the leader’s shoulderboards.

The circular belt buckle features a highly embossed HJ style national eagle clutching the HJ diamond to the center on a slightly pebbled background field. The eagle is encompassed by a circular, ribbed background border with simulated twisted rope trim to both the inner and outer edges. Inside the border it is embossed with the HJ motto Blut und Ehre (Blood and Honor).

Condition is very good, showing a lovely patina of age on the silver plating. There is light wear in areas, as expected on a buckle that definitely saw use during the NSDAP Era.

The back of the buckle is marked with an RZM circle and with the code M4 / 22 on the hook. The Reichszeugmeisterei, or RZM, was was based at the Brown house in Munich and NSDAP party headquarters in Berlin. The RZM ensured that the manufacturers of military items were consistent in design, quality of materials and other characteristics of the items. It also defined standards of design, manufacturing and quality and published an authoritative color chart for textiles.

The M4 in the code stands for buckles, and registrant 22 is Christian Theodor Dicke, of Lüdenscheid, a German city which had a large number of companies who made buckles, buttons, and other clothing items.

A very nice example of a HJ Leader’s Belt buckle, ready to display!

AH believed German youth to be the future of his 3rd Reich. The HJ (AH Jugend) 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 (AH Jugend) and girls (Bund Deutscher Mädel) were enlisted in the Party-run organization. The boys only were given HJ Knives after having passed minor exams. The knives had nickeled hilts with black checkered grip plates. The obverse plate was fitted with an enameled HJ swas insignia. Through 1937, these knives were etched with the motto of the organization, Blut und Ehre! (Blood and Honor!). Examples produced after this date were made with plain blades usually bearing an RZM marking.

The HJ Leaders were professionals in charge of the training and NSDAP education of the German Youth. They wore a special dagger consisting of silvered hilt fittings with blue-black leather-covered scabbard. The grip was composed of tightly wrapped silver wire, over a wood base. The pommel cap featured an HJ diamond on top, complete with swas. The upper scabbard fitting portrayed an open-winged HJ eagle with swas cut into the bird’s chest. The blade was etched with the HJ motto, Blut und Ehre