Original Items: Only One Available. This is a excellent early production German WWII AH jugend Mützenabzeichen (HJ Cap Badge), marked on the back by maker OTTO HOFFMANN. Under this is GES. GESCH., which is short for Gesetzlich Geschützt (Protected by Law), indicating that it is a protected design. Otto Hoffmann is a known manufacturer of HJ Cap badges during the pre-war era.
The badge is constructed out of a die stamped zinc alloy base that has been silver washed and contains red, white and black enamel work. The rhomboid diamond shaped obverse depicts the HJ emblem, which consists of a black mobile swas above a silvered square diamond which is surrounded by alternating white and red translucent pebbled quadrants and is all surrounded by a small silvered border.
The badge measures approximately 25mm tall by a 13mm wide, and the full back reverse has a horizontally soldered on pin assembly. The plating on the badge looks to still be mostly intact, with some lovely tarnish on the front and back. The enamel work has minimal cracking making this a great pin! Comes more than ready to display!
AH believed German youth to be the future of his 3rd Reich. The HJ (AH Jugend or HJ) 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.