Original German WWII HJ 58cm Summer Overseas Cap with Red Piping & A H School Stamp – HJ Sommer Mütze Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. AH believed German youth to be the future of his 3rd Reich. The HJ (AH Jugend or HJ) National Youth Organization 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. Within the organization, a degree of military style ranks were maintained, as well as the various “corps” or branches that existed in the Wehrmacht.

This was known as a HJ youth overseas cap or Allgemeine jugend Sommer-Mütze (General HJ summer cap). It is a cotton twill tan colored cap with red rayon piping, which we believe indicates the branch within the HJ National Youth Organization. We have unfortunately not been able to find any information on HJ corps colors however. The front features the correct BeVO HJ red and white diamond insignia, hand stitched to the outer fabric, and there is an aluminum cap eagle applied to the front left, though it may have been applied post war, as it would definitely have not been comfortable to wear.

The interior of the cap is the same “whipcord weave” tan canvas as the exterior, and is size marked 58 on the inside of the crown. However it also has a large boxed AHS. marking over another size 58. This is the marking indicating it was issued at one of the twelve Adolf H Schools, which were pretty much for the elite of the H J, who were chosen for their level of devotion and physical achievement. The sweatband is pressed paper or fiber type oil cloth, and originally went all around the interior of the cap, however it is in very delicate condition, and has had about 1/3 of it fall away.

Overall condition is good, and definitely shows that it saw long service during the Third Reich period. There is sweat staining and deterioration of the material, as well as some tears and fraying on wear points near the bottom. The BeVo insignia shows fraying and earing as well. The khaki color is well-retained, and the piping is really in great shape The helmet has the word SOUVINERS on the left, probably from when it was brought home by a USGI.

This cap would make a wonderful piece for any German WW2 collection. Ready to research and display!

Adolf H***** Schools (AHS) were 12 day schools run by the Schutzstaffel in NSDAP Germany from 1937 to 1945. Their aim was to indoctrinate young people into the ideologies of the National Socialist Party. They were for young people aged 14 to 18 years old and were single sex, with three schools for girls and the rest for boys. Selection for admission to the schools was rigorous; pupils were chosen for their political dedication and physical fitness, as opposed to their academic prowess. Activities focused on political indoctrination rather than academic studies. The SS often selected future officers from the schools.

The AHS should not be confused with numerous schools renamed “Adolf H***** School” after H***** became the Chancellor of Germany in 1933, such as the former Martin Luther School in Marburg, the Werner Heisenberg High School in Heide, the Nordstadt School in Pforzheim, the Paul Werner High School in Cottbus, or the Goethe School in Flensburg.

There was also a similar network of boarding schools called the National Political Institutes of Education (“Napolas”).