Original German WWII HJ National Youth Organization Member Armband with Luftwaffe Flak Helper Pin Original Items

Original Item: Only One Available. A Luftwaffenhelfer (Air Force Helper), also commonly known as a Flakhelfer (Flak Helper), was any member of the auxiliary staff of the German Luftwaffe during World War II. The program was established on January 22, 1943, following implementation of the decree Kriegshilfseinsatz der Jugend bei der Luftwaffe (Youth War Assistance Service in the Air Force). The order called for drafting whole school classes of male students born in 1926 and 1927 into a military corps, supervised by HJ National Youth Organization and Luftwaffe personnel. The draft was later extended to include 1928 and 1929 births. Deployment included ideological indoctrination by the HJ, military duties and limited continuation of the normal school curriculum, often by the original teachers.

This HJ National Youth Organization Armband is in lovely service used condition, and is one of those used by the Flak Helpers late in the war. It features an attached metal pin showing a Luftwaffe Eagle inside a circle, with L H surrounding it for Luftwaffenhelfer (Air Force Helper). This is the first time we have had one of these, and it definitely looks to have seen real wear in the field. It measures approximately 13″ x 3 1/2″, and is machine sewn together at the ends. The band is red with a white center stripe stitched to it, and there is also a machine stitch applied HJ diamond with a folded multi-piece black swas (Hook Cross) stitched onto it. It looks to be made entirely of cotton light canvas.

The armband shows some holes where it was previously attached to a uniform, and also it looks like it had some pins attached to it for a long time, which are now missing. There is a faded written marking on the back, and it definitely looks to have had the size adjusted while in service.

A great service used example with a lovely Luftwaffe Helper pin, ready to add to your collection!

AH believed German youth to be the future of his 3rd Reich. The German National Socialist Youth Organization, 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 HJ, 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 HJ or “DJ”, also “DJV”) for younger boys aged 10 to 14, and the League of German Girls (Bund Deutsche Mädel or “BDM”).