Boys' Historic Uniforms: World War II (1939-45)


Figure 1.--I know French Scouts were allowed to continue operating in Vichy, but I'm not sure what the policy was after Germany occupied Vichy in 1942. This is a 1944 French Scout uniform, but I think after liberation in August 1944.

The War years was a caotic period for boys youth groups. Germany invaded Poland in September 1939. The Hitler youth were mobilized for the war effort, especially after German began suffering reverses in the Soviet Union December 1941. I'm not sure how the uniform chaged during this period. The Hitler Youth played a major role in the German effort to resist the Allied bombing campaign which began serious raids into Germany in 1942. The German NAZIs occupied most of Western Europe and supressed Scouting. They attempted to promote nationalist groups in Nordic countries. Scouts and other youth groups in America and Briotain played a less direct, but none-the-less important role. In the occupied countries, Scours often participated in the Resistance. By 1945 the NAZIs had been driven out of the occupied countries. Scouts reappeared in the West. Scouters in the Eastern European countries conqured by the Soviet Red Army attempted to reorganize Scouting.

Germany: Hitler Youth

Germany invaded Poland in September 1939. The Hitler youth were mobilized for the war effort, especially after German began suffering reverses in the Soviet Union December 1941. I'm not sure how the uniform chaged during this period. The Hitler Youth played a major role in the German effort to resist the Allied bombing campaign which began serious raids into Germany in 1942. The British bombed by night and the Americans by day. Hitler youth groups served as air raid wardens and manned anti-aircraft guns. Some Hitler Youth units were attached to military units and some formed actual military formations such as the Hitler Youth Division that fought the British to a stand still before Caen. Hitler Youth boys, many young teenagers, served in combat roles in the Volkstrum--the German home guard. Many boys were killed in hopeless efforts to stave all the massive Allied armies entering Germany from all sides.

Occupied Europe

and proceed to conquer Europe from the Volga to the Pyranees. Scouting was supressed in the occupied countries. There may have been some ecsptions such as France and the Netherlands, but in most of occupied Europe the Scouts were supressed. In many countries it was dangerous for boys to wear Scout uniforms. Scout leaders faced arrest and confinement in concentration camps.

German policies toward youth groups varied from country to country. In countries like Poland and Russia where they decided for racial reasons to reduce the population to virtual slavery, the Germans made no effort to organize youth groups. In other countries such as Norway, the Netherlands, and France they attempted to organize Fascist youth groups moddled on the Hitler Youth, but with little success.


Figure 2.--hese Eagle Scouts were photographed in the front of the Capitol in Washington during 1941. American Scouts officially adopted a new uniform in 1943. Knickers were replaced by long trousers. The American Scouts were the first Scouts to adopt long pants as part of the official uniform.

America

The only significant American boys' uniformed group know to HBC in the 1940s was the Boy Scouts. The BSA in 1940 used royalties from Irving Berlin's God Bless America to finance urban Scouting. Scouts in 1941 begin a campaign to sell Defense Bonds and Stamps. The Webelos rank created in Cubbing was created in 1941. The Philturn Ranch in 1941 was renamed the Philmont Scout Ranch. "Uncle Dan" Beard passes away in 1941. America was drawn into the War with the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Scouts in 1942 started a recycling campaign for the war effort. James West retired in 1943. The first Silver Antelope awards was presented by a region in 1943. The first first Blue and Gold (Cub Scout) banquet was held in 1943. The BSA in 1944 began the World Fellowship Fund to help Scouting in war-torn nations. Scouting had been supressed by both the NAIZs and Soviets in the countries they occupied.

England

Lord Baden-Powell in 1941 passed away. I'm not sure just what role the Scouts plaued in rge war effort, presumably similar to that played by the scouts in America.









Christopher Wagner






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Created: June 7, 2002
Last updated: June 7, 2002