World War II Fort Benning Scout Group (United States, 1942)


Figure 1.--All the uniformed youth groups played a role in World War II. This U.S. Army officer in 1942 is awarding a National War Service "Victory" certificate to members of Fort Benning, Georgia Boy Scout Troop 11, composed of sons of U. S. Army officers stationed at Fort Benning. Interestingly, the Hitler Youth did not have separate units for officers' sons. Note both the Cub and Boy Scout are wearing the knickers uniform.

All the uniformed youth groups played a role in World War II. This U.S. Army officer in 1942 is awarding a National War Service "Victory" certificate to members of Fort Benning, Georgia Boy Scout Troop 11, composed of sons of U. S. Army officers stationed at Fort Benning. Interestingly, the Hitler Youth did not have separate units for officers' sons. Note both the Cub and Boy Scout are wearing the knickers uniform.

World War II

All the uniformed youth groups played a role in World War II. The War years were a chaotic 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.

War Service Victory Certificate

This U.S. Army officer in 1942 is awarding a National War Service "Victory" certificate to members of Fort Benning, Georgia Boy Scout Troop 11. I am not sure what the boys had to do to ear thiz certificate, but suspect they were involved in collections of rubber, aluminum and other critical materials. There may have been other activities as well.

Chronology

This photograph was taken in 1942. Based on the way that the officer presenting the certificate is dressed , it would have been the winter, probably November or December. At this time infantry units trained at Fort Bragg were jist beginning to be deplued in combat.

Fort Benning

Fort Benning was a major infantry post and at time units from Fort Bragg had been deployed in North Africa as part of Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa. This was the first American offensive in Europe. Troop strength as America entered the War soared with the arrival of the First Infantry Division, as well as with the establishment of an officer candidate school and airborne training center.

Fort Benning, Georgia Boy Scout Troop 11

Fort Benning, Georgia Boy Scout Troop 11 composed of sons of U. S. Army officers stationed at Fort Benning. I do not know how common this was at the time. Interestingly, the Hitler Youth did not have separate units for officers' sons. In fact part of the ethos of the Hitler Youth was to break down social barrier. As far as we know, after the War, Scout units on miklitary bases became mixed units and not separate units for the children of officers and enlisted men.

Uniforms

The Cub here does not seem to be wearing his neckerchief. It is not real clear, we thought that perhsaps he might be wearing the same neckerchief as the Scout. Cubs at the time, however, mostly wore the sandard yellow and blue neckerchief. It seems rather unusual that he would not be wearing a neckerchief for such a formal occassion like this. Note both the Cub and Boy Scout are wearing the knickers uniform. The BSA changed the Scout uniform in 1942, discontinuing knickers and introducing short and long pants. The same step was taken for the Cub uniform in 1943.






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Created: 4:41 PM 5/30/2008
Last updated: 4:41 PM 5/30/2008