Figure 1.--This French Scout in 1963 wears a belt with a special buckle. Notice also he has tucked his sweater into his shorts. |
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The most common type of belt associated with youth groups are waist belts for pants with belt loops. Several uniformed youth groups have special belts as an important part of their uniforms--often destinctive belt buckles. The Hitler Youth in particular had special belt buckles. Some groups wore belts with shoulder straps. Youth groups also had special ways of wearing belts.
We have limited information on youth group belts at this time. I remember that American Scouts had web belts (Blue for Cubs and Olive Green for Scouts). There was a plain brass clasp type buckle. I am unsure about other Scout groups. The Hitler Youth had leather belts.
Most official youth pants or trousers have belt loops which are worn with official belts. Several uniformed youth groups have special belts, especially the belt buckles. The Hitler Youth in particular had special belt buckles. These belt buckles are now not very common, but the old ones have become popular collectors pieves.
Some uniformed groups added a shoulder strap to their belts for a rather military look. Military uniforms from World War I (1914-18) through the early years of World War II (1939-41) often had a shoulder strap attached to the belt. This was especially common in the Boy' Brigade and Hitler Youth. It was less common with Scout groups.
American Scouts did not commonly wear sweaters with a Cub or Scout uniform. Sweaters were much more common in Europe. There were three ways of wearing the sweaters. French boys during the early 20th century might wear their belts over their sweaters, much as boys wore belts over smocks. German boys also sometimes sported this look. After World War II (1945), French Scouts tucked their sweaters into their short pants worn with a belt. In rcent years sweaters are rarely tucked into the trousers.
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