Hitler Youth Uniforms: DJ Rune (Lighting Bolt) Patch


Figure 1.--These DJ trumpeters are lined up for a public event. Notice the two boys at the end of each file. Only the boys at the end of the row seem to have the lighting bolt patch, although most of the other bos are obscured. We thought that it designates a rank like patrol leader, but a reader tells us that this is not the case. The German term was a 'sieg rune'. Also notice how the boy in the front row is holding his hand.

We also notice boys wearing an round runic (lighting bolt) patch. It was called a 'sieg rune', meaning a victory rune. Notice the boys here at the end of each row (figure 1). They seem to be the only ones with the lighting bolt patch on their sleeves (figure 1), although many boys are obscured. The single lighting bolt was the emblem of the DJ. It is in the style of the runic old Germanic character, S for "Sieg" meaning victory. The badge has the "S" or ligthing bolt in white on a black ground. It was also used on belt buckles and banners. It was course similar to the double lighting bolt symbol of the dreaded Schutz Staffel (SS--Protection Squadron). Only the HJ and DJ boys wore it. I do not know if the BDM girls had this badge. We are unsure what the DJ boys had to do to earn their lighting bolt patch. We thought it might be an insignia of rank, rather like a patrol leader. A reader tells us that this is not the case. Hitler and many NAZIs were very fond of old Germanic symbols and terms, such as the swastika. The swatika or Hakenkreuz was supposed to represent the rune of the sun.

Runes

Runes were the characters used in ancient languages, especially Germanic and Scandinavian languages during the medieval era or about the 3rd to the 13th centuries. As they declined in actual usage with the adoption of Latin letters, runes took on a kind of mysterious symboism. They were adopted by the NAZIs and other right wing groups steped in Nordic mythology. The swatika or Hakenkreuz was supposed to represent the rune of the sun.SS Leader Heinrich Himmler was especially interested in Nordic mythology.

Sieg Rune Round Patch

We notice DJ boys wearing what we thought was a oval runic lighting bolt patch. It was called a 'sieg rune', meaning a victory rune. It was actually round, at leat the colored pat. The rune and round colored circle was actually on a brown square or diamond patch. We always saw the symbol as meaning a lighting bolt, but is twas done in the style of the rune for "s" meaning sieg or victory. This was a very popular image in NAZI German. The SS of course adoptef the double fune patch as its symbol. The diamond shaped rune was sewn on the sleeve. The patches were all manufactured initially as a square. They look like a circle because the brown square was done in the same color as the boys' brown HJ shirt and thus it is usually not apparent in the availavle photographs. The square was stood on its corner to form the diamond and give the rune its correct vertical look. Here some mothers did not get it exactly correct. The color of the brown shirts varied somewhat (through manufacturing and washing) so sometimes the diamond patch can be seen, but usually it just looks kije a round patch in availavle photographs.

Diamond Border

We notice a DJ boy wearing his oval Sieg Rune (lighting bolt) patch with a colored diamond backing. It was a square turned on it points to form a diamond. We have seen very few examples of this. Thus we are not sure if it was a formal insignia or if a mother just added this on her own. I'm not sure what the color was, but it may have been a bright color like red and green. Hopefully areader will be able to provide us an insight here. We note that the rune patches were done in different colors.

Position

Notice the boys here at the end of each row (figure 1). It was worn below the trianular patch and above the elbow.

Significance

The boys at the end of the row here seem to be the only ones with the lighting bolt patch on their sleeves (figure 1), although many boys are obscured. We thought it might be an insignia of rank, rather like a patrol leader. A reader tells us that this is not the case. He tells us, "The rune is definitely common to all members of the DJ and is not a rank insignia. When the DJ advanced to HJ the rune was replaced with the black, red and white "swastika in the diamond" arm band. DJ and HJ ranks were indicated by the stars on the shoulder strap and later by a combination of star and lanyard colour." [Muir]

Emblem

The single lighting bolt was the emblem of the DJ. It is in the style of the runic old Germanic character, S for "Sieg" meaning victory. The badge has the "S" or ligthing bolt. It was also used on belt buckles and banners. It was course similar to the double lighting bolt symbol of the dreaded Schutz Staffel (SS--Protection Squadron). We had thought it was the HJ symbol, but a reader tells us that it was only the DJ symbol. I do not know if the BDM girls had this badge.

Color/Oberbann

These patches were done in different colors, depending on where the bot lived. We had thought that the HJ organization was divided into the major Gaus or NAZI Party administrative units. A HBU contributor reports that the HJ divided the Reich into five areas (Oberbann) for all three units: DJ, HJ and BDM. I am not sure of the relationship between the NAZI Gaus and the HJ Oberbann. The Oberbann was a larger unit than any Gau. A HBU contributor tells us , "The HJ organization divided the Reich into five areas (Oberbann) for DJ, HJ and BDM administration and sub-divided into smaller districts (Bann). Each Oberbann had a destinctlively colored rune all on tan cloth. The Oberbann rune patch colors were: Oberbann No. 1 White rune on red ground, Oberbann No. 2 Black rune on yellow ground, Oberbann No. 3 White rune on green ground, Oberbann No. 4 Blue rune on white ground, and Oberbann No. 5 White rune on black ground." [Muir] Unfortunately with the black and white photography of the day, its not possible to make out which was which in most of the available photographs.

Award

We are unsure what the DJ boys had to do, if anything, to earn their lighting bolt patch. We notice than many boys do not have them on their uniform. We are unsure if this is becuse they were new members or just that the DJ was lack about wearing badges. We rather think the former isd more likely. I recall as a new Cub, for example, that there were a few simple things we had to do to earn our Bob Cat badge. Perhaps the same was the case for the DJ.

Sources

Muir, John. E-mail message, September 16, 2005.






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Created: May 18, 2004
Last updated:1:39 AM 5/27/2009