Hitler Youth Uniforms: Seasonality

Figure 1.--This young boy in an early Deutsche Jugend uniform makes a presentation to Hitler himself at the annual Nurreburg NAZI Party ralley. The movement had a mesmerizing impact on hundreds of thousands of German boys, many of which identified personally with Hitler's leadership.

The Hitler Youth movement had seasonal uniforms. Germany has a temperate climate. Thus there are warm summers and cold winters. The Hitler Youth thus had different uniforms for the warm and cold weather. As many HJ activities were outdoor activites, a light-weight uniform was needed for the summer and a heavier, warmer uniform for the winter. These uniforms differed somewhat depending on the boy's level. The male side of the Hitler Youth was divided into two sections. The younger section, the Deutsche Jungvolk (DJ) consisting of boys from the age of 10 to 14. The older section, the Hitler Youth (HJ) , consisted of boys 14-18 years of age. The Deutche Jungvolk and the Hitler Youth had destictive uniform features for both the Winter and Summer. The basic summer and winter uniform for the two levels were similar, but there were important destinctions.

Deutsche Jungvolk (Age 10-14)

The male side of the Hitler Youth was divided into two sections. The younger section, the Deutsche Jungvolk (DJ) consisting of boys from the age of 10 to 14. Boys were inducted at age 10 and than sometie after they turned 14 they progressed to the Hitler Youth. The winter uniform for the DJ, depending on the boy's age, consisted of black shorts or long dark blue trousers worn with either the dark blue tunic or the dark blue blouse with large collar. Under this was worn the traditional light brown shirt. A black neckerchief held in place by a brown leather toggle. A belt with the Hitler Youth buckle was alway worn. Many boys wore the belt with a shoulder strap. For summer wear the DJ left off the tunic and wore just the basic light brown shirt and black shorts. This is the classic uniform in which the Hitler Youth were normally depicted. It was normally worn with a black scarfe and woggle. The shirts were usally not buttoned and the scarfe worn under the collar. The DJ boys had few insignias or patches on thier uniform shirt. New boys inducted into the DJ at age 10 had no insignia at all. The uniform was normally worn with grey kneesocks and shoes or boot-like shoes.

Hitler Youth (Age 14-18)

The older section of the Hitler Youth movement, the Hitler Youth (HJ) consisting of boys from the age of 14 to 18. Boys progressed to the HJ sometime after their 14th birthdauy. The winter uniform for the HJ, consisted of black ski pants bloced at the ankle, worn with dark blue tunic. Under this was worn the traditional light brown shirt. There was special winter cap. A black neckerchief held in place by a brown leather toggle. A belt with the Hitler Youth buckle was alway worn. Many boys wore the belt with a shoulder strap. For summer wear the HJ left off the tunic and wore just the basic light brown shirt and black shorts. There was a campaign-style cap. This is the classic uniform in which the Hitler Youth were normally depicted. The summer uniform is the one most associated in the public mind with the Hitler Youth. It was normally worn with a black scarfe and woggle. The shirts were usally not buttoned and the scarfe worn under the collar. The HJ boys had a few insignias or patches on thier uniform shirt. The uniform was normally worn with grey kneesocks and shoes. The high-top shoes the younger boys wore were less common in the HJ, but some boys had boots.