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The HJ and BDM achievement badges were introduced by von Schirach in 1934 and the DJ achievement badge a year later in 1935. The JM achievement badge was introduced at a later date and in his 1940 book 'Das kommende Deutschland' Günter Kaufmann gives that date as 1940 but this information conflicts with earlier sources. Anyway, here's what I have come up with so far:
The JM Achievement badge is mentioned as having existed (or indeed not existed) prior to 1940 in the following sources:
1st of April 1936
The magazine Das deutsche Mädel clearly states that the JM did not have an achievement badge at this time. There were two Jungmädelproben (Jungmädel tests) with one being taken in the first year of membership at age 11 or 12 (Jungmädelprobe) with the second (Jungmädel-Leistungsprobe) being due one year later at age 12 or 13. The reference clearly states that there were no badges for these tests and that their purpose was purely to act as preparatory stages on the way to the award of the BDM achievement badge in bronze once the Jungmädel had moved up to the BDM.
14th of January 1938
I have a Gebietsbefehl from Gebiet Ruhr-Niederrhein dated the 14th of January 1938 entitled 'Gesundheitsappel der deutschen Jugend' which gives an exact run-down of all achievement badges. It does not list the JM achievement badge and instead lists the two Jungmädelproben mentioned in the 1936 reference above so it is clear that the JM achievement badge did not yet exist at this point.
October 1938
In the publication: Die Jungmädelschaft. Blätter für die Heimabendgestaltung der Jungmädel (see attachment) issued on the above date there is a reference to the JM achievement badge in the index. I don't have the publication myself so can't tell whether the badge was being awarded at this point or whether the article concerns itself with the very recent introduction of the badge. It is clear though that the badge existed at this time.
March 1939
Another period reference from March 1939 (Das deutsche Mädel) acts as further confirmation that the badge definitely existed prior to 1940: "....the aim of each Jungmädel is the award of the Jungmädel-Leistungsabzeichen before she joins the BDM". Further: "...it is only natural that the older Jungmädel has the desire to achieve more and this wish is accommodated by the Jungmädel-Leistungsabzeichen which the Reichsjugendführer created for the 12 to 14 year old girls'.
From this point on you can find any number of references to the badge.
It seems then to be the case that the Jungmädel achievement badge was introduced in mid-1938. If anyone has more information (period or modern) to narrow this down even further please post it here. It would be much appreciated.
Edit:
Subsequent research shows that the introduction date for the JM achievement badge must be March 1938:
Introduction of the Jungmädel achievement badge (Jungmädel Leistungsabzeichen) | Achievement badges (also known as proficiency badg
... I have mailed DGO to get a copy ... Received a copy of the article today. Nothing new about the date of introduction. All it says is: "Zur leiblichen Ertüchtigung der Mädelschaft wurde vermutlich im jahr 1934 durch die Reichsjugendführung das Jungmädel-leistungsabzeichen gestiftet. das...
www.hj-research.com
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