HJ Shoulder Staps, an introduction
Shoulder straps worn by the Hitler Youth served three basic purposes. They indicated the rank of the wearer, they identified the geographic location of the unit, they indicated the assignment designation of the wearer, and they indicated the branch of the Hitler Youth to which the wearer belonged. When viewed in combination with the Gebeitsdistrict triangle sleeve insignia, unit identification could instantaneously be made.
From time to time the shoulder straps underwent modification, new ranks were introduced and new Gebiets were raised. When looking at HJ shoulder straps it is neccessary to consider the year that the straps are from. Very early shoulder straps prior to 1933 were worn by youth elements that sometimes employed a dual colored piping that was most likely an indication of the Landesfarben, (National Colors used by each German state), that went around the sides and to the point of the boards. These early boards are difficult to find and considered to be rare.
Early Pattern HJ Shoulder Straps
The first standarization was achieved in 1933. The basic first pattern shoulder strap was made of light brown uniform cloth. Regulations prescribed that the width be 44mm inclusive of the 2mm wide piping that bordered the outer edge. Some straps were without this piping and only measured 40mm. The length was 125mm from the base to the pointed end. Included on the strap was the retaining button, the Bann number, the Unterbann number, and where appropriate the rank insignia and piping.
Early pattern 1933 shoulder straps had several distinct charateristics. The button measured 19mm in diameter. It was a pebbled button in either plain field grey, field grey with a raised arabic numeral depicting the Gefolgshcaft, (a company sized HJ unit), silver to corespond to with the tunic buttons of leaders, or gold to corespond to high ranking leaders tunic buttons. The number was later dropped and unumbered buttons were used. There was some variance to this as period photos show.
Regualtions of November 24, 1934 called for some changes. The Bann number was in arabic style. It measured 18mm high, and normally was a chain stitch type of sewing. The number was in the color of the respective HJ Obberbann. The respective Obberbann colors were as follows:
Obberbann 1-Red
Obberbann 2-Yellow
Obberbann 3-Green
Obberbann 4-Blue
Obberbann 5-Black
Obberbann 6-White
The Bann number was positioned above the Unterbann number on the strap, in the center.
The Unterbann number was positioned below the Obberbann number on the strap. It was also normally in a chain stitch type sewing. The number was a Roman numeral and ranged from I to V. It measured 10mm in height.
I, II, III, IV, V are the only Unterbann numbers that should be encountered, however known period documents show Unterbann number of up to VII, so regulations were not always adhered to.
Transitional Straps During the Abolishment of the Obberbann System
The Obberbann system underwent changes begining in 1934, and by the end of 1935 was abolished. The time period during 1936 saw changes to the straps. Specialisied straps that identified the wearers assignment were introduced during this time frame. During this time there was a period when the Obberbann straps and specialist straps co-existed, making determination of the wearers assignment sometimes difficult. By the year 1937 the NSDAP organisation book, third edition, shows that the tan colored straps piping and numeral coloring indicated the wearers assignment, instead of the Obberbann of the old system. It is also important to note that regulations were not always adhered to, and there was also normally a "grace" period to allow HJ to change over to the newest insignia regulations.
This remained until September 30th, 1938, when HJ straps again underwent significant changes, which will be covered in a later post, along with rank, specialty and DJ shoulder straps.
Shoulder straps worn by the Hitler Youth served three basic purposes. They indicated the rank of the wearer, they identified the geographic location of the unit, they indicated the assignment designation of the wearer, and they indicated the branch of the Hitler Youth to which the wearer belonged. When viewed in combination with the Gebeitsdistrict triangle sleeve insignia, unit identification could instantaneously be made.
From time to time the shoulder straps underwent modification, new ranks were introduced and new Gebiets were raised. When looking at HJ shoulder straps it is neccessary to consider the year that the straps are from. Very early shoulder straps prior to 1933 were worn by youth elements that sometimes employed a dual colored piping that was most likely an indication of the Landesfarben, (National Colors used by each German state), that went around the sides and to the point of the boards. These early boards are difficult to find and considered to be rare.
Early Pattern HJ Shoulder Straps
The first standarization was achieved in 1933. The basic first pattern shoulder strap was made of light brown uniform cloth. Regulations prescribed that the width be 44mm inclusive of the 2mm wide piping that bordered the outer edge. Some straps were without this piping and only measured 40mm. The length was 125mm from the base to the pointed end. Included on the strap was the retaining button, the Bann number, the Unterbann number, and where appropriate the rank insignia and piping.
Early pattern 1933 shoulder straps had several distinct charateristics. The button measured 19mm in diameter. It was a pebbled button in either plain field grey, field grey with a raised arabic numeral depicting the Gefolgshcaft, (a company sized HJ unit), silver to corespond to with the tunic buttons of leaders, or gold to corespond to high ranking leaders tunic buttons. The number was later dropped and unumbered buttons were used. There was some variance to this as period photos show.
Regualtions of November 24, 1934 called for some changes. The Bann number was in arabic style. It measured 18mm high, and normally was a chain stitch type of sewing. The number was in the color of the respective HJ Obberbann. The respective Obberbann colors were as follows:
Obberbann 1-Red
Obberbann 2-Yellow
Obberbann 3-Green
Obberbann 4-Blue
Obberbann 5-Black
Obberbann 6-White
The Bann number was positioned above the Unterbann number on the strap, in the center.
The Unterbann number was positioned below the Obberbann number on the strap. It was also normally in a chain stitch type sewing. The number was a Roman numeral and ranged from I to V. It measured 10mm in height.
I, II, III, IV, V are the only Unterbann numbers that should be encountered, however known period documents show Unterbann number of up to VII, so regulations were not always adhered to.
Transitional Straps During the Abolishment of the Obberbann System
The Obberbann system underwent changes begining in 1934, and by the end of 1935 was abolished. The time period during 1936 saw changes to the straps. Specialisied straps that identified the wearers assignment were introduced during this time frame. During this time there was a period when the Obberbann straps and specialist straps co-existed, making determination of the wearers assignment sometimes difficult. By the year 1937 the NSDAP organisation book, third edition, shows that the tan colored straps piping and numeral coloring indicated the wearers assignment, instead of the Obberbann of the old system. It is also important to note that regulations were not always adhered to, and there was also normally a "grace" period to allow HJ to change over to the newest insignia regulations.
This remained until September 30th, 1938, when HJ straps again underwent significant changes, which will be covered in a later post, along with rank, specialty and DJ shoulder straps.
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