I posted similar photographs of a recent acquisition on theWar Relics forum. This bronze of a proud Hitler Youth is by Fritz Best (aka Fritz Best-Cronberg)(1894-1980). Best-Cronberg was a regular contributor to the Haus der Deutschen Kunst (House of German Art) during the Third Reich period. Typically, the pieces he showed at the HDK were smaller bronzes. Contemporary photographs from late 1930s/ early 1940s tend to show classically-inspired figurative work that does not deal with overt Nazi themes.
This bronze is an exception, although it is doubtful that it was shown at the HDK. However, one of Best-Cronberg’s bronzes that was displayed at the HDK in 1942 appears to be of the same size and depicts the same model as the bronze that I just acquired. Aside from a different pose, the statuette displayed at the Haus der Deutschen Kunst depicted the same boy , but in lederhosen and not in his Hitlerjugend uniform. I am assuming from these similarities that my bronze is from 1942 (I am also making that assumption because he is not wearing an HJ dagger, and it is my understanding that wearing a dagger became rare around 1942).
Fritz Best is the subject of a museum in Kronberg im Taunus, Germany. Although I have not been able to contact the museum directly, a helpful person in Kronberg told me that she would pass my contact information on to the Museum Director. I hope that I can learn some additional information about this charming sculpture. I will post here if I do.
Of course, if anyone else here has any information concerning this piece, please let me know.
This bronze is an exception, although it is doubtful that it was shown at the HDK. However, one of Best-Cronberg’s bronzes that was displayed at the HDK in 1942 appears to be of the same size and depicts the same model as the bronze that I just acquired. Aside from a different pose, the statuette displayed at the Haus der Deutschen Kunst depicted the same boy , but in lederhosen and not in his Hitlerjugend uniform. I am assuming from these similarities that my bronze is from 1942 (I am also making that assumption because he is not wearing an HJ dagger, and it is my understanding that wearing a dagger became rare around 1942).
Fritz Best is the subject of a museum in Kronberg im Taunus, Germany. Although I have not been able to contact the museum directly, a helpful person in Kronberg told me that she would pass my contact information on to the Museum Director. I hope that I can learn some additional information about this charming sculpture. I will post here if I do.
Of course, if anyone else here has any information concerning this piece, please let me know.
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