Price of a complete equipment

[Jack]

Financial burdens on parents when buying DJ equipment for their children, as of December 1938.

The following list was compiled by the exile leadership of the SPD (quoted from Jahnke/Buddrus, Deutsche Jugend, p. 156f.)


Schuhe/Shoes 13,-- RM
Strümpfe/Stockings 1,80
Kniehose/Shorts 5,60
Koppel/Belt 2,50
Schulterriemen/cross strap 1,50
Fahrtenmesser/Knife 4,--
Halstuch und Knoten/Scarf and toggle 1,50
Dienstabzeichen, alle (membership badges, all) 2,--
Cap 4,50
Tornister 22,--
Zeltbahn/tent piece 17,--
Feldflasche/canteen 2,50
Brotbeutel/breadbag 2,50
------------
80,40
For the winter
Hose/trousers 15,--
Jacke/blouse 10,--
Sportschuhe/trainers 27,--
Dress 4,--
------------
total 136,40

A working-class family had a maximum of RM 30 a week to cover their entire living costs, of which at least RM 25 was needed for the household for a family of 4 to 5 people, so such purchases were simply unaffordable.

Note: They forgot the Diensthemd/service shirt.

 

[Jack]

Special appeals for uniform checks were intended to ensure uniform equipment. The different, more favourable prices resulted from a quantity discount that the HJ received.
People in need could get the equipment paid for by the NSV (NSV-Volkswohlfahrt) under certain circumstances.
The expensive price also explains why the uniform items were passed on within the family circle and sometimes no longer met current requirements or were mended, and some items were even sewn by the families themselves.

You don't have permission to view attachments.

 

[bertl59]

Very interesting Jack,
the prices of the shoes as well as the Tornister and the tent are simply enormous!

 

[Jack]

As it happens, you search for something and find something completely different that is also interesting.
It was a bit of a pain to transcribe everything, but I thought it might be of interest to some of you.

The figures also explain somewhat why so many things were home-made rather than bought at a high price from a RZM shop.

 

[bertl59]

As it happens, you search for something and find something completely different that is also interesting.
It was a bit of a pain to transcribe everything, but I thought it might be of interest to some of you.

The figures also explain somewhat why so many things were home-made rather than bought at a high price from a RZM shop.

Indeed JACK, the efforts made for research are not always in line with the interest shown by collectors.
This list has the merit of quantifying the costs of an HJ uniform, and we better understand the sacrifices made by families who had several children