Okay, here's what I have on the Wachgefolgschaft in my documentation:
I don't see anything in the RJF orders (RJF Verordnungsblatt/Amtliches Nachrichtenblatt) between 1933 and 1937 that directly mentions either the RJF-Wachgefolgschaft or the Wachgefolgschaft "Baldur von Schirach". I first see the Wachgefolgschaft mentioned in clothing regulations from 1938 (Amtliches Nachrichtenblatt 7/38 dated 30.9.1938 on page 4 where mention is made of the trousers and boots that they wore and of newly-introduced headwear and the wearing of the HJ greatcoat. They wore special shoulderstraps for four ranks peculiar to the Wachfolgschaft (Organisationsbuch NSDAP 1943) although I don't know exactly when they were introduced.
You don't have permission to view attachments.
As far as the selection procedure for the Wachgefolgschaft is concerned I have a number of
Gebiet orders from 1938 and 1939 showing the criteria as they were at that time. I don't see anything before that so perhaps 1938 marked some kind of change in the membership of and selection process for the Wachgefolgschaft.
Selection
Reichsbefehl III/38 dated 25.11.1938:
"The selection process will take place between 25.1.1939 and 10.2.1939. Successful applicants will join the Wachgefolgschaft on 1.3.1939. Applicants must fulfill the following requirements:
HJ Member
Testimonial from Bann/Jungbann
Police clearance certificate
Medical certificate clearing the applicant for very strenuous activities (guard duties, field exercises, sport)
Permission from parents
CV with two pass photos
Height minimum: 1.75m
Age: 18-19
Duration: 12 months minimum. This can be longer for the best performing members and may lead to a place with the SS, RAD-Wehrpflicht or full-time, paid position within the HJ.
Applicants are to apply through their Bannführer or Gebiet personnel office". Gebiet Kurmark added "good racial appearance" to the requirements.
The above is repeated, more or less, in orders from three different HJ-Gebiete and although it isn't mentioned specifically in any of them, an order from Gebiet Westfalen dated 30.5.1940 seems to show that the Wachgefolgschaft was made up of SRD members. In that order, Befehlsstelle "Überwachung" within the RJF requested personnel for temporary secondment to the Wachgefolgschaft for the period 1.8.1940 - 31.8.1940. Gebiet Westfalen filled its contingent of three with SRD leaders so I would think that the rank and file of the Wachgefolgschaft at this time, perhaps earlier too, was made up of SRD members only. The same cannot be said of the leader of the Wachgefolgschaft though as the following example shows.
Stammführer Hartmann.
You don't have permission to view attachments.
This chap became the commander of the Wachgefolgschaft in October 1938 and his CV does not show any involvement with the SRD. He joined the HJ in 1930 and eventually commanded both Stamm II and VI of Bann 67 having played an important role in the early formation and growth of HJ units in that area. He was also, as can be seen from the photo, the Bann
standard bearer.
I'll keep looking through my stuff for more on this subject and if anyone else would like to add to the thread please jump in
