Hitler Youth Shooting Badge.

Hitler Youth Shooting Badge.     

Instituted – 1936

Rarity – Scarce

Known Makers – M1/14, M1/63, M1/66, M1/77, M1/120

 This award consisted of a 21 mm round, semi convexed badge that had a small, raised edge line with three similar lines at 1 mm intervals.  The whole of the badge was then in filled with opaque black enamel.  On to the centre of the badge was superimposed crossed rifles, the tip of the butts and barrels just overlapping the edge of the badge.  These measure 22 mm and over them, at the centre, is superimposed a small Hitler Youth membership diamond that measures 13.5 mm by 9 mm.

The reverse has a safety pin attached by a round plate and superimposed is the RZM logo M1/ and the manufacturer's number.  Pre war issues are well made with good enamel work but wartime examples are often of a much lower standard of execution, with paint replacing the enamel and even plastic the metal. The reasons for this could be to do with War Time economies, but this is not confirmed.

Reichsjugendführer Balder von Schirach, to stimulate competitive shooting amongst members of the Hitler Youth, instituted the award in 1936. The competitor had be of the age of 16 years or older. The HJ used .22 calibre small-bore rifles. The target is a circle divided into 11 rings and a bull’s eye. Outer ring was worth 1 point. Bull’s eye was worth 12 points. Distance for the HJ member was 50m. Target was changed after 5 shots.   The test was firing five shots from a prone position with rifle supported on a sandbag, five from the prone position with the rifle unsupported and five from a kneeling position with unsupported rifle.  Prone position with weapon supported the member must achieve 25 points with no single shot being worth less than 4 points unless the target is hit 5 times. Prone position weapon unsupported the member must achieve 20 points with no single shot being worth less than 3 unless target is hit 5 times. The results were recorded in a special shooting book.  Authorised recipients were permitted to wear the badge on the left breast pocket of their uniform.  It appears that there was some early confusion concerning the manner of wear, as some recipients wore the badge on the right breast pocket.  Accurate figures of numbers awarded are available up to the end of 1943 and the number recorded is 273545.  A Schiessbuch or Shooting Book was given to the competitor and this was used to record the qualifications of the HJ member. This was then used as proof of attainment and allowed the member to wear the badge.

Hitler Youth Shooting Badge Marksman.

Instituted – 1938

Rarity – Scarce

Known Makers – M1/14, M1/63, M1/66, M1/77, M1/120

 

 

This badge comprises the same design as that described in Hitler Youth Shooting Badge with the addition of a 2 mm ring of 25 oak leaves, which increases the overall size of the badge to 25 mm. In some cases the badge has the enamel subsisted for a matt paint finish. The reasons for this could be to do with War Time economies, but this is not confirmed.

Reichsjugendführer Balder von Schirach instituted the badge in 1938. Again the competitor had be of the age of 16 years or older.   The test was increased to ten shots as previously described with the addition of ten rapid fire from a standing position with an unsupported rifle. Prone position with weapon supported. Must achieve 35 points with no single shot being worth less than 6 points unless target is hit 5 times. Prone position weapon unsupported. Must achieve 30 points with no single shot being worth less than 5 unless target is hit 5 times.   Authorised recipients were permitted to wear the badge on the left breast pocket of their uniform.  Accurate figures of numbers awarded are available up to the end of 1943 and the number recorded is 31904. A Schiessbuch or Shooting Book was given to the competitor and this was used to record the qualifications of the HJ member. This was then used as proof of attainment and allowed the member to wear the badge.

Hitler Youth Shooting Badge Champion Shot.

Instituted – December 1941

Rarity – Rare

Known Makers - M1/14, M1/63, M1/66, M1/77, M1/120

This badge comprises the same design as that described in Hitler Youth Shooting Badge Marksman with the oak leaves being gilded. In some cases the badge has the enamel subsisted for a matt paint finish. The reasons for this could be to do with War Time economies, but this is not confirmed.

Reichsjugendführer Balder von Schirach instituted the badge in December 1941. Again the competitor had be of the age of 16 years or older.  The test were the same as previously described but the scores required in all of them had to be of a higher nature to gain the badge. Prone position with weapon supported the member must achieve 45 points with no single shot being worth less than 8 points unless target is hit 5 times. Prone position weapon unsupported the member must achieve 40 points with no single shot being worth less than 7 unless target is hit 5 times. Kneeling position the member must achieve 30 points with no single shot being worth less than 5 unless target is hit 5 times. Authorised recipients were permitted to wear the badge on the left breast pocket of their uniform.  Accurate figures of numbers awarded are available up to the end of 1943 and this only records 852 being rendered. A Schiessbuch or Shooting Book was given to the competitor and this was used to record the qualifications of the HJ member. This was then used as proof of attainment and allowed the member to wear the badge.

 Hitler Youth Member wearing the Shooting Badge. 

Hitler Youth Shooting Badge Book - cover.

Hitler Youth Shooting Badge Book - 1st page.

Hitler Youth Shooting Badge Book - 7th page.

Golden Hitler Youth Honour Badge with Oak Leaves

Golden Hitler Youth Honour Badge with Oak Leaves. Type A.    

Instituted on 1935

Rarity – Extremely Rare

Known Makers – Unmarked

 

 

This badge is slightly larger than the Golden Hitler Youth Honour Badge being 32 mm by 19 mm and follows the same design save that the outer border has been enhanced by the addition of a row of oak leaves, four on each side of the diamond. The oak leaves run from the bottom of the diamond were they are joined by a tie and lay over each other meeting at the top of the diamond tip to tip. This boarder is 2 mm thick.   The badge is constructed in two parts, the HJ Diamond and the diamond wreath that forms the base plate. The diamond sits into the recess of the wreath. The quality of the badge is superior and is normally produced in gold with an assay mark 585, which is found on the reverse.

The reverse is flat and is polished. It has a small ball hinge, with a fine needle pin. The hook is a delicate C form. Directly below the pin are two raised rivets that are filed flat on their tops. This type of badge is that which is illustrated in “Orden und Ehrenzeichen im Dritten Reich” by Dr. Heinrich Doehle. This was published in 1939.

It was worn on the left breast pocket of the uniform.

The award was instituted in 1935 by Balder von Schirach and was classed as a party decoration.  It could be awarded by Hitler and Balder von Schirach, who personally presented the award to the recipient.  This is the only party decoration that could be awarded independently of Hitler.

It was awarded for;

1) Exceptional service in the HJ.

2) Exceptional service to the HJ.

It could be awarded to;

1) Hitler Youth members.

2) Germans who were not members of the Hitler Youth.

3) It could be conferred upon foreign nationals.

It has been estimated that no more than 250 of the badge were awarded, thus making this one of the very rare awards of the Third Reich.

It was awarded with a Document in a folder. The citation was titled “Das Goldene Ehrenzeichen der Hitler Jugend”, with no mention of the addition of oak leaves, although the badge emblem on the citation clearly shows the oak leaf design. It was printed in coloured text, with the Recipients details being hand written and signed by Reichsleiter Baldur von Schirach. The presentation box is unknown to the author.

Bartels Adolf - Prof. Dr.

Himmler Heinrich - Reichsführer-SS u. Chef der Deutschen Polizei.

 

Reinecke Hermann - General der Infanterie.

 

 

Golden Hitler Youth Honour Badge with Oak Leaves. Type B.    

Instituted on 1935

Rarity – Extremely Rare

Known Makers – Un marked

This badge is considerably larger than the Golden Hitler Youth Honour Badge and is larger than the former badge, measuring 36 mm by 21 mm and follows the same design of that badge, save that the outer border in this case has been enhanced by 4 escutcheons one at each corner of the diamond. The addition of a row of 4 oak leaves, between the esscutions, runs from the bottom tip upwards on either side of the diamond. From the apex on either side of the diamond they run downwards. This boarder is 2.5 mm thick.   The badge is constructed in two parts, the HJ Diamond and the diamond wreath that forms the base plate. The diamond sits into the recess of the wreath. The quality of the badge is superior and gives the impression of having been hand engraved. It can be produce in three different forms, in gold with an assay mark 585, silver guilt with an assay mark .835, both of which are found stamped on the reverse and fine zinc.

The reverse in the case of the gold and silver guilt badges is flat and polished. They have a small ball hinge, with a fine needle pin. The hook is a delicate C form. In the case of the zinc badge the pin is a one-piece safety pine type attached to the reverse by a round plate.

This type of badge is that which is illustrated by a picture on the funeral pillow of Dr. Fritz Todt.

 The funeral pillow of Dr. Fritz Todt.

Close up of the award on the funeral pillow of Dr. Fritz Todt.

Golden HJ Honour Badge with Oak leaves.

NAME	First Name	Rank	Date
Amann	Max	SS-Obergruppenführer u. Reichsleiter
Axmann	Artur	Reichsjugendführer
Bader	Hans	SS-Obersturmführer der Reserve
Bartels	Adolf Prof. Dr .		15.11.1942
Berger	Gottlob	SS-Obergruppenführer	30.01.1944
Blaschke	Hans	SS-Brigadeführer
Blaschke	Hugo Dr .	SS-Brigadeführer Professor
Blaschke	Johann	SS-Brigadeführer
Bouhler	Philipp	SS-Obergruppenführer u. Reichsleiter	22.10.1943
Brenner	Karl Heinrich	SS-Gruppenführer
Buch	Walter	SS-Obergruppenführer u. Reichseiter
Cerff	Karl	SS-Brigadeführer
Dorpmüller	Julius	Reichsminister
Fick	Jakob	SS-Standartenführer
Florian	Karl	Gauleiter
Frank	Karl Hermann	SS-Obergruppenführer	15.03.1939
Funk	Walther	Reichsminister
Ganzenmüller	Albert Dr .	Staatssekretär
Glaser	Franz	SS-Hauptsturmführer
Greiser	Arthur	SS-Obergruppenführer u. Gauleiter
Hahn	Franz	Oberleutnant
Hanke	Karl	SS-Obergruppenführer u. Gauleiter
Hellermann	Vollrath von	Oberst	30.01.1944
Himmler	Heinrich	Reichsführer-SS	20.01.1938
Jury	Hugo Dr .	SS-Obergruppenführer u. Gauleiter
Klagges	Dietrich	SS-Obergruppenführer
Klein	Emil	HJ-Obergebietsführer
Koch	Erich	Gauleiter, Reichskommissar
Lauterbacher	Hartmann	SS-Obergruppenführer u. Gauleiter	26.05.1933
Ley	Robert	Reichsleiter
Lohse	Rudolf	SS-Brigadeführer
Manteuffel	Hasso von	General der Panzertruppe
Meyer	Alfred Dr .	Reichsstatthalter Gauleiter	13.10.1938
Möckel	Helmut	HJ-Stabsführer
Ohnesorge	Wilhelm	Reichsminister
Reinecke	Hermann	General der Infanterie
Rosenberg	Alfred Dr .	Reichsminister
Sauckel	Fritz	Generalbevollmächtigter für den Arbeitseinsatz
Scheel	Gustav-Adolf	SS-Obergruppenführer
Scheel	Gustav-Adolf Dr .	SS-Obergruppenführer u. Gauleiter
Schirach	Baldur von	Reichsjugendführer
Schmundt	Rudolf	General der Infanterie
Schwarz	Franz Xaver	SS-Oberstgruppenführer u. Reichsleiter
Schwerin-Krosigk	Lutz Graf von	Reichsminister
Seyss-Inquart	Arthur Dr .	SS-Obergruppenführer u. Reichskommissar
Speer	Albert Prof.	Reichsminister
Sporrenberg	Josef	SS-Gruppenführer
Streit	Bernhard	SS-Sturmbannführer
Todt	Fritz Dr .	Reichsminister
Tschammer und Osten	Hans von	SA-Obergruppenführer
Wächtler	Fritz	SS-Obergruppenführer u. Gauleiter

Golden Hitler Youth Honour Badge with Oak Leaves. Type C.    

Instituted on 1935

Rarity – Possible Fake

Known Makers – BM 1/122

 

This badge is slightly larger than the Golden Hitler Youth Honour Badge being 32.5 mm by 19.5 mm and follows the same design save that the outer border has been enhanced by the addition of a row of oak leaves, four on each side of the diamond. The oak leaves run from the bottom of the diamond were they are joined by a tie and lay over each other meeting at the top of the diamond tip to tip. This boarder is 2 mm thick. The badge is constructed in two parts, the HJ Diamond and the diamond wreath that forms the base plate. The diamond sits into the recess of the wreath.  Too all intents and purposes the obverse design is the same as the type A badge

The reverse has a raised panel for the plate that secures the pin. The pin is a one-piece safety pine type attached to the reverse by a round plate. The maker's code number and the RZM logo are to be found in raised characters on the left and right sides of the raised panel.  In addition an issue number is stamped into the reverse. A badge illustrated in, 'For Führer and Fatherland, Political and Civil Awards of the Third Reich', by Ltc. (Retd) John R. Angolia, that has an issue number 366, tends to indicate that more awards were made than has been previously thought.  The possibility that this is a separate award cannot be ruled out and would give rise to the change in design encountered in the Type A and B badges. Dr Klietmann describes the badge in this form in his book Deutsche Auszeichungen, 2 Band. However this could be a fake, which is probably the most likely scenario. I have included it because it has been feature and there is no hard and fast answer to it. Numbers that have been encountered are 305, 352, 366.