HJ Non-Officer Belt Buckle Type I (Brass/Silver Nickel version)

CATEGORY: Version

SKU: 31.GOR.02.02.02.01.001.001

Estimated market value:

$100 USD

  • HJ Non-Officer Belt Buckle Type I (Brass/Silver Nickel version) Obverse
  • HJ Non-Officer Belt Buckle Type I (Brass/Silver Nickel version) Reverse

Estimated market value:

$100 USD

Attributes

  • Country
    Germany
  • Composition
    Brass/Silver Nickel
  • Size
    55x40mm

History


All members of the Hitler Youth wore a belt buckle with HJ insignia on them with their general uniforms. There were few exceptions, for example the various sports dresses.

The HJ belt buckles were worn on a brown leather belt with a cross strap. In December of 1935, a regulation changed the colour of belt and cross strap to black. However, it took almost a year to fully implement this change.

There were white leather belts and cross straps, but they were extremely rare and, as far as we know, only used for delegations on a visit to a foreign country.

Starting in October 1934, every buckle had to have a Reichszeugmeisterei (National Quartermaster’s Office, RZM) tag and name or logo of the manufacturing company on the reverse. In 1935, this was changed and the manufacturer’s logo or name was taken off. Just the RZM remained, alongside a numbered code, that always started with M4/. The “M” stood for metal and the “4” for belt buckle. After the slash came a number, which represented the manufacturer as per an RZM code.

The belt buckles of the HJ were consistently made of metal, yet the specific composition changed a lot over the years. In the early years of the movements there were no regulations. As of January 1936, aluminum became the standard material. However, it took almost a year to fully implement this guideline.

With the war approaching, this rule was revisited, and several different materials were used in the years to come. The quality became worse the longer the war went on. Later war period specimen were often injection-molded pot-metal versions. In addition, polished nickel, aluminum paint, field grey paint, anodized, and natural metal versions were produced.

Prior to 1933 the Hitler Youth belt buckles were inspired by the SA belt buckles, since the HJ was initially an SA organization. The buckles weren’t standardized yet and varied in appearance.

An initial effort of standardization produced a 35mm brass rectangular buckle with a 33mm silver-coloured disc, showing a spread-winged eagle sitting on a wreath with a swastika inside. Around this there are two borders with a serration pattern and an open laurel-leaf wreath on the bottom.

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