The History of the German Hitler
Youth
Knife and Dagger of World War II
The Hitler Youth,
abbreviated HJ, was a paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party. It existed
from 1922 to 1945. The HJ was the second oldest Nazi paramilitary group,
founded a year after its adult counterpart, the Sturmabteilung (the SA). The
Hitler Youth was divided into three basic groups: the Hitlerjugend proper, for
young males aged 14 to 18; the younger male section, Deutsches Jungvolk, for
ages 10 to 14; and the female section Bund Deutscher M of the (BDM).
The image below explains the anatomy of the Hitler Youth knife.
The NSDAP had a youth movement as early as
1922. The Hitler Youth was born in 1926. The first leader of the organization
was Adolf Lenk . The membership consisted of small groups. Once Hitler came to
power in 1933, the number of members increased significantly. A second boost
was received in 1934 when all sports and youth organizations became part of the
Hitler Youth. By 1939 the approximate number of members grew to 9 million.
Membership in the organization was voluntary
until 1939. At this point, 17-year-old boys were required to join the Hitler
Youth. In 1941 military service became compulsory for all young men and women
over the age of 10.
The Hitler Youth began as part of the SA. Once
it branched off into its own organization, it retained the same ranking system
as the SA. Additional branches were formed to match the SA in the areas of
motor, marine, and flying. This was done as a way to appeal to a broader level
of boys.
In 1940 several new changes were implemented.
A new person was in charge of the organization. His name was Arthur Axmann .
His vision of the group was much more militant. Members of the Hitler Youth
began to participate in military maneuvers. Members began to get directly
involved in the war. Some of the activities they undertook included Flak Helper
( Flakhilfferen ). This job consisted of passing anti-aircraft ammunition to
the Luftwaffe and Army personnel protecting cities from bombing.
Perhaps one of the most notable contributions
to the war made by the Hitler Youth was the formation of the 12th SS Panzer
Hitler Jugend in 1943. This unit served with great honours throughout the years
1943 and 1945. The entire division was made up of members of the Hitler Youth.
The unit was nearly wiped out at the Battle of the Falaise Gap in Normandy in
August 1944.
As the war drew to a close, members of the
Hitler Youth were sent to fight on the front lines. As the forces advanced on
their way to Berlin they faced resistance from children as young as ten years
old. The Hitler Youth formed one of the last lines of defense against Russian
and American troops.
The Hitler Youth knife (German: Hitler-Jugend-
Fahrtenmesser ) was a knife sold and carried by boys of the Nazi Party's
paramilitary youth organization that existed from 1922 to 1945. The Hitler
Youth carried knives as part of their uniform, which was very similar to those
worn by the Sturmabteilung or SA. The knife was also awarded to those who
performed exceptionally well in minor examinations.
ANATOMY OF THE KNIFE
The Hitler Youth knife was a utility knife. In
other words, it was meant to be used in the field. As you might expect, when
you give a knife to a child, he or she will use it, and not carefully. This is
why it is difficult to find these knives in perfect condition.
The knife's pommel is a solid piece of metal.
It has a short extension to one side. The handle is made of plastic and has a
tight checkered pattern applied to both sides of the surface. Two rivets hold
the handles in place. The Hitler Youth diamond is applied to the center of one
of the handles. This piece is made of enamel. It has a black swastika in the
center. Red and white Pa Tterns are also visible.
The crossguard has one side flat while the
other has an extension that curves upward. A leather washer is applied to the
base of the blade. This piece allows the knife to fit better when placed in the
sheath. The sheath is made of metal and painted black. A small rounded rivet is
located near the throat. The inside will have two white pads that help guide
the blade. Sometimes the sheath pads are missing.
The blade of the Hitler Youth knife was
single-edged. In the early years the motto " Blut " was written on
it. and Ehre ! " on the blade. Later models did not have the motto. The
blade was smooth. Some common conditions found on Hitler Youth knife blades are
broken tips, over-sharpening, often causing the motto to disappear.
The hilt of the blade moves over time. The
initial version did not have a clearly defined hilt at the base of the blade
(pictured left). Later versions incorporated a ridge design that clearly
identified the hilt (pictured right).
Note that the photo on the right shows that
part of the crosshead is missing. It has broken off. This was probably caused
by heavy use and abuse by the owner.
BRANDS OF THE
MANUFACTURER Knives were marked in a variety
of ways. Marks were applied to the base of the blade or to the vise . The mark
indicated the company that manufactured the knife.
Knives produced in the early years bore the
manufacturer's logo. In 1934 the RZM organization was formed. Its purpose was
to standardize the manufacture of items such as the Hitler Youth knife. In the
case of the later years, blades were stamped with the manufacturer's logo as
well as the RZM-equivalent designation for the manufacturer. Knives produced
during this period are referred to as "transitional." The last set of
markings was known as RZM. Blades were stamped with the RZM logo and the alphanumeric
designation of the company. A list of some of the RZM manufacturers is
provided.
Early marking.
Transient marking.
RZM marking
ADDITIONAL MARKS The knives of the Hitler
Youth
They were distributed according to the
district where the headquarters was located. By 1937 there were a total of 50
districts. Some of the knives were stamped with the district where they were
issued. A list of knife markings is provided on this website . The map shown
here illustrates the various districts of the Hitler Youth as of 1937. Note
that Hamburg is already there as it was instituted in this year. The Austrian
districts have not been included, as they were not divided up until 1938.
Each of the districts outlined on the map had
a Hitler Youth building (shop or warehouse) where the knives were kept. As
youths enrolled in the group, they were issued their equipment, including the
knife, from this location . Each district could order directly from the factory
that produced the knives. For additional information on the districts and a
more recent map, see the Districts and Markings section of this website.
The popularity of the Hitler Youth knife
has given rise to a number of companies that
make replicas of the knife. Here are a couple of simple ways to determine
whether the knife is original or not:
*
The best way to determine if the Hitler Youth diamond logo moves is to look at
that section of the handle facing the ground. Lightly tap one end of the
diamond with a finger. You should feel it rock slightly. It is important to
note that not all original diamonds will rock . Whether they move or not
depends on how they were mounted by the factory.
Other ways to spot replicas include the
dimension of the knife. Some of the less expensive fakes are much larger than
the original knife.
Build quality is another factor that needs to
be checked. Reproduction pieces often have
Almost no wear. Sections like the pommel and
handguard are too shiny on the fake pieces because they have been freshly
chrome plated. Another thing to look out for are the blade markings. If you see
the word CHINA anywhere on the blade you have a reproduction.
Heinrich Cotta (1763-1844), also known as the
"pioneer of forestry", established the first private German forestry
school in 1811 in what was called the Forest Town of Tharandt , near Dresden.
It later became the Royal Saxon Forestry Academy. Cotta studied forestry all
his life and has had a profound influence on the forestry profession and
foresters in Europe. Since those early days, forests and hunting have been a
large part of German culture. The Third Reich was no exception, creating a
forestry department that adhered to Nazi principles. Members of the Hitler
Youth were involved in forestry-related activities. Activities.
The Hitler Youth Forestry Knife was a
variation of the Hitler Youth Knife. It was issued to members of the Hitler
Youth who worked in the forestry department. Like its counterpart, this knife
was designed to be functional and was used in the field.
The handle of the forestry knife is made of
plastic. The handle has a tight checkered pattern. A roundel, with a golden
swastika, is placed approximately at the midpoint. There is not much of a hand
guard .
A dark brown leather sheath was attached to
the knife. It comes with snaps that secure around the handle. It features a
series of rivets along the edge to make it more flexible. The manufacturer's
logo is stamped on the front.
The blade of the forestry knife of the Hitler
Youth was of robust construction. It was of single-edged design. The tip has a
slight curvature. The fuller's edge bears the logo of the manufacturer, which
in this case is the Boker company . There is no organizational motto anywhere
on the blade.
THE DAGGER OF THE HITLER YOUTH LEADER
The Hitler Youth Leader's Dagger was
instituted in 1937. It was awarded to leaders of the Hitler Youth. A person had
to be of the rank of Gefolschaftführer or higher to receive it. Prior to this
dagger there was no distinction between leaders and regular personnel in terms
of edged weapons.
The dagger was delivered in a leather case
with an embossed cover. A letter of award known as " Urkunde " was
given to the recipient .
The design of the dagger is very simple. It is
almost inspired by a letter opener. The pommel was of metal construction and
oval in shape. It was made of aluminum or silver plated. The handle was made of
wood and was tightly wrapped with silver wire.
The dagger's guards were rectangular in shape
and quite long. The sides were decorated with a raised rope pattern.
The blade was double-edged. Stilleto style . A
central ridge covers most of the blade and tapers downward as it approaches the
tip. The organization's motto " Blut And "Ehre ! ", which
translates as "Blood and Honor", is written on one side of the blade.
The other side bears the RZM mark.
The scabbard is of metal construction. It has
three metal fittings. One at the throat, one at the midsection and the last one
at the tip. The throat and midsections have suspension rings. This is where the
hanger attaches to the dagger . Unlike other Hitler Youth edged weapons, this
dagger was not intended for functional use. It was simply an item of clothing
intended to be worn at parades, dinners and other special events.
