58. The Hitler Youth, Naval Branch: Marine-Hitlerjugend 1939, Marine-HJ Winter Service Dress.
59. The Hitler Youth, Naval Branch: Marine-HJ Bannf�hrer 1942, Summer Full Dress Uniform.
60. The Hitler Youth, Naval Branch: Marine-Hitlerjugend 1936, White Working Rig.
The naval branch of the Hitler Youth movement was created to foster and promote an interest in ships and sailing. Boys from coastal areas around Germany and those parts of Germany near large expanses of inland water and waterways were encouraged to join these Marine-HJ units. When membership of the HJ became compulsory in 1939 these naval units became a valuable means of teaching these youngsters the art of seamanship in preparation for their possible or eventual entry into the regular war-time Kriegsmarine. Many aspects of the uniforms worn by members of the Marine-HJ were based on those uniforms to be found in the German Navy. However, the most notable difference was the use of white metal insignia and fittings in place of the gilt coloured items used by the Kriegsmarine, and for that matter the Marine-SA. The leadership of the Marine-HJ was furnished by qualified older youths or adults, normally acting as instructors (No. 59). Their uniform was very similar to that worn by members of the Marine-SA (see No. 30). Shoulder straps worn by members of the Marine-HJ which were the only systematic visual method employed to indicate rank differed from the final pattern shoulder straps used by the rest of the Hitler Youth and introduced during 1938. The Marine-HJ shoulder straps were of dark navy-blue piped yellow whereas the rest of the HJ were in black and piped in various colours according to their branch of HJ service, as follows. Allgemeine-HJ (General HJ) in bright red, Motor-HJ (Motorised HJ) in pink, Flieger-HJ (Aviation HJ) in light blue, Nachrichten-HJ (Signals HJ) in lemon yellow, HJ-Streifendienst (Special Patrol Service HJ) white (sec No.57), also NPEA (National Political Education Institutes) in white (see No. 85), Landjahr-HJ (One Year Land Service HJ) in green and finally Gebirtsst�be/RJF (District Staffand Reichs Youth Leader Staff HQ's) in crimson.

61. The Hitler Youth - League of German Girls: BDM-M�delringf�hrerin, 1940, Work Clothing.
62. The Hitler Youth - League of German Girls: BDM-Reichsreferentin Dr Jutta R�diger, 1939, Service Uniform for Summer Wear.
63. The Hitler Youth - League of German Girls: BDM-M�delgruppenf�hrerin, 1943, Summer Dress.
The Bund Deutsche Madels - BDM - was part of the Hitler Youth. It was organised into three sub-divisions. The RDM proper for girls and young women from the age of 14 years up to 21, the Jungm�dels (JM) for girls from 10 years to 14 years and the BDM Glaube und Sch�nheit (Faith and Beauty) for young women from 17 to 21 years of age. The first two categories of girls were uniformed and wore regulation issue clothing. The organisation of the BDM was divided up into units varying in size and covering the whole Reich including the annexed and occupied territories. Ranks were used and these depended on a girl's age and her accepted responsibility. In 1935, service in the Hitler Youth, which included the BDM became compulsory. In the decree published on 25th March 1939 it was stated that all sixteen to eighteen year old Hitler Jugend were to perform annual public service; boys were encouraged to work on the land at harvest time and girls to help families with large numbers of children. The 'Landdienst' or Land Service first instituted in 1934 grew in size each year. Both boys and especially girls were encouraged and expected to volunteer for service on farms for a one year period. During the war both the annual harvest help and the one year Land Service became art important contribution to the German war effort. The one year Land Service was marked by the wearing on the BDM (and Hitler Youth) uniform of a black cuff-title with the white lettering 'Landdienst der HJ (No. 61 and No. 53). Rank in the BDM was indicated on the dark blue uniform and the white summer blouse by a series of graduated cloth badges, the most senior of which is shown in No. 62. Multi-coloured lanyards were also worn and these too showed the wearer's BDM or JM rank (No. h3). One of the most commonly worn items of uniform was the BDM KletterJacke or BDM climbing jacket. Made from light brown coloured suede material with leather or brown plastic 'football patterned' buttons (No. 236).

Tratto da German Militaria and Collectables