German WWII HJ Membership Badge-This is a good example of a Hitler Youth membership diamond. This is a pin back HJ diamond in enamel. It is produced in tombak. The enamel is mostly intact, with a moderate blemish in one part of the red enamel. There are minor scuffs only. The reverse has a functioning pin and the silver finish is nearly fully intact. The reverse is RZM marked M1/6 indicating production by Karl Hensler of Pforzheim. This is in sound condition!
History: Hitler believed German youth to be the future of his reign. The HJ (Adolf Hitler Jugend-Hitler Youth) was formed officially in 1935, and with the exception of NSDAP ideology indoctrination was very similar to the Boy Scouts. Beginning at about the age of ten years, both boys (AH Jugend) and girls (Bund Deutscher Mädel) were enlisted in the Party-run organization.
The first HJ membership badge was a round cap badge introduced in 1929. In 1933 a second pattern HJ membership badge was introduced and utilized throughout the Third Reich era. The second pattern membership badge was utilized in a metal and enamel form on the headgear and brown shirt uniform and in a cloth form on sports shirts etc. After the introduction of the second pattern badge in 1933 the first pattern badge was still worn as a "traditions" badge until the introduction of the Golden HJ Honor Badge in June 1934.