Hitler Youth Marksmanship Award-The youth diamond enamel is in excellent shape. This is a great example of this Youth achievement award. This has the HJ diamond over crossed rifles and a target with oak leaves around the edge. The rifles and some of the background show light wear and a few scratches to the black. The back is nicely toned and the pin functions nicely. Nicely marked M1/14 which indicates manufacture by Matthias Oechsler & Söhne of Ansbach. A rare marker of NSDAP memberships to find.
History: In 1936 the HJ Firearms School in Obermatzfeld Thuringia was established to stimulate expertise in firearm handling and to further the para-military training of the HJ. Shortly after the establishment of the HJ Firearms School von Schirach instituted a Marksman’s badge for HJ members who had proven their proficiency with firearms, followed in 1938 by the establishment of a Sharpshooters badge for HJ members and a new Marksman’s badge for DJ members with each badge having different award criteria. The HJ Marksman’s badge, the first and lowest class badge, was awarded to qualifying HJ members over the age of fourteen for proficiency in target shooting, with small caliber rifles. Qualification for bestowal of the badge consisted of the accurate results of five shots fired from an unsupported prone position, five shots from a supported prone position and five shots from an unsupported kneeling position.
