52. The Hitler Youth: Reichsjugendführer Artur Axmann, 1942, Full Summer Dress.
Artur Axmann became Reich Youth Leader on 2nd August 1940 when he succeeded Baldur von Schirach, the former Reichslugendführer who was appointed Reichsstatthalter of Vienna. Axmann served for six months with the German Army in Russia between June and December 1941 and it was during this period that he lost his right arm. During the war and the period preceding the outbreak of war the uniforms of the Hitler Jugend underwent a number of changes, The greatcoat was slightly altered (see No. 54) and the uniform peaked cap worn by middle ranking and senior Hitler Youth Leaders was also altered. The former caps (No. 54) with cap bands of light brown were replaced by those with a black cap band (No. 52); however, both types continued in use for quite some time. The rank insignia in the form of shoulder straps was modified and collar patches were introduced for the rank of Reichslugendführer. These were of a design identical to those worn by Viktor Lutze as SA Chief-of-Staff (No. 23), NSKK-Korpsführer Adolf Hühnlein and by Heinrich Himmler as Reichsführer-SS (No. 41). The colours however were different in each case.

53. The Hitler Youth: Kameradschaftsführer, 1938, Summer Service Dress.
The first attempt to establish a youth section of the National Socialist Movement was started in 1922 with the creation on 13th May of the 'Jugendbund der NSDAP'. As junior branch of the SA it came under the command of the SA. Members of the youth section wore an almost identical brown uniform to that worn by the SA and this gave rise to certain problems. Many of the older boys of 16 to 18 years of age in the group known as the 1Tungsturm Adolf Hitler' were often involved in street brawls with the political opponents of the Nazis, some even being killed, when they were mistaken for members of the SA. To distinguish the youth section from the adult members of the SA in 1924 the Jungsturm took to wearing a separate uniform with a swastika arm band of a special design (the pattern eventually adopted by the Hitler Youth), different to that of the 'Kampfbinde' worn by the rank and file members of the SA Detachments (No. 53). In 1933 the Hitlerjugend was officially formed as an independent organisation of the NSDAP no longer under the command of the SA. The same year saw the incorporation of all German youth clubs and youth formations into the Hitler Youth with the international Boy Scouts movement being banned in Germany. Baldur von Schirach was appointed Reich Youth Leader. With the passing of the 'Youth Service Law' Ougenddienstgesetz) on 25th March 1939 service in the Hitler Youth became compulsory for every male and female child in Germany between the ages of tell and eighteen twenty-one for girls. See sections on the DeutscheJungvolk (Nos. 64-66) and the Bund Deutscher Madels (Nos. 61-63). For normal summer wear a brown shirt was worn together with a black neckerchief held in place by a brown leather toggle. Black shorts were worn (Lederhosen in No. 53) with a leather waist belt and cross strap. Long grey socks and black leather shoes usually completed the outfit. For the purpose of a command structure Germany was divided up into a number of Hitler Youth Districts or HJ-Gebiete. Arm badges in the shape of a triangle were worn on the left upper arm of their shirts or tunics which showed the name of the wearer's HJ District. All Hitler Youth members (males only) were issued with a short-bladed knife, the 'HJ Fahrtenmesser' or Travelling Knife. This was carried in a metal sheath worn from the waist belt.

54. The Hitler Youth: Gefolgschaftsführer, 1940, Full Dress Winter Service Uniform.
During the Second World War Hitler Youth Leaders were issued with a mid-brown coloured greatcoat with black lapel facings and dark brown buttons. This differed slightly from the previous pre-war greatcoat which had an all black collar as well as black lapel facings. When worn during the winter months both versions could be used as Undress Winter Uniform by being worn without the waist belt or with the waist belt, as shown here in No. 54, as Full Dress Winter Service Uniform.

55. Hitler Youth: Anti-Aircraft Gun Crew Helper, 1944. Special HJ-Flakhelfer Greatcoat
Flakhelfern were members of the Hitler Youth who volunteered for war work assisting on anti-aircraft gun sites. They served as messengers, signallers, weather observers and ammunition carriers. In some cases they were even employed as gunners, locators and searchlight operators with both anti-aircraft batteries and with gun crews of flak towers. They wore a special blue-grey uniform consisting of a short battle-dress style blouse and long trousers gathered at the ankles. On this blouse was displayed special insignia together with the familiar HJ arm band. A blue-grey greatcoat and side cap was part of this uniform (No. 55)

56. Hitler Youth: Fire Fighting Hitler Youth Squad Member, 1943, Service Dress.
Special fire fighting squads were organised in those German towns and cities that had large numbers of industrial concerns and which were being increasingly bombed by the Allies as the war progressed. These squads which supplemented the regular fire police brigades were made up of volunteers from the Hitler Youth who were aged fifteen years and over. They were distinguished by a special diamond shaped badge worn on the lower left cuff of their tunic which incorporated the Hitler Youth emblem set against a background of carmine red flames. They wore khaki brown uniforms with a black side cap on which was displayed a police-eagle cap emblem.

57. Hitler Youth: Special Patrol Service Youth Member, 1943, Winter Service Uniform.
The Hitler Jugend Streifendienst was a special patrol service consisting of older members of the Hitler Youth. It was set up for the purpose of policing the Hitler Youth but during the later stages of the war years it became an armed body of fanatical youth members who assisted the Police and the SS in hunting down escaped prisoners of war, allied aircrews who had baled out of their aircraft and anyone else that was suspected of evading the authorities or were considered as enemy agents working against the Nazi regime. They wore the standard pattern HJ uniforms and were distinguished by the use of a special cuff-title bearing the words 'HJ Streifendienst' together with white piping to their shoulder straps. When on patrol service they wore a special Streifendienst gorget. They were trained to use small arms and rifles and carried rifles when on duty.

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