Original German WWII HJ League of German Girls Corduroy Uniform Climbing Vest and Shorts - BDM JM Kletterweste

Original Item: Only One Available. Now this is something that we have never had before! This is a Uniform Jacket / Vest for the female side of the HJ National Youth Organization, the Bund Deutscher Mädel (League of German Girls/Maidens - BDM). This short jacket was one of several designs worn by members of the Jungmädelgruppe (Young Girls Group) for girls aged 10-14, and was termed a Kletterweste (Climb Vest). The BDM JM was the female equivalent of the DJ.

On 1 June 1932 the BDM JM gained official status as an independent organization of the NSDAP. Uniform regulations were first introduced in 1931 and consisted of a long brown skirt with white collar but it wasn’t until 1933 that BDM JM uniforms began to become standardized, and on 10 October 1933 the tan Kletterjacke (Climbing Jacket) with white blouse and navy-blue skirt was introduced. There were other official uniform items worn based on the weather outside, and what we have here is a Kletterweste (climbing vest) jacket with matching brown shorts.

The jacket is in very good condition, showing some wear from service, and is made from a lovely deep pile brown corduroy. There are two diagonal button closed waist pockets with triangular flaps, and the jacket features a double-breasted front closure with two rows of three buttons. Normally we would expect the button holes to be on the right side, but we have confirmed with other period examples, and the double breasted vests had the button holes on the left. The buttons are all made of plastic with embossed designs, and the front closure buttons and the pocket buttons are correctly embossed with B / D M / JM.

The jacket features a lay down collar with lapels, and the interior is lined with a brown colored rayon cotton blend. There is a horizontal slash inner pocket on the inner right side, as well as a hanger loop in the back of the neck. Just above the inner right slash pocket, the vest still bears an original fabric RZM tag , which identifies the vest as a BDM.-WESTE, or "Summer Cap". The RZM logo on the right is clear, and the left side of the tag has the HJ Diamond logo as well. There is a field for the Hersteller: (Supplier), however it is worn away, though the bottom still bears lot number № 369458.

The included shorts are made from matching brown corduroy, and are marked on the inner waist band with M-J Kordhose S, indicating that they are "Corduroy Trousers" for the MJ / JM. They have a four hidden button fly on the front, with vertical slash pockets on the sides, and a button closed pocket on the rear right seat.

Overall condition of both items is very good, close to excellent, showing only light use during the war. A lovely BDM - JM Climbing Vest and Shorts, ready to add to your collection!

Approximate Measurements:-
Collar to shoulder: 10"
Shoulder to sleeve: 22.”
Shoulder to shoulder: 16"
Chest width: 17”
Waist: 17"
Front length: 22"

The Bund Deutscher Mädel (League of German Girls/Maidens) of the HJ had its origins as early as the 1920s, in the first Mädchenschaften or Mädchengruppen, also known as Schwesternschaften der AH-Jugend (Sisterhood of the HJ). In 1930, it was founded as the female branch of the HJ movement. The league of German Maidens was nicknamed "The League of German Mattresses", perhaps suggesting sexual promiscuity between the gender-separated groups. Its full title was Bund Deutscher Mädel in der AH-Jugend (League of German Girls in the HJ). In the final electioneering campaigns of 1932, AH inaugurated it with a mass meeting featuring the League; on election eve, the League and HJ staged "evening of entertainment." It did not attract a mass following until the NSDAPs came to power in January 1933.

Soon after taking office as Reichsjugendführer on 17 June 1933, Baldur von Schirach issued regulations that suspended or forbid existing youth organizations ('concurrence'). Those youth groups were compulsorily integrated into the BDM, which was declared to be the only legally permitted organization for girls in Germany. Many of the existing organizations closed down to avoid this.[citation needed] These NSDAP activities were a part of the Gleichschaltung (Equalization) starting in 1933. The Reichskonkordat between the Catholic Church and NSDAP Germany, signed on 20 July 1933, gave a certain shelter to the Catholic youth ministry, but they were the object of much bullying.

The Gesetz über die jugend (law concerning the HJ) dated 1 December 1936, forced all eligible juveniles to be a member of HJ or BDM. They had to be ethnic Germans, German citizens and free of hereditary diseases. Girls had to be 10 years of age to enter this League.

The BDM was run directly by Schirach until 1934, when Trude Mohr, a former postal worker, was appointed to the position of BDM-Reichsreferentin, or National Speaker of the BDM, reporting directly to Schirach. After Mohr married in 1937, she was required to resign her position (the BDM required members to be unmarried and without children in order to remain in leadership positions), and was succeeded by Dr. Jutta Rüdiger, a doctor of psychology from Düsseldorf, who was a more assertive leader than Mohr but nevertheless a close ally of Schirach, and also of his successor from 1940 as HJ leader, Artur Axmann. She joined Schirach in resisting efforts by the head of the NS-Frauenschaft (NSDAP Woman's League), Gertrud Scholtz-Klink, to gain control of the BDM. Rüdiger led the BDM until its dissolution in 1945.

As in the HJ, separate sections of the BDM existed, according to the age of participants. Girls between the ages of 10 and 14 years old were members of the Young Girl's League (Jungmädelbund, JM), and girls between the ages of 14 and 18 were members of the Bund Deutscher Mädel (BDM) proper. In 1938, a third section was added, known as Faith and Beauty (Glaube und Schönheit), which was voluntary and open to girls between 17 and 21 and was intended to groom them for marriage, domestic life, and future career goals. Ideally, girls were to be married and have children once they were of age, but importance was also placed on job training and education.

At the beginning of World War II, the Reichsarbeitsdienst (National Labour Service; RAD) became compulsory also for young women. It lasted half a year. Many young women became Blitzmädel (Wehrmachthelferin or female armed forces helpers) during World War II.

While these ages are general guidelines, there were exceptions for members holding higher (salaried) leadership positions, starting at the organizational level of "Untergau". As regards lower (honorary) positions, even members of the JM could apply for them after two years of membership and would then obtain such a position typically at the age of 13. The higher leadership was recruited from members over 18 and was expected to maintain salaried office for no more than 10 years, and to leave the BDM by the age of 30. As a general rule, members had to leave when they married and especially when they had children.