History

Shoulder boards in the Hitler Youth identified the wearer’s rank and deployment. They were first standardised in 1933 and worn on both shoulders. Lower ranks wore shoulder straps, while leader ranks wore the stiffer shoulder boards. For the sake of simplicity, the term “shoulder boards” will be used to refer to both from here on.

The shoulder boards for the specialised HJ sub-groups will be shown in the 1938 pattern unless otherwise indicated. Early shoulder boards were generally in brown, while those worn after 1938 were black.

Members of the Wachgefolgschaft (guard unit) “Baldur von Schirach” wore special unit shoulder boards with a letter “W” cypher in carmine. Ranks were as follows:
Oberzugführer: one pip and two chevrons
Zugführer: two chevrons
Unterzugführer: one chevron
Wachmitglied: no chevrons