Hitler Youth Knife
Encyclopedia
The Hitler Youth Knife was a knife
sold to and carried by boys of the paramilitary
youth organization of the Nazi Party that existed from 1922 to 1945. The Hitler Youth
wore knives as part of their uniform, which was very similar to the uniforms worn by the Sturmabteilung
or SA. The knife was also given to those who performed exceptionally well in minor exams.
The Hitler Youth knife is mostly based on Mauser
Gewehr 98
bayonets, except that it does not have a blood groove
, and it is designed to be a dagger
, not a bayonet. Hitler Youth knives typically have an enameled swastika
emblem on the obverse grip, and a Reichszeugmeisterei
inscription on the blade. In early 1937, the motto Blut und Ehre! (Blood and Honor!) began to be etched on early knife blades, but this practice was abolished and later knives were produced with plain blades.
Large numbers of fake and reproduction Hitler Youth Knives are in existence. After the war, an unknown quantity of Hitler Youth-style knives were shipped to the United States. These imports were made from mostly surplus parts, but the swastika
emblem on the handle of many knives was replaced with a fleur-de-lis
emblem, similar to that used by the Boy Scouts
. Knives of this style are still reproduced and sold for recreational use. Authentic models include a small leather swatch that prevents metal on metal contact between the handle and sheath, and feature steel rather than alloy scabbards. Some fake scabbards also feature a raised lip at the throat, absent from the genuine articles.
Knife
A knife is a cutting tool with an exposed cutting edge or blade, hand-held or otherwise, with or without a handle. Knives were used at least two-and-a-half million years ago, as evidenced by the Oldowan tools...
sold to and carried by boys of the paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
youth organization of the Nazi Party that existed from 1922 to 1945. The Hitler Youth
Hitler Youth
The Hitler Youth was a paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party. It existed from 1922 to 1945. The HJ was the second oldest paramilitary Nazi group, founded one year after its adult counterpart, the Sturmabteilung...
wore knives as part of their uniform, which was very similar to the uniforms worn by the Sturmabteilung
Sturmabteilung
The Sturmabteilung functioned as a paramilitary organization of the National Socialist German Workers' Party . It played a key role in Adolf Hitler's rise to power in the 1920s and 1930s...
or SA. The knife was also given to those who performed exceptionally well in minor exams.
The Hitler Youth knife is mostly based on Mauser
Mauser
Mauser was a German arms manufacturer of a line of bolt-action rifles and pistols from the 1870s to 1995. Mauser designs were built for the German armed forces...
Gewehr 98
Gewehr 98
The Gewehr 98 is a German bolt action Mauser rifle firing the 8x57mm cartridge from a 5 round internal clip-loaded magazine that was the German service rifle from 1898 to 1935, when it was replaced by the Karabiner 98k. It was hence the main rifle of the German infantry during World War I...
bayonets, except that it does not have a blood groove
Fuller (weapon)
A fuller is a rounded or beveled groove or slot in the flat side of a blade . A fuller is often used to lighten the blade, much in the way that an I-beam shape allows a given amount of strength to be achieved with less material...
, and it is designed to be a dagger
Dagger
A dagger is a fighting knife with a sharp point designed or capable of being used as a thrusting or stabbing weapon. The design dates to human prehistory, and daggers have been used throughout human experience to the modern day in close combat confrontations...
, not a bayonet. Hitler Youth knives typically have an enameled swastika
Swastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
emblem on the obverse grip, and a Reichszeugmeisterei
Reichszeugmeisterei
The Reichszeugmeisterei , formally located in Munich, was the first and eventually the primary Zeugmeisterei , as well as the national material control office of Nazi Germany...
inscription on the blade. In early 1937, the motto Blut und Ehre! (Blood and Honor!) began to be etched on early knife blades, but this practice was abolished and later knives were produced with plain blades.
Large numbers of fake and reproduction Hitler Youth Knives are in existence. After the war, an unknown quantity of Hitler Youth-style knives were shipped to the United States. These imports were made from mostly surplus parts, but the swastika
Swastika
The swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
emblem on the handle of many knives was replaced with a fleur-de-lis
Fleur-de-lis
The fleur-de-lis or fleur-de-lys is a stylized lily or iris that is used as a decorative design or symbol. It may be "at one and the same time, political, dynastic, artistic, emblematic, and symbolic", especially in heraldry...
emblem, similar to that used by the Boy Scouts
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
. Knives of this style are still reproduced and sold for recreational use. Authentic models include a small leather swatch that prevents metal on metal contact between the handle and sheath, and feature steel rather than alloy scabbards. Some fake scabbards also feature a raised lip at the throat, absent from the genuine articles.