The Hitler Youth was established in 1933, replacing the traditional German Boy Scouts, with the intention of indoctrinating (in their terms, educating) German boys with the principles of the Nazi party. It also was meant to prepare those boys for military service; they learned fieldcraft, woodcraft, rifle handling, marksmanship, hiking, camping, athletics, competitiveness, and comradeship, all with a backdrop of strict military discipline. The goal was to create obedient, self-sacrificing, combat ready Germans who wouldn't hesitate to die for Führer and Fatherland. For general use in the field, members of the Hitler-Jugend were issued well made "Hitler Youth" knives for cutting wood, knife throwing, and all of the other creative ways boys could think of to use knives. There are many period photographs of boys in the HJ using their Hitler Youth knives for throwing into trees in obvious competition with one another. Early examples carried the expectedly strident Hitler Youth motto, "Blut und Ehre!" (Blood and Honor), etched along the right side of the blade. The etched motto was dropped in 1938, making early examples scarce and desirable today. This German WW2 HJ Hitler-Jugend Emil Voos RZM M7/2 1937 "Blut und Ehre!" Motto Hitler Youth Knife is in very good condition, with some sharpening to the blade edge, some cleaning, scratching, pitting, and patina at each side of the blade, a small gap remaining between the tops of the handle scales and the guard, though the hilt remains "tight as a drum", a small hairline crack in the lower inner edge of the left handle scale, some light scratching to the spines of the handle scales, some light pitting and spot patina to the guard and pommel, and with some scattered age wear evident. Otherwise, the knife is in fine shape, with no other damage. Most interestingly, it features a once bright 5 1/2" drop point blade etched with the Hitler Youth motto "Blut und Ehre!" along the right side, which remains highly legible, and carries the familiar "RZM" circular mark etched at the reverse ricasso, above the maker's code "M7/2", denoting manufacture by the famous Emil Voos of Solingen, Germany, and the date, "1937". The knife boasts the classic red and white Hitler Youth enamel diamond insignia inset at the middle right handle scale, which remains tightly affixed, exhibits the original crisply checkered black plastic handle scales secured by two domed metal rivets, and carries the original downward swept nickel plated metal half quillon, matching nickel plated metal pommel, and the original faded black leather "bumper pad" at the blade/guard join. It's complete with the original German WW2 HJ Hitler-Jugend Hitler Youth Scabbard in good condition, with a small spot dent in the lower back body, moderate finish abrading at front, the "male" portion of the handle retention strap having torn away from the right leather strap, and remaining permanently connected to the "female" portion on the left leather strap, the metal rivet having torn away from the middle front and upper back belt hanger, respectively, leaving a hole where it once resided, and with some overall age wear evident. Otherwise, the scabbard is in fine shape, with absolutely no cracking or other damage to the tough steel construction. Most interestingly, it retains approximately 60% of the original black painted finish on the body, mostly at back, bears the original black leather belt hanger and a good sized remnant of the black leather handle retention strap, and the set is a fine example of a rare, original German WW2 HJ Hitler-Jugend Emil Voos RZM M7/2 1937 "Blut und Ehre!" Motto Hitler Youth Knife.
Knives