N31054 HJ SPORTS SHIRT. (Sporthemd) 

BACKGROUND: Sports in the early period of the Third Reich had an underlying, subversive role as a form of military training, due to the restrictions imposed on the Germans by the Treaty of Versailles. As a result, sporting events were very highly regarded by the NSDAP, and all manner of awards were issued on a national and local level to the victorious athletes. Even after the treaty was ignored, and military conscription imposed, sporting events for the German youth were still held in high esteem as pre-military training and toughening-up exercises. From the end of 1934 onwards, Hitler Youth Sports Festivals were held throughout Germany. Originally called a "Sport-" or "Jugendfest," after 1937 they came to be known as "Reichsportwettkampf" (National-sport-competition[s]). 

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A second pattern sports shirt, for boys, introduced in October of 1933. Whereas the first pattern, used by both the HJ and BDM, had the HJ diamond and swastika sewn to its front, this features a machine woven, black, mobile swastika, on a 2 3/8" square cotton diamond, sewn over two, 1 3/8" wide, parallel red stripes, which are printed across both the front and back of the shirt, with a 7/8" separation between them. The combination resembles the HJ pattern armband, and it would appear that the swastika on its diamond-shaped base may be the same at that used for their armbands. The ribbed white cotton shirt itself is in the form of a "tank top." Sewn along the base of its rear interior is a 2 1/8" x 1 1/8", white oilcloth RZM, "Reichszeugmeisterei" (National-material-control-office), tag, underneath of which is a small tab with "5" machine woven to it, in red. Although intact, with no tears or repairs, the shirt has several light stains to its reverse, and moderate soiling throughout.

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