German National Winner Badge 1939

In February 1934, National Youth Leader Baldur von Schirach and Dr. Robert Ley, head of the German Labour Front collaborated in a joint effort to institute a National Trade Competition to encourage German youth to develop proficient skills in manual, technical or professional trades. The competitions consisted of twenty main categories with over seven hundred assorted trades being represented. All participants were required to belong to the HJ, DAF, or another NSDAP organization, and only those under 21 years old were eligible to compete.

Participants were required to demonstrate their particular skills and successfully complete appropriate written tests. The competitions were held at the three different political levels with the winners advancing to the next level. Local, (Kreis) level competitions were held in February followed by the State, (Gau), level competitions in March and the National, (Reich’s), level competitions held in April, with the National winners being bestowed their awards by Hitler personally on May 1st , the Day of National Labour. Although all competitors were issued a participant badge and certificate, originally only the National winners were bestowed an actual award with corresponding certificate. In 1938 a new award was instituted in three grades with the coloured finish determining the grade of the award as follows, gold finish for the Reich’s level award, a silver finish for the Gau level award and a bronze finish for the Kreis level award.

This is a 1938 HJ-DAF Reichssieger Badge. Constructed of Gilded tombac with multi enamel work. The badge meassures 49 x 47 mm and weight is 29.9 g. Maker marked to the reverse in high relief: “G. Brehmer Markneukirchen,”. There is a enamel chip to left top of diamond. Besides that in very good condition. The badge comes housed in its original presentation case. The case is fold open with push button. The case is constructed of wood with black leather imitation cover.

Scarce badge which is even harder to find with case!!