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Decorated HJ.

Bundesarchiv.

Three Hitler Youth members, decorated for their meritorious actions in the course of an Allied air raid on Hamburg. The specific date given in the Bundesarchiv caption - 1 July, 1943 - would be slightly wrong for what was the outstanding episode of Allied bombing on the city, the RAF's "Operation Gomorrrah", which involved repeated heavy night raids on the city between 24 July and 3 August, 1943. These raids pretty well destroyed the heart of the city in enormous firestorms, and severely damaged its port, fuel refining and direct war industries - although these industries appear to have recovered much of their capacity quite quickly. The young man in the middle is wearing the Iron Cross, Second Class; the others the War Merit Cross, Second Class. Presumably, this 'photo was taken at the presentation ceremony, as these medals were, on other occasions, normally worn as ribbons only. The young man in the centre is also wearing a HJ Proficiency Badge (left breast); the lad on the left may be wearing a similar badge, though I cannot quite make it out. Sobering to think that all of these young men (the eldest of whom is unlikely to be older than 17 in this 'photo), would likely have found themselves in the Wehrmacht in some capacity before very long. Best regards, JR.