There are countless tests; one might ask the little boy, for instance, whether he intended to take the tests in the sick-nursing course. An examination beyond that will give one the title of Krankenträger (stretcher bearer), and a still further degree is Feldscher (field surgeon, from one of the many medieval terms long out of usage, which have been resurrected by the Nazis). These last are permitted to wear the Red Cross badge, and during meetings, exercises or marches, they may administer first-aid to those who happen to have had bad luck while flying, or during target practice, or when they were mountain-climbing in full uniform.
The uniform itself is watched over by the guardians of the law, and regulations have made it very difficult for some of these boys, whose families have not enough money for food and food substitutes. In the Pirmasenser Zeitung of May 18, 1937, the District Leaders wrote: “A circular has informed the Hitler Youth as to the precise appearance of their summer service uniforms. But it has proved necessary to call general attention to the fact that the entire H.J., including its subdivisions, the D.J., B.D.M. and J.M. must wear the appointed laced half-shoe and not the Bundschuh (a peasant’s boot that can be slipped on; the term was current during the Peasants’ Wars) that can still be seen here and there. It is forbidden for any member of the H.J. to wear a Bundschuh. The summer uniform is to be accompanied in the case of all Hitler Boys by the summer service cap, known as camp cap. Furthermore, it must be repeated that only black trousers may be worn, so that the brown trousers now on hand must by dyed. We especially ask the parents to attend to these matters and to see that the service uniforms of their boys are absolutely according to regulations. The Scout Service will watch over the wearing of the proper summer service uniform on the part of all Hitler Boys in our district.”
If this is extravagance, it is counteracted on the next page of the same paper, by an official notice:
“It has repeatedly been observed during inquests that the dead are buried in valuable clothing, sometimes even newly bought. I consider it the duty of a citizen to omit all unnecessary pomp as regards funerals. — The Mayor.”