BACKGROUND: The first official, standardized shoulder straps for HJ personnel were introduced in 1933 and were designed to indicate rank and duty location. HJ shoulder straps underwent numerous modifications from their introduction until a final pattern was decided upon in late 1938. The final pattern shoulder straps eliminated the Unterbann numerals and the piping was altered to reflect branch of service. Note; The Bann numbers often followed the numbers of an Army regiment raised in the same area.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A post-1934 (given the absence of an additional "Unterbann" number), Hitlerjunge khaki cotton twill construction shoulder strap, 40mm wide and 11.5cm long, coming to a point with a buttonhole. Red piping is to all but its base edge, indicating either "Oberbann 1" before 1936, or the General HJ until the khaki straps were replaced by black straps in 1938 (red piping was then also used to denote European HJ units outside the Reich). Machine embroidered, also in red, are the chain-stitched "Bann" numerals "345." These often followed the numbers of an Army regiment raised in the same area. Single tress signifies a rank of HJ Rottenführer.