This original WWII German BDM District Triangle Südost Oberdonau sleeve patch provides an exceptionally preserved piece of youth auxiliary insignia. Members of the League of German Girls (Bund Deutscher Mädel) wore these triangular region patches on the upper left sleeve of their uniforms. Specifically, this example represents the district region of Südost Oberdonau. Furthermore, the reverse retains its original paper RZM control tag intact. Consequently, this unissued cloth patch remains a highly desirable addition for militaria collectors.
Historical Context of the WWII German BDM District Triangle Südost Oberdonau
In fact, uniform regulations required female youth members to display designated regional sleeve insignia. Moreover, this district triangle patch features crisp white BeVo weave lettering against black backing material. On the front, white thread clearly spells out “Südost” above “Oberdonau” in Gothic Fraktur script. In addition, white rayon piping borders the outer triangular edges. Meanwhile, the reverse displays clean white threads alongside its original red-printed paper RZM label. Additionally, the paper tag bears manufacturer code A4/134 and serial numbers.
About the BDM:
The League of German Girls (German: Bund Deutscher Mädel, or BDM) served as the female branch of the Hitler Youth, the Nazi Party’s official youth organization. It was the only legal youth group for girls in Nazi Germany.
The BDM initially included two age-based sections. Girls aged 10 to 14 joined the Jungmädelbund (“Young Girls’ League”), while those aged 14 to 18 entered the main BDM group. In 1938, the organization added a third section—the BDM-Werk Glaube und Schönheit (“Faith and Beauty Society”). This voluntary group accepted young women aged 17 to 21.
The government made membership compulsory for all eligible girls, except those excluded for racial reasons. As a result, the BDM grew into the largest female youth organization of its time, with over 4.5 million members.
