District Winner in the Reich Vocational Competition 1938

The present award “Kreissieger im Reichsberufswettkampf 1938” (District Winner in the Reich Vocational Competition 1938) is a remarkable testament to National Socialist youth and labor policy in the Third Reich. This plaque made of non-ferrous metal with partial enameling was manufactured by G. Brehmer of Markneukirchen and represents the systematic efforts of the Nazi regime to ideologically shape German youth while simultaneously increasing vocational performance.

The Reichsberufswettkampf (Reich Vocational Competition) was first established in 1934 by the German Labor Front (Deutsche Arbeitsfront, DAF) under the leadership of Robert Ley. This annual event was one of the largest mass events in National Socialist Germany and was intended to promote vocational training for German youth while anchoring the concept of achievement in accordance with Nazi ideology. Until 1939, several million young people participated in these competitions annually.

The competitions were divided into various occupational groups and performance classes and included both practical and theoretical examinations. Participants had to demonstrate their professional skills, with ideological training and physical fitness also being evaluated. The competitions were structured hierarchically: starting from company competitions through district competitions and regional competitions up to the Reich finals in Berlin.

The year 1938 marked a high point of these events. In this year, shortly before the outbreak of World War II, participation reached its provisional peak with over three million young people. The 1938 Reich Vocational Competition took place at a time when the Nazi regime was intensifying its expansionist policy – in March came the annexation of Austria, in October the occupation of the Sudetenland.

The award as Kreissieger (District Winner) meant that the bearer had prevailed against numerous competitors at the district level. This was a considerable achievement, as districts often comprised several thousand participants. Winners received not only the plaque but often additional benefits such as courses, study trips, or preferential treatment in the allocation of training positions.

The manufacturer G. Brehmer of Markneukirchen was one of several producers commissioned to manufacture these awards. Markneukirchen in the Saxon Vogtland was traditionally known for its metalworking and instrument-making craftsmanship. The company produced various badges and awards for Nazi organizations.

The technical execution of the plaque shows the typical craftsmanship of the time: non-ferrous metal as the base material, combined with colored enamel to highlight certain elements. Enameling was a complex process in which glass powder was fused onto the metal at high temperatures. Despite the high quantities produced, these works demonstrated craftsmanship skill.

The Reich Vocational Competition served several purposes simultaneously: it was intended to raise the professional qualifications of German youth, promote competitive spirit, and bind young people to Nazi ideology. The event was closely linked with the Hitler Youth and the League of German Girls, which served as organizational sponsors. At the same time, the competition served to prepare for the war economy by creating a large pool of qualified specialists.

The propaganda surrounding the Reich Vocational Competition was considerable. Award ceremonies were conducted with great pomp in the Reich capital Berlin, often in the presence of high Nazi functionaries. The press reported extensively on the events, and participation was portrayed as a patriotic duty.

After the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the Reich Vocational Competition increasingly lost significance but was continued in modified form until 1944. The focus shifted even more strongly toward war-essential professions and skills.

Today, such awards are important historical documents that provide insight into the everyday and social history of National Socialism. They show how the regime attempted to penetrate all areas of life – including vocational training – and instrumentalize them for its purposes. The slight damage to the enamel on the present piece testifies to the history and age of the object and does not diminish its documentary value for historical science and collectors of military-historical items.