Hugo Boss
You’ve probably heard about the dubious history of fashion designer Hugo Boss and his Nazi past, but I thought you might like to hear about it in more detail and see some of his designs!*
Hugo Boss started his clothing company in 1924. It wasn’t particuarly successful and he even went bankrupt, that was until he joined the National Socialst (Nazi) party in the early 1930s and became a ‘sponsoring member’ of the S.S.
He became the official supplier of Nazi uniforms to lots of party organizations including Sturmabteilung (Brownshirts), Schutzstaffel (S.S), Hitler Youth, National Socialist Motor Corps (a paramilitary wing of the Nazi party). During the war he also used prisoners or war and forced labour in his factories to help keep up with demand. His advertising proudly stated “supplier for National Socialist uniforms since 1924″, although it’s very doubtful he actually supplied them with uniforms until the late 1920s.
*Apologies for the rather heavy Nazi-themed posts of the past week or so, normal light-hearted service will be resumed as soon as possible!
Sturmabteilung (Brownshirts) uniform
Nazi uniforms for the Gestapo (left) and S.S.
Prominent Nazi Dr Hans Heinrich Lammers in his S.S uniform, complete with skull motif
A mother looks proudly at her son wearing his Hitler Youth uniform
More uniformed Hitler Youth members in uniform
Hitler Youth in their dress uniform on a visit to Japan
Hugo Boss advert for Nazi uniforms from 1933
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