Deutsche Jägerschaft

Reichsbund Deutsche Jägerschaft (German Hunting Society) was the official hunting society in Nazi Germany, 1934–1945. Membership was mandatory for all who possessed a hunting license.

Origin

The ''Deutsche Jägerschaft'' was created through the ''Reichsjagdgesetz'' (National Hunting Act) of 1934. Existing hunting societies were disbanded and the membership transferred to the new society.

Mission

* Educate the hunting community to practice an ethical hunting culture.''Deutsches Jagdleхikon'': "Reichsbund Deutsche Jägerschaft"
Retrieved 2018-01-11.
* Preserve the wildlife population unchanged to the benefit of future generations.
* Jews were excluded from membership even if they owned hunting grounds.

Organization

The ''Deutsche Jägerschaft'' was a statutory corporation with mandatory membership for all who possessed a hunting license. The membership was in hunting matters subordinate to the jurisdiction of the ''Deutsche Jägerschaft'' through its system of honorary courts. ''Deutsche Jägerschaft'' was led by Hermann Göring, as ''Reichsjägermeister'', and was governed by the ''Führerprinciple''. Elected officials did not exist; all functionaries were appointed by their superiors in the internal chain of command. Goring's deputy and leader of the daily work was Walter von Keudell until 1937. Administrative leader was ''Oberstjägermeister'' Ulrich Scherping.

"Deutsche Jägerschaft" was organized in a number of '' Jagdgaus''. Some ''Länder'' had a ''Landesjägermeister'' as leader of the ''Gaujägermeisters.'' Each ''Jagdgau'' contained a number of ''Jagdkreise'' under a ''Kreisjägermeister''. Each ''Jagdkreis'' had a number of ''Hegeringen'' (Game Management Areas) under a ''Hegeringsleiter''. Thüringen, for instance, formed a ''Jagdgau'' with 15 ''Jagdkreise'' that were state wildlife agencies. The ''Institute für Jagdkunde'' (Hunting Science Institute) and the ''Deutsche Versuchsanstalt für Handfeuerwaffen'' (German Research Station for Small Arms) also came under the ''Deutsche Jägerschaft''.

Rank structure

* ''Reichsjägermeister'' Göring
* ''Oberstjägermeister'' Ulrich Scherping
* ''Landesjägermeister''
* ''Gaujägermeister''
* ''Oberjägermeister''
* ''Stabsjägermeister'' by ''Landesjägermeister''/''Jägermeister'' by ''Reichsjägermeister''
* ''Kreisjägermeister''
* ''Stabsjägermeister'' by ''Gaujägermeister''/''Jägermeister'' by ''Landesjägermeister''
*''Hegeringsleiter''
Source:

Dissolution

The Allied Powers dissolved the ''Deutsche Jägerschaft'' in 1945, and its assets and properties were confiscated.''Laws and Orders of Military Government.'' Braunschweig: Vieweg, 1945, p. 10.

Flags

Flagge Reichsjägermeister 1937.svg, ''Reichsjäger-
meister''
Wimpel Stab Reichsjägermeister 1937.svg, Staff of the ''Reichsjäger-
meister''
Flagge Reichsjagdrat 1937.svg, Members of the ''Reichsjagdrat''


Flagge Landesjägermeister 1937.svg, ''Landes-
jägermeister''
Wimpel Gaujägermeister 1937.svg, ''Gaujägermeister''
Wimpel Kreisjägermeister 1937.svg, ''Kreis-
jägermeister''
Wimpel Mitglieder Deutsche Jägerschaft 1937.svg, Ordinary Member

Source: "Deutsche Jägerschaft." ''Forestry of the Third Reich.''
etrieved 2022-07-21.

References

{{Uniforms, insignia and ranks of Nazi Germany

1934 establishments in Germany
Organizations established in 1934
1945 disestablishments in Germany
Organizations disestablished in 1945
Firearms-related organizations
Society of Nazi Germany
Hermann Göring