S.A. Military Sports Badge #63187
Price: $150
BUY / RESERVE THIS ITEMDescription: (S.A. Wehrabzeichen). Early circa 1933-34 SA Military Sports badges, Bronze grade award, stamped S/N 63187 constructed of bronze, maker & property marked on reverse: ‘L.CHR. Lauer / NÜRNBERG -BERLIN‘. Quality barrel hinge & vertical square pinback assembly. The badge is vaulted and in untouched fine condition.
Background: The SA Sports Badge was instituted on 28 November 1933 by then SA Chief Ernst Röhm. It was originally only issued in bronze through the year 1935. Then on 15 February 1935, the Fuhrer decreed that the badge be officially recognized. It was thereafter issued in three grades (bronze, silver, and gold). The DRL badge was no longer to be issued to SA members, as well as youth of all German military and paramilitary organizations. Originally the badge grade was awarded on degrees of “proficiency”, but in 1936, a points system was established. In 1937 it was required that each recipient had to pass an annual proficiency test to retain the badge. January 1939, the NSDAP changed the name of the badge from SA- Sportabzeichen (SA Sports Badge) to SA- Wehrabzeichen (SA-Defence Badge). The Party challenged all able-bodied boys aged 16 and up to compete for the award. Older military men were also encouraged to obtain it. The badge was one of the few political decorations that the armed forces allowed to freely be displayed on a military uniform.
