SA Sports Badge

[Wilhelm]

SA Sports Badge (SA-Sportsabzeichen)



Reenactors that took part in the football matches at Detling this year
have been authorized to wear the SA Sports Badge (at least in WARS).
So I thought I would look into the award and make a few comments here.

It is a little-used award in reenacting groups, but it was worn on WW2 uniforms.
But unlike other awards, the SA Sports Badge was not the property of the wearer!
It remained the property of the SA Leadership. On the reverse side it states:
EIGENTUM DER OBERSTE SA FÜHRUNG

Each year holders of the award had to re-qualify for it, if they failed the sports test,
which included running, jumping, hurdles etc. Then the award was taken away.
It then became the property of the SA once more and awarded to someone else.

The award came in three classes, bronze, silver and gold.
These classes were awarded for age groups:
Bronze for sportsmen under 35 years old.
Silver for sportsmen aged between 35 to 40.
Gold for those aged over 40.

It is unlikely that someone aged 50 would qualify for this award,
So I will not wear it on my tunic,
so I have placed mine behind glass with my "Escape to Victory" tracksuit
and Detling match photo.

Cheers, Bill.

[Feldjager]

Curiously, these are one of the most common awards seen on policemen of the Reich and Feldgendarmen.

[Cookie]

Bill,

Some of us in TFH wear them on our Volkssturm uniforms.

Morigi does a nice example (although you have to pay a lot for it). SoF ones are a real shower. Haven't seen a militaria-net one up close but the picture looks good.

Now you just need a good supplier of the feldherrnhalle cuff title and your away!

[sig rune]

In 1939 the name was changed to SA-Wehrabzeichen (SA Defence Badge) the ephasisis on military sports, which included grenade throwing, rifle shooting, etc.


Men who had been awarded the silver badge, and continued to pass the test annually for an additional six years, or men over 40 who passed the tests during a twelve month period received the badge in gold.

In For Fuehrer and Fatherland Vol.2, there is a photo an elderly member of the SA in Metz 1944 wearing the SA Sports Badge

See, Medals & Decorations of Hitlers Germany, Robin Lumsden.
For Fuehrer and Fatherland Vol.2 J. Angolia.

[Richk98]

Interesting article Bill!
Where would the badge be worn in relation to the infantry assault badge?

Cheers,
Rich

[Sean]

Curiously, these are one of the most common awards seen on policemen of the Reich and Feldgendarmen.

Well like all good Policeman they'd have to be good at running

[Wilhelm]

Thanks for the replies to this thread, great to see that people are interested.
I purchased my SA Sportsabzeichen from militaria.net and it had all the proper
markings on the reverse including makers name, cost 12 pounds.

Where would the badge be worn in relation to the infantry assault badge?

Good question Rich, the Infantry Assault badge goes on the left
and the sports badge on the right.

Cheers, Bill.

[Richk98]

the Infantry Assault badge goes on the left
and the sports badge on the right.

Cheers Bill!

Regards,
Rich