Howdy fellas,

I'm always looking/exploring the net/books on SA daggers and I found two interesting articles (in German) on the net (other forum). I thought I'd share this with y'all.

Here is the translation of the article:

How the SA-civilian insignia came to be. (From an illustrated report in the magazine "Der SA-Mann", no. 15/1936.) Originating from an idea contest announced in 1929 by the then-Supreme SA Command, the SA civilian insignia was created from the so-called Siegrune - the ancient Germanic symbol for lightning - combined with a second component, the so-called Mannrune, the rune for the "me". These symbols - the symbol for the sparking word, with which the enemies of the idea are hit and the symbol of the upright, indomitable man - were connected by a ring (unity of these two ideas). The arrangement of the runes was done in such a way that the two letters S and A are recognizable in them. Later on, the addition of a tick made the A even more clearly recognizable. The design was a joint submission by Standartenf�hrer Hans Z�berlin (author of the book "Der Glaube an Deutschland") and the now-commander of Sturmbann II of Standarte "List", Munich, Obersturmbannf�hrer Max Zankl."

The other article explains the design/drawing of the SA logo.
I found it quite fascinating the history behind the SA logo and that the meaning of it is not only an abbreviation of the word Sturmabteilung.

enjoy the history!

Cheers,

PF

This is great information. Thanks

Excellent article! It is very much appreciated for showing us this fascinating information.

Jerry

Interesting.
The term "Sturmabteilung" of course predates Nazis, but was adopted and made infamous by them in the early 1920's.
Does this mean there was no SA symbol [as we know it] to be seen before 1930 ?

The original Stormabteilung were groups of highly trained German Army soldiers whose specialty was assaulting vulnerable sections of Allied trenches in WWI. They'd find a quiet sector where the Allies were judged to be less vigilant or weaker and .... try to punch through the lines. They may have had their symbols, but not the one above. More probably something with a eagle or a skull. The Nazis just ripped off the name.

Same with the SS. Shutz Staffeln (sp?) were 'protection squadrons' of the WWI German Airforce. They flew protective cover for special mission planes such as the ones with rocket launcher tubes used to shoot down allied balloons. And, no, the original ones did not use the "SS runes".

No doubt Stormtroopers of WW1 and for some years after did not have the symbol as we know it, and SA as it came to be went for quite some time without any formal organization - Pretty much employed as rabble rousers and ruffians [which obviously there was a legit need for]. I suppose the rest is history, I am surprised to learn that there was no SA symbol until 1930.

Could it be that the Sturmabteilung before the rise of Hitler were called the Stosstruppen?

I was reading about willy rohr as the father of the assault troops from ww1 since I was interested in austro-Hungarian assault badges (the ones with skulls). Is there any connection there? (Since stosstupen has been brought up) and not to go too far sidewAys- but is it true that rohr was part jewish?

The Stosstruppen were the first SS troops. The were recruited from the SA