Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice German WWII sports & physical exercise Grouping, containing many of the items routinely awarded during their annual competitions.
The first item in this set is a very nice Gold Grade SA Sports badge, the highest grade awarded. It looks to be manufactured from stamped steel, which is magnetic, and was then covered with a gold wash, most likely gold paint. It is maker marked on the back by W. REDO / SAARLAUTERN on the arms of the swas. Werner Redo is a known manufacturer of this badge, located in Saarlautern, on the border with France. Today the town is known by its Pre NSDAP rule name, Saarlouis, the name it has born for centuries.
The badge has ;a very nice intact steel pin back, under which is the following marking:
EIGENTUM SPORTABZEICHEN
S.A. FÜHRUNG
This translates to "Property of the S.A. Sports Badge Leadership." The badge is in great shape, with ;minor wear to the finish, and a great patina.
The other items are both from the National Socialist League of the Reich for Physical Exercise (Nationalsozialistischer Reichsbund für Leibesübungen, abbreviated NSRL), which was a National organization responsible for physical education. It organized exercise programs as well as competitions.
The first item is a very nice Black & Gold Bevo Style machine embroidered NSRL Insignia, which has not been attached to a uniform at any time. It has a bit of fraying, but the colors hold up great.
The included pamphlet is an award document with a brass oak leaf pin inside. It has held in place by an orange and white string, which is itself held by an NSRL paper seal. The other side has the NSRL logo, as well as an NSRL ink stamp. A very nice customer was kind enough to decipher and translate the pamphlet:
In Anerkennung
für den bei
den Bezirksmeisterschaften
am 30. Marz 1941
in Siegburg
im Florett fechten
mit ______
erreichten 4. Rang.
In English this roughly translates to: "In recognition of reaching 4th rank in the district championship on 30 March 1941 in Siegburg in foil fencing."
A very nice German WWII Sports grouping, ready to display!
The SA Sports Badge was a decoration of NSDAP Germany that was issued between the years 1933 and 1945. It was a political version of the much more generic German Sports Badge, which was also issued in great numbers by the NSDAPs. At its center was a 57mm high Roman broad sword, superimposed over a NSDAP swas. It was encircled by an wreath of oak leaves. It was a pin-back badge. There was a cloth version, as well.
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. The on 15 February 1935, jugend decreed that the badge be officially recognized. It was thereafter issued in three grades (bronze, silver, and gold). No longer was the physical fitness badge to be awarded only to SA members, but to youth of all German military and paramilitary organizations. Originally the badge grade was awarded on degrees of "proficiency". Then in 1936, a points system was established. In 1937, the requirement for the holder of the award was upgraded. Each recipient had to pass an annual proficiency test to retain the badge.
On 19 January 1939, AH changed the name of the badge from SA-Sportabzeichen (SA Sports Badge) to SA-Wehrabzeichen (SA-Defence Badge). AH challenged all able-bodied boys age 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. By December 1936, one million had been awarded. Then by the end of 1943, over 2.5 million had been awarded.
The physical fitness program was divided into three sections, gymnastics, defensive sports and agricultural service. The badge was to be worn on the left breast, under the Iron Cross.
Grades:
- The Bronze SA Sport/Defence Badge was awarded to those who had successfully passed an educational and physical programme.
- The Silver SA Sport/Defence Badge was awarded to those who held the Bronze badge for five years and had participated and passed the annual requirements and also having passed the age of 35.
- The Gold SA Sport/Defence Badge was awarded to those who held the Silver badge for six years and successfully participated in the annual requirements and were over 40 years old
