(SA-Wehrabzeichen)

Date Instituted

1931 (recognized as an official party decoration on 6 November 1936)

Requirements

Bronze
* Passing the tests for 12 months (men under 35)


Silver
* Passing the tests for 12 months (men 35-40), or
* Passing the tests annually for 5 years (men under 35)


Gold
* Passing the tests for 12 months (men over 40), or
* Silver + passing the tests annually for 6 more years

Number awarded

?

Estimated price (2009)

Gold - € 300
Silver - € 150
Bronze - € 55
Zinc (war wounded) - € 300


Holders of the SA Military Sports Badge

(Courtesy of André Hella)

Comments

The tests consisted of three groups: physical exercises, defence exercises and field exercises:
Group 1. Physical Exercise
- a) 100 yard sprint
- b) Long Jump
- c) Putting the Weight
- d) Long-distance throw (with dummy grenade)
- e) 3000 meter run
Group 2. Defense Exercise (Wehrsport)
- a) 25 kilometer route march with a 27.5 lb pack
- b) Small caliber arms fire
- c) Aimed grenade throwing
- d) 200 meter race in gas-mask,over 4 obstacles a miniature"assault course"
- e) Swimming or cycling speed test
- f) Test of elementary First Aid techniques
Group 3. Field Exercises (Gelandedienst)
- a) Map reading
- b) Judging terrain and estimating ranges
- c) Signaling
- d) Reconnaissance work

Only members of the SA was eligible for this award 1933-1935.

Instituted as the SA Sports Badge (SA Sport-Abzeichen) but renamed 1935.

A SA Military Sports Badge for War Wounded (SA Wehrabzeichen für Kriegsversehrte) was instituted 1943.


Photo courtesy of Rusfront

The SA Military Sports Badge on a stamp highlighting the Wehrkampftage der SA 1942 (8 August 1942)
Design: Axster-Heudtlass

(Courtesy of PJ Caliguire)

Sources used

Christopher Ailsby - World War 2 German medals and political awards
John R. Angolia - For Führer and Fatherland: Political & Civil awards of the Third Reich
David Littlejohn - Orders, decorations, medals and badges of the Third Reich
Detlev Niemann - Price Guide Germany 1871-1945 (2009)