Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice service used example of a German WWII Sturmabteilung (Storm Division) Political "Storm Flag" or Banner (Sturmfahne). It measures 46" x 54", and has lovely silver bullion fringes on three sides of the flag. The hanger side still has all 7 aluminum hanger rings attached to their fabric loops, and all are also marked on the inside with ((RZM)) M3/40/38. This would indicate the hanger rings were made in 1938 by maker Gebrüder Cossack, a known maker of symbols and flag insignia during WWII.
As indicated by the light brown embroidered rectangle in the upper left canton, this is the flag of the SA from Waldthurn, a market town and municipality in northeast Bavaria, today very close to the border with Czechia. The colors on the canton may in fact represent light blue and gold, which were the colors for SA Gruppe Bayerische Ostmark, which covered parts of Eastern and Northern Bavaria.
The identity of the unit to which a "storm flag" belonged was determined by the rectangular patch that was sewn to the upper left canton. This patch bore the unit designation (often a combination of numbers or emblems) embroidered on to a backing color that represented the Group. This patch was an enlarged version of the collar patch worn by that SA unit on the right side of their uniform collars. As a further note of interest, where SA units were raised, they emulated the old regimental numbering system used by the pre-1918 Imperial German Army, adopting the number of the former regiment if that SA regiment was raised in the same old garrison location.
This example only has one patch, indicating that the unit did not have any prior designations, which would also be attached to the flag under the current designation. Condition wise, this flag is in really nice shape considering the age and wool construction. There is definitely some tearing in the red wool field of the flag, as well as some substantial holes. There is some staining to the white central circles on both sides that serve as the background of the sewn-on Swas (hook cross) emblems. The bullion fringe is in very good condition, still bright and shiny.
A hard to find "Storm Flag", named to a specific SA unit, which definitely looks to have seen use during the Third Reich period.. Ready to display!
Of Note: In late 1934 items manufactured for the NSDAP and other organizations, including membership pins, came under the quality control of the RZM, Reichzeugmeisterei (National Equipment Quartermaster), and as a result were marked with the RZM logo when appropriate. The registry was was based at the Brown house in Munich and NSDAP party headquarters in Berlin. The RZM ensured that the manufacturers of military items were consistent in design, quality of materials and other characteristics of the items. It also defined standards of design, manufacturing and quality and published an authoritative color chart for textiles. The M3 in the code stands for "Symbols or Emblems", with Gebrüder Cossack being contractor number 40.
The SA, "Sturmabteilung" (Storm-troops), were originally formed in August of 1921 as a protective guard unit for the political leaders of the fledgling NSDAP Party. As with the NSDAP, "Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei" (National-socialist German Worker’s-party), the SA was structured along para-military lines. Most of its recruits were from the ranks of the various "Freikorps" groups of the day, composed mainly of disgruntled ex-soldiers, and they were first utilized at a NSDAP party meeting in Munich in November of 1921.
The SA pattern box buckle was the first belt buckle to be introduced by the NSDAP, with its estimated introductory dates ranging between 1921 and 1923. On its introduction it was not fully standardized and came in at least five variations. The SA pattern buckle was originally worn by other NSDAP organizations including the SS, the NSKK, the NSBO, and political leaders
Unfortunately, the ambition and socialist leanings of the SA eventually came into conflict with the goals of the rest of the party, and in 1934 the group leadership was purged, and by 1936 the buckle was officially replaced, though many still wore them.
