{"product_id":"original-german-wwii-sa-gruppe-hochland-1941-garmisch-partenkirchen-ski-competition-table-medal","title":"Original German WWII SA Gruppe Hochland 1941 Garmisch-Partenkirchen Ski Competition Table Medal","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item. Only One Available. This is a very nice German WWII Era Presentation \"Table Medal\", a large award usually displayed on a shelf or table, as the name implies. The award itself measures approximately 2 ⅞\" wide by 2 ⅞\" tall, and appears to be made from zinc alloy with a matte silver wash, now oxidized.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe obverse features a central raised \u003cem\u003eSturmabteilung\u003c\/em\u003e (Storm Division) insignia, which shows an Eagle perched on top of the SA emblem. It looks like there is a \"sun\" behind the SA symbol, however close inspection it looks like it is actually the pedals of an Edelweiß flower. The top border of the medal has \u003cstrong\u003eSA GRUPPE HOCHLAND\u003c\/strong\u003e, for the SA \"Highlands\" Group, a district in the far South German mountains, with the principal city being München (Munich). Under the insignia is the smaller text reading DER FÜHRER \u003cstrong\u003eDER SA GRUPPE HOCHLAND\u003c\/strong\u003e (The Leader of the SA Group Highlands), who gave out the award.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn either side of the eagle is the date \u003cstrong\u003e22.-23. FEBR. 1941\u003c\/strong\u003e, and the left and right borders are marked with \u003cstrong\u003eKRIEGSSKIMEISTERSCHAFTEN - GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN\u003c\/strong\u003e, which translates to \"Military Ski Championships, Garmisch-Partenkirchen\". This is an award given out for participation in the competition that took place in the resort area of Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Southern Bavaria during February 1941.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rear of the medal is marked with \u003cstrong\u003eFÜR MITARBEIT UND ZUR ERINNERUNG\u003c\/strong\u003e, which translates to “For Cooperation and as a memento”, so this was not given out to a prize winner, more as a sign of appreciation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe SA had yearly sports competitions and other events, and medals such as these were given out yearly during the pre-war era. Once the war began, many of these events ceased. The table medal is in very good condition, with a lovely patina. Ready research and display!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe S.A.-\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Sturmabteilung, literally Storm Detachment, was the NSDAP Party's original paramilitary. It played a significant role in Adolf AH's rise to power in the 1920s and 1930s. Its primary purposes were providing protection for NSDAP rallies and assemblies, disrupting the meetings of opposing parties, fighting against the paramilitary units of the opposing parties, especially the Red Front Fighters League (Rotfrontkämpferbund) of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD), and intimidating Romani, trade unionists, and, especially, Jews – for instance, during the NSDAP boycott of Jewish businesses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe SA were also called the \"Brownshirts\" (Braunhemden) from the color of their uniform shirts, similar to Benito Mussolini's blackshirts. The SA developed pseudo-military titles for its members, with ranks that were later adopted by several other NSDAP Party groups, chief amongst them the Schutzstaffel (SS), which originated as a branch of the SA before being separated. Brown-colored shirts were chosen as the SA uniform because a large number of them were cheaply available after World War I, having originally been ordered during the war for colonial troops posted to Germany's former African colonies.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe SA became disempowered after Adolf AH ordered the \"blood purge\" of 1934. This event became known as the Night of the Long Knives (die Nacht der langen Messer). The SA continued to exist, but was effectively superseded by the SS, although it was not formally dissolved until after NSDAP Germany's final capitulation to the Allies in 1945.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41870019362885,"sku":"ONSV24WSJ180","price":350.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV24WSJ180__01.jpg?v=1726274756","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-german-wwii-sa-gruppe-hochland-1941-garmisch-partenkirchen-ski-competition-table-medal","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}