Original Item: Only One Available. This is an excellent condition SA Sports Badge in Gold Grade, the highest grade awarded, complete with a named and number matched cardboard box!! Both the award and the box are numbered 726299, and the inside of the box has the following note written:

Reichs Arbeits-
dienst Sport-
Abzeichen von
meinen Brüder
Heinz. 1936.
Erich Steinbach

This note indicates that it was awarded to the Erich Steinbach's brother Heinz in 1936. Really some great research potential here!

The badge itself was manufactured from stamped steel, which is magnetic, and was then covered with a gold wash, which may be brass powder paint. It is maker marked on the back by BERG & / NOLTE A.G / LÜDENSCHEID on the arms of the swas. Berg & Nolte is a known manufacturer of this badge, located in Lüdenscheid, a city with a very large garment accessories industry.

The badge has a very nice intact steel pin back, under which is the following marking:

This translates to "Property of the S.A. Sports Badge Head Office." The badge is in great shape, with minor wear to the finish, with just a bot of oxidation on the gold wash.

This is a lovely example that would be hard to upgrade from! We've never had one with the original box before! Comes more than 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, AH 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, jugend changed the name of the badge from SA-Sportabzeichen (SA Sports Badge) to SA-Wehrabzeichen (SA-Defense 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/Defense Badge was awarded to those who had successfully passed an educational and physical program.

- The Silver SA Sport/Defense 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/Defense 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