File:SA-Sturm Group portrait Bund Oberland Bavaria Germany circa 1923 NSDAP Sturmabteilung unit Mixed paramilitary Freikorps veteran civilian uniforms Edelweiss Ski caps Nazi swastika flag NARA Unrestricted No known copyright 242-HF-0828 001.jpg

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English: "Sturmabteilung troopers" (Original German caption: S. A.-Stürme)
  • A group photo of 20 SA-Männer, members of the Sturmabteilung, taken around 1925 at Schellingstraße 50 in Munich, Germany, a building housing the offices of the Nazi Party (NSDAP) between July 1925 and 1931 (and from 1924 the studio of Nazi propaganda photographer Heinrich Hoffmann). The men, some of them very young, are likely also (former) members of the German nationalist right-wing organization Bund Oberland according to their paramilitary uniforms and insignia:
    • The diverse attire comprises a combination of civilian and military clothing.
    • Among the garments are uniforms worn by World War I veterans and members of Freikorps, with collar tabs on certain tunics featuring the Edelweiss emblem of the Bund Oberland. Additionally, some caps also bear this flower emblem on their side, along with rank insignia displayed on certain shoulder straps.
    • Several individuals are wearing peaked ski caps with buttoned front closure, adorned with a cockade and Swastika pin. (Initially, members of the early SA did not have official headgear and mostly wore grey Austrian-style ski caps until the introduction of the soft kepi.)
    • Various Nazi swastika pins, military belt buckles, and military decorations on the uniforms.
    • Long trousers, breeches, knee high stockings, puttees, leather leggings, etc.
    • Leather shoes, ankle boots.
etc.
  • Pinned to the wall behind the men is an early version of the notorious Nazi flag, featuring a "static" black swastika in a white disc on a red background, rather than the later "mobile" (tilted) version.
  • Nazi propaganda; Nazi symbolism (Nazi iconography); Militarism; Fascism
The brown shirted stormtroopers of the Sturmabteilung gradually come into being within the Nazi Party beginning in 1920. By this time, Adolf Hitler had assumed the title of Führer of the Nazi Party, replacing Anton Drexler who had been known as the more democratically elected Party Chairman. Hitler began to fashion the Nazi Party on fascist paramilitary lines and, to that end, the early Nazis of the 1920s would typically wear some sort of paramilitary uniform at party meetings and rallies. The most common of these were World War I uniforms with full medals. Also common were uniforms of the Freikorps as well as uniforms of veteran groups such as Der Stahlhelm. Nazi Party members would also mix components from all three types of uniforms with little to no standardization except a swastika armband worn on the left arm.
By 1921, the Nazi Party had taken its "Sports Detachment", consisting mostly of bodyguards Hitler used for his own protection, and had formed the Nazi stormtroopers, or the "Storm Detachment", which was shortened to be known as the SA. It was at this point that the very first SA titles came into being, although there were no established uniforms or insignia except a swastika armband worn on a paramilitary uniform.
  • David Littlejohn in The SA 1921-45: Hitler'sStormtroopers (Osprey publishing 1990):
A grey windjacket was popularly worn over either civilian or part-military attire. A swastika armband was the only constant feature. (...) Formal uniform was introduced in January 1923, consisting of a field-grey tunic and breeches and tan-coloured képi with the national cockade. Rank was signified by white bands around the brassard. The SA Standarte (Standard) also made its first appearance in January 1923; at this stage the letters NSDAP appeared on the front. (...) When the SA was re-activated in February 1925 it adopted an all-brown uniform. Rank was still, as previously, indicated on the brassard, but in November 1926 collar patches in different colours to denote different regions were introduced.


Photo copied from the US National Archives and Records Administration collection of material seized as American enemy property in Germany after World War II ended in 1945; "Miscellaneous Photographs, ca. 1919–ca. 1934" includes diverse subjects such as Hitler's grade school class, portraits of Hitler and NSDAP members, group photographs of SA and SS men, and architectural photos of significant buildings.

NARA: Unrestricted access and use. These photographs held by the National Archives are in the public domain.
Date circa 1925
date QS:P,+1925-00-00T00:00:00Z/9,P1480,Q5727902
Source https://catalog.archives.gov/id/162123301 (National Archives Catalog, National Archives and Records Administration, U.S.A.)
Author Uncredited author. NARA (US National Archives and Records Administration): Unrestricted access and use.
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This image shows (or resembles) a symbol that was used by the National Socialist (NSDAP/Nazi) government of Germany or an organization closely associated to it, or another party which has been banned by the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany.

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current00:25, 17 June 2023Thumbnail for version as of 00:25, 17 June 20234,674 × 3,500 (1.98 MB)Wolfmann (talk | contribs)Uploaded a work by Uncredited author. NARA (US National Archives and Records Administration): Unrestricted access and use. from https://catalog.archives.gov/id/162123301 (National Archives Catalog, National Archives and Records Administration, U.S.A.) with UploadWizard