GERMAN WWII SPORTS ARMBAND -
The Sturmabteilung, which translates to stormtrooper, abbreviated SA, functioned as a
paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party. It played a key role in Adolf Hitler's rise
to power in the 1920s and 1930s.
The SA was also the first Nazi paramilitary group to develop pseudo-military titles for
bestowal upon its members. The SA ranks would be adopted by several other Nazi Party groups,
chief among them the SS. The SA was very important to Adolf Hitler's rise to power, but was
largely irrelevant after he took control of Germany in 1933; it was effectively superseded
by the SS after the Night of the Long Knives.
This is a WWII German Sports armband. It was earned by individuals that complete a series
of tests. In order to maintain the award the person would have to retake the test every
year. It was worn on the left sleeve of the
uniform.
The design of the armband consisted of two piece construction. Where the main body was of red
color and made of cotton.
A white circle is sewn to the center. The Sports emblem is embroided directly into the circle.
Consisting of a wreath with a sword through the center. A swastika is placed behind the
blade of the sword.
The armband featured here also has the RZM issue tag. In very good condition.
High quality manufacturing.
Paper RZM tags were placed in multiple types of armbands as a means to certify that the
item complied with the standard manufacturing proactices set by the Reich. The tags
were glued to the inside of the armband.
The RZM tags display the
RZM logo in one corner followed buy the word Berfteller. The next line has the character
M4 printed. A blue ink stamp follows. This is the manufacturer code.
A serial number is stamped in black ink letters. Refer to our section on
RZM codes
for further information on the topic. Note that the colors of the stamps and
the printed material are different. This is a characteristic of authentic
tags.
This page is a recognition and identification guide for WWII German armbands. Multiple
detailed photos of a specific sample are provided. Descriptions point out clearly defined points
that should be noted.
One of the most commonly asked questions is "How much is my WWII German armband worth?". A price
guide is included here to address this question. The value of the armbands is reviewed
over a period of several years. A trend can be observed. The present worth of the German
armbands in the collector's market is illustrated.
This service is provided free of charge to the visitor/enthusiast courtesy of
MilitaryItems.com,
a company dedicated to the preservation of military history and to providing quality military
antiques and collectibles to museums, institutions and the general public.
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This armband may currently be reproduced.
It is becoming more difficult to be able to tell the fake ones from the real ones because the quality
of the reproductions is improving. The collector must become familiarized with the construction style
and materials employed in the manufacturing of this armband. Attention to the details is critical in
order to be able to determine the authenticity of the armband.
If you have an interest is seeing other armbands of the Third Reich, you can do so by going
to our WWII German Armbands
identification guide. Where we cover Heer (Army), Navy (Kriegsmarine),
Air Force (Luftwaffe), political and civilian organizations.
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