Information about the organization Sturm Abteilung (SA).
The SA was the first paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party. The SA was founded on November 4, 1921 at a rally in a beer hall in Munich. Membership in the SA was voluntary and most of its followers were from the lower middle social class. Many of its leaders as well as subordinates were of questionable character and of a type that took great pleasure in brawls and other rowdy activities. The Storm Troops were originally organized to serve as a protective force for Nazi Party meetings; they soon evolved into a dangerous paramilitary terrorist organization. At over 100,000 men in 1930, the SA was larger than the German Armed Forces of the same period and continued to expand as the Nazis gained control of the government. Shortly before the Rem Putsch in 1934, there were approximately four and a half million SA members.
In 1939, the SA numbered three million, but most of these members were later incorporated into the armed forces because of military manpower requirements. The SS and NSCK were originally units of the SA, but became independent after 1934. In the early 1930s, the SA had high hopes of forming a “Brown Army” by uniting all German armed forces under the leadership and control of the SA. These grandiose dreams of Ernst Röhm, the leader of the SA, led to the organization’s decline and ultimately to his own death.
Hitler saw his Stormtroopers only as an additional political force, not as a primary military body. Rehm soon alienated the three leaders of the Nazi empire-Hitler, Himmler, and Goering-with his aspirations for power. In the early morning hours of June 30, 1934, Hitler accused Rehm of treason and ordered his arrest on charges of planning an SA mutiny. Upon leaving Rehm’s hotel room, Hitler ordered a guard to place a pistol in the room so that Rehm could conveniently use it to commit suicide. Rem stated : “If I am to be killed, let Adolf do it himself!” He was shot dead by two of his subordinate SA officers afterward. In addition to Rehm, the SS and police detained over one hundred and fifty other high-ranking SA officials and lined them up against a wall in Berlin to be shot.
Himmler, Hitler, SA chief Ernst Röhm and an unidentified SS staff officer in a Berlin theater. The photograph was taken shortly before Hitler ordered Röhm shot as a traitor.
After Röhm’s death, Viktor Lutze was appointed his successor and the SA declined in political importance and party status, while the SS expanded to gain absolute power. The SA was subsequently assigned tasks that dealt primarily with training, and in 1939 Hitler made the SA responsible for all military training given to German citizens before or after their period of service in branches of the regular armed forces. In addition to training all civilians who were rejected by the military because of physical disabilities, the SA was charged with providing marksmanship training. Later in the war, special SA regiments (Standarten) were formed for specific tasks, which included: mountain troops, cavalry, communications, engineers, medical and naval elements. The SA also worked closely with the SS and police in guarding military installations, strategic roads and bridges, prisoners of war, border patrols, and a number of other varied tasks useful to the war effort.
Later in the war, special SA regiments (Standarten) were formed for specific tasks, which included: mountain troops, cavalry, communications, engineers, medical and naval elements. The SA also worked closely with the SS and police in guarding military installations, strategic roads and bridges, prisoners of war, border patrols, and a number of other varied tasks useful to the war effort.
The idea for the SA dagger was conceived in 1933 as an aid to improve the financially depressed industry in Solingen. Once the design was officially adopted, these daggers were made by the millions before the end of the war halted production. The very first of the SA daggers were made without the small SA insignia at the top of the hilt. This was changed within a few months and the SA insignia was added to the eagle and swastika already on the hilt.
The SS, NSKK and NPEA daggers were copied from the SA dagger with modifications to the blade etching, sheath color and hilt for the SS and NPEA. The standard dagger was carried by all SA classes with the exception of the metal chain pendant, which was added for select high-ranking SA officials. Several varieties of wood were used for the brown hilt (walnut, maple and pear).
The metal scabbards were brown or copper colored and were made with enamel paint or anodized finish. The metal fittings on the dagger and scabbard were nickel or chrome plated. By the end of the war, material shortages necessitated the use of aluminum.
All SA blades were engraved with the motto Alles für Deutschland (All for Germany).
Most blades have a manufacturer’s trademark or RZM branding with a company code number, and there are some examples where both markings are found. Occasionally some SA members had their unit name, date of service or other significant date engraved on the mouth of the scabbard or crossguard. These inscriptions were purely sentimental and unofficial.
High-ranking SA officials were provided with a richer version of the standard dirk. These dirks usually had a cross with an oak leaf pattern, often with an embossed head on the hilt and a leather scabbard. The daggers were complete with a double metal pendant consisting of rectangular links with a swastika. Damascus steel blade. Very rare.
In addition to the above, there was an honor dagger for high-ranking SA officials. It was a standard SA dagger with an oak leaf crossguard. The blade was regular steel, not Damascus. This dagger came complete on a plain leather pendant, not a metal one.
Both Rehm and Victor Latze, Rehm’s successor as SA chief, authorized large numbers of daggers with a message. As evidenced by special orders, Rehm authorized the awarding of over 135,000 personalized daggers to long-serving SA and SS members. These were standard daggers with blades engraved with the inscription In Herzlicher Freundschaft Ernst Röhm (“In Herzlicher Freundschaft Ernst Röhm”). Only a very small number of these etched blades survived Hitler’s directive.
SA dagger with Remus inscription.
Three main types of SA dagger production are distinguished:
early 1933-1935
middle 1936-1938 (double labeling likely before 1940)
late 1939-1942
Early period
The details of the hilt and scabbard were made of nickel. The motto was applied by deep etching. On the lower part of the crossguard were the letter designations of the SA units (Ns-Lower Saxony, No- North Sea), usually applied by hand. The scabbards were anodized and covered with a layer of protective zaponlac. The execution of the daggers was characterized by very high quality and cleanliness. The pendants were unmarked.
Middle Period
The materials of manufacture remained the same. The letter designations of the SA were no longer applied to the cross. The performance was still good. The RZM marking was already required on the pendant. Different materials could be used, e.g. nickel-plated steel scabbard, niisilber crosspieces, aluminum emblem. RZM controlled production, and often there was double marking. Double markings were also rare from 1939 to 1940. And 1940 there was only marking by RZM-number.
Late period
Quality deteriorated during this period. The top nut and sheath device at this time were mostly made of nickel-plated iron. Crosses, emblems and CA tabs could be made of aluminum or zinc. The manufacturer’s markings were discontinued and replaced by an RZM number. The etching became less deep. The fit of the parts became less qualitative, the cleanliness of the notch for the eagle emblem and the SA logo disappeared, as well as the correctness of installation. The centerline also became indistinct. But the RZM mark was obligatory. Details of the hilt and scabbard appeared from different materials (zinc, iron, ductile iron).
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One of the strongest opponents of the European saber in hand-to-hand combat was undoubtedly the Turkish yatagan. This colorful weapon with a tibia hilt and a reverse-curved blade is memorable to anyone who has ever seen it. It is considered a true symbol of the Ottoman Empire: the Janissary Corps, the stronghold of the throne …
This dagger was made in the famous city of Solingen by Karl Eickhorn around 1933-1934. The handle is made of white plastic, with transverse grooves that are twisted with gilded twisted wire. The handle head is made of handmade gilded brass in the form of a rope knot. The cross-bar is made with relief ornaments …
Dirk SA model 1933
Information about the organization Sturm Abteilung (SA).
The SA was the first paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party. The SA was founded on November 4, 1921 at a rally in a beer hall in Munich. Membership in the SA was voluntary and most of its followers were from the lower middle social class. Many of its leaders as well as subordinates were of questionable character and of a type that took great pleasure in brawls and other rowdy activities. The Storm Troops were originally organized to serve as a protective force for Nazi Party meetings; they soon evolved into a dangerous paramilitary terrorist organization. At over 100,000 men in 1930, the SA was larger than the German Armed Forces of the same period and continued to expand as the Nazis gained control of the government. Shortly before the Rem Putsch in 1934, there were approximately four and a half million SA members.
In 1939, the SA numbered three million, but most of these members were later incorporated into the armed forces because of military manpower requirements. The SS and NSCK were originally units of the SA, but became independent after 1934. In the early 1930s, the SA had high hopes of forming a “Brown Army” by uniting all German armed forces under the leadership and control of the SA. These grandiose dreams of Ernst Röhm, the leader of the SA, led to the organization’s decline and ultimately to his own death.
Hitler saw his Stormtroopers only as an additional political force, not as a primary military body. Rehm soon alienated the three leaders of the Nazi empire-Hitler, Himmler, and Goering-with his aspirations for power. In the early morning hours of June 30, 1934, Hitler accused Rehm of treason and ordered his arrest on charges of planning an SA mutiny. Upon leaving Rehm’s hotel room, Hitler ordered a guard to place a pistol in the room so that Rehm could conveniently use it to commit suicide. Rem stated : “If I am to be killed, let Adolf do it himself!” He was shot dead by two of his subordinate SA officers afterward. In addition to Rehm, the SS and police detained over one hundred and fifty other high-ranking SA officials and lined them up against a wall in Berlin to be shot.
After Röhm’s death, Viktor Lutze was appointed his successor and the SA declined in political importance and party status, while the SS expanded to gain absolute power. The SA was subsequently assigned tasks that dealt primarily with training, and in 1939 Hitler made the SA responsible for all military training given to German citizens before or after their period of service in branches of the regular armed forces. In addition to training all civilians who were rejected by the military because of physical disabilities, the SA was charged with providing marksmanship training. Later in the war, special SA regiments (Standarten) were formed for specific tasks, which included: mountain troops, cavalry, communications, engineers, medical and naval elements. The SA also worked closely with the SS and police in guarding military installations, strategic roads and bridges, prisoners of war, border patrols, and a number of other varied tasks useful to the war effort.
Later in the war, special SA regiments (Standarten) were formed for specific tasks, which included: mountain troops, cavalry, communications, engineers, medical and naval elements. The SA also worked closely with the SS and police in guarding military installations, strategic roads and bridges, prisoners of war, border patrols, and a number of other varied tasks useful to the war effort.
The idea for the SA dagger was conceived in 1933 as an aid to improve the financially depressed industry in Solingen. Once the design was officially adopted, these daggers were made by the millions before the end of the war halted production. The very first of the SA daggers were made without the small SA insignia at the top of the hilt. This was changed within a few months and the SA insignia was added to the eagle and swastika already on the hilt.
The SS, NSKK and NPEA daggers were copied from the SA dagger with modifications to the blade etching, sheath color and hilt for the SS and NPEA. The standard dagger was carried by all SA classes with the exception of the metal chain pendant, which was added for select high-ranking SA officials. Several varieties of wood were used for the brown hilt (walnut, maple and pear).
The metal scabbards were brown or copper colored and were made with enamel paint or anodized finish. The metal fittings on the dagger and scabbard were nickel or chrome plated. By the end of the war, material shortages necessitated the use of aluminum.
Most blades have a manufacturer’s trademark or RZM branding with a company code number, and there are some examples where both markings are found. Occasionally some SA members had their unit name, date of service or other significant date engraved on the mouth of the scabbard or crossguard. These inscriptions were purely sentimental and unofficial.
High-ranking SA officials were provided with a richer version of the standard dirk. These dirks usually had a cross with an oak leaf pattern, often with an embossed head on the hilt and a leather scabbard. The daggers were complete with a double metal pendant consisting of rectangular links with a swastika. Damascus steel blade. Very rare.
Both Rehm and Victor Latze, Rehm’s successor as SA chief, authorized large numbers of daggers with a message. As evidenced by special orders, Rehm authorized the awarding of over 135,000 personalized daggers to long-serving SA and SS members. These were standard daggers with blades engraved with the inscription In Herzlicher Freundschaft Ernst Röhm (“In Herzlicher Freundschaft Ernst Röhm”). Only a very small number of these etched blades survived Hitler’s directive.
Three main types of SA dagger production are distinguished:
Early period
The details of the hilt and scabbard were made of nickel. The motto was applied by deep etching. On the lower part of the crossguard were the letter designations of the SA units (Ns-Lower Saxony, No- North Sea), usually applied by hand. The scabbards were anodized and covered with a layer of protective zaponlac. The execution of the daggers was characterized by very high quality and cleanliness. The pendants were unmarked.
Middle Period
The materials of manufacture remained the same. The letter designations of the SA were no longer applied to the cross. The performance was still good. The RZM marking was already required on the pendant. Different materials could be used, e.g. nickel-plated steel scabbard, niisilber crosspieces, aluminum emblem. RZM controlled production, and often there was double marking. Double markings were also rare from 1939 to 1940. And 1940 there was only marking by RZM-number.
Late period
Quality deteriorated during this period. The top nut and sheath device at this time were mostly made of nickel-plated iron. Crosses, emblems and CA tabs could be made of aluminum or zinc. The manufacturer’s markings were discontinued and replaced by an RZM number. The etching became less deep. The fit of the parts became less qualitative, the cleanliness of the notch for the eagle emblem and the SA logo disappeared, as well as the correctness of installation. The centerline also became indistinct. But the RZM mark was obligatory. Details of the hilt and scabbard appeared from different materials (zinc, iron, ductile iron).
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