Uniforms and insignia of the Sturmabteilung
The ranks and insignia of the Sturmabteilung (SA) were the first paramilitary rank system to be developed by the Nazi Party in 1920. The titles and phrases used by the SA were eventually adopted by several other Nazi paramilitary groups, among them the Schutzstaffel (SS). Early SS ranks were identical to the SA, since the SS was originally considered a sub-organization of the Sturmabteilung.
1920 – 1923
The first SA ranks were merely titles with no recognizable insignia. Typically, SA personnel would wear swastika armbands on a variety of paramilitary uniforms. At the start of the group’s existence, the SA had four primary ranks, those being:
- Oberster SA-Führer (Supreme SA-Leader)
- SA-Oberführer (SA-Senior Leader)
- SA-Führer (SA-Leader)
- SA-Mann (SA-Trooper)
1925 – 1928
In 1925, the SA was re-founded after having been disbanded following the failed Beer Hall Putsch in 1923. At that time, a simple rank insignia structure was developed for display on the collars of the SA’s brown uniforms.
| SA Rank | Translation | Collar Insignia |
| Gruppenführer | Group Leader | File:EarlySAGeneral.jpg |
| Oberführer | Senior Leader | File:EarlySABrig.jpg |
| Standartenführer | Regiment Leader | File:EarlySAColonel.jpg |
| Sturmführer | Storm Leader | No Insignia |
| Mann | Trooper | No Insignia |
1928 – 1932
In 1928, the SA had adopted an expanded system of rank titles and began displaying a version of collar insignia consisting of pips and collar bars to denote rank and position. The SA also introduced collar unit insignia, worn opposite the badge of rank, as well as a shoulder strap system to denote an SA member as a trooper, leader, or senior leader.
1932 – 1945
In 1932, the year before Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany, the SA adopted its final rank and insignia versions which would remain unchanged until the organization ceased to exist at the close of the Second World War.
| SA Rank | Translation | Army Equivalent | Shoulder Insignia | Collar Insignia (1932 - 1934) |
Collar Insignia (1934 - 1945) |
| Stabschef | Chief of Staff | Field Marshal | File:SAStabchef.jpg | File:SAPATCHROHM.jpg | File:SAStaffChief.gif |
SA Unit Insignia
The SA used uniform colors and collar patches to denote an SA member's unit ranging from the Sturmbann and Standarten level (Battalion and Regiment) to the SA-Gruppen (SA Division) to which an SA member belonged. From those ranking Obersturmbannführer and below, a unit collar patch was worn on the right collar, opposite the badge of the rank. The patch typically displayed a member’s battalion number followed by their regiment number. Variations to this system occurred if an SA member was assigned to a headquarters staff or some other special branch of the SA.
All SA members wore various uniform colors to indicate in which SA Division a member belonged. The following was the 1944 color scheme of SA uniforms:
- Red and Gold: SA Chief of Staff
- Red and White: SA Supreme Command
- Red: SA Group Staff
- Yellow: Schlesien Group
- Green: Thüringen Group
- Blue: Hesse Group
- Brown: Westmark Group
- Light Blue: Hochland Group
- Orange: Südwest Group
- Pink: Alpenland Group
- Light Blue (Gold Pip): Sudeten Group
- Black: Berlin-Brandenburg Group
Prior to 1932, when the Schutzstaffel wore the same uniform as the SA, black uniform colors also indicated membership in the SS.
See also
- Nazi party paramilitary ranks
- Ranks and insignia of the Nazi Party
- Ranks and insignia of the Schutzstaffel
- Ranks and insignia of the National Socialist Motor Corps
- Ranks and insignia of the Reichsluftschutzbund
- Comparative military ranks of World War II
References
- Bedurftig, Friedemann, and Christian Zenter. The Encyclopedia of the Third Reich. 1985.