History

The SA (Sturmabteilung, storm detachment) was established in 1921 as a paramilitary protection squad of the NSDAP. The members of the SA were tasked with protecting party leaders at political rallies and meetings from the paramilitary forces of the opposing political factions. The SA was first utilised on November 4, 1921 at a meeting held in Munich’s "Hofbräuhaus" beer hall. The organisation was banned after the failed putsch in 1923 and was reactivated in February 1925.

The SA Feldherrnhalle Dagger was introduced in late 1937 and it was worn by senior leaders of the SA-Standarte Feldherrnhalle and staff members of SA Chief of Staff Viktor Lutze. SA-Standarte Feldherrnhalle was an elite security force that was founded by Lutze in 1936.

The first of these daggers was presented to Lutze in 1937 by SA-Gruppenführer Reimann, who represented the officers of the Standarte. In July of 1938, Lutze presented one of these daggers to Italian General Russo who was visiting Munich. During the visit, select Feldherrnhalle leaders and staff members were permitted to wear the dagger at formal events.

The dagger’s blade features the SA motto “Alles für Deutschland” (everything for Germany) on the obverse and the trademark of Carl Eickhorn on the reverse near the hilt. The hilt was manufactured out of wood and comes in a variety of colours including brown, black, and white. The lower crossguard features the SA emblem and the upper crossguard features an SA-pattern eagle with downturned wings. The hilt fittings are either aluminium or gold washed.

The scabbard was manufactured out of a silver-coloured metal and features two bands that are embossed with an oak leaf design. A detachable cloth hanger attaches to the bands with two silver hoops. The obverse of the cloth hanger is metallic gold with brown stripes and the reverse is backed with brown velvet.

The dagger was designed by an artist named Kohler, although the design is often attributed to Paul Casberg. Carl Eickhorn was the sole manufacturer of the dagger.

The original Feldherrnhalle Dagger that was presented to Lutze had a gold-coloured scabbard and fittings.

Some sources claim that only fifty of these daggers were produced.