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 first Marine-SA unit was founded in 1930. Members wore a navy blue visor cap with a silver national eagle emblem within an oakleaf wreath. Initially, the wreath was either in silver or gold, depending on the group or district colour. However, the silver wreath was discontinued in late 1933.
For a brief time in late 1934 and early 1935, the eagle’s position changed: its head and wings extended above the wreath. This was rectified shortly after.

The oakleaf wreath was either embroidered or made of metal, while the eagle emblem was usually made of metal. Fully embroidered eagle and wreath combinations exist, but are very rare.

Beginning in 1937, the new larger national eagle emblem M36 was used in combination with the wreath.

On May 23, 1938, a gold-coloured eagle emblem was introduced. At this time, enlisted Marine-SA members began to wear a wreath with an SA cockade in the centre, with the eagle above on the cap top as a second insignia.