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.

Pionier-SA (SA Engineers) members who held an SA engineer license were allowed to wear a sleeve insignia in the form of a dark brown oval patch with a crossed spade and pickaxe in silver thread. It was introduced in 1939 and worn on the lower left sleeve.