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.

Graduates of the Reichsführerschule (national leader school) wore a sleeve insignia in the form of a Tyr rune, an upward pointing arrow, on the upper left sleeve, just above the armband. The insignia was only worn on the tunic and the brown shirt, but not on the greatcoat. The arrow is black, with an inner white and outer red border.