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.

Members of the Nachrichten-SA (Signals SA) that held the SA signal license wore a special trade insignia. It was introduced in 1935, a dark brown oval cloth badge with a red downward pointing bolt of lightning. It was worn on the lower left sleeve.

The insignia with the red bolt of lightning was discontinued in August of 1939. Instead, an insignia with a silver bolt of lightning for those with a wireless, telephone, or messenger dog handler license was introduced, as well as an insignia with a gold bolt of lightning for those that held multiple of these licenses.