Original Item. Only One Available. This is a very nice German WWII Era Presentation "Table Medal", a large award usually displayed on a shelf or table, as the name implies. The award itself measures approximately 90mm (3.54in) wide by 100mm (3.94in) tall, and appears to be made from zinc alloy with a matte silver wash, now oxidized.

The obverse features a central raised Sturmabteilung-Wehrmannschaft (Storm Division Military Team) insignia, showing the NSDAP Swas (hook cross) inside an oak leaf wreath, with a sword laying on top. This organization was the military training defense group of the SA and was formed in 1939. The purpose of this organization was to provide military training to SA members before and after their military service. By May, 1944, over 3 million Germans had participated in this program.

Surrounding the insignia in "Runic" style text is SA-GRUPPE NORDSEE / FÜR LEISTUNG, translating to "SA Group North Sea - For Performance". Nordsee was the Administrative region on the North Sea Coast encompassing the area around Oldenberg, including Bremen as one of the major cities.

The rear of the table medal has a detailed inscription stating the reason for the award, also in the "Runic" style text:

WEHRKAMPFTAGE
BREMEN
7.-9. JULI 1939

20 X 1/2 RUNDE
HINDERNISSTAFFEL
2. SIEGER
SA-PIONIERSTANDARTE 10

This translates roughly to:

MILITARY COMPETITION DAYS
BREMEN
7-9 JULY 1939

20 X 1/2 ROUND
OBSTACLE RELAY
2ND WINNER
SA PIONEER STANDARD 10

The SA had yearly sports competitions and other events, and medals such as these were given out yearly during the pre-war era. Once the war began, most of these events ceased.

The table medal is in very good condition, with a lovely patina, and shows just a bit of denting and damage on the corners. Ready research and display!

The S.A.-
The Sturmabteilung, literally Storm Detachment, was the NSDAP Party's original paramilitary. It played a significant role in Adolf AH's rise to power in the 1920s and 1930s. Its primary purposes were providing protection for NSDAP rallies and assemblies, disrupting the meetings of opposing parties, fighting against the paramilitary units of the opposing parties, especially the Red Front Fighters League (Rotfrontkämpferbund) of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD), and intimidating Romani, trade unionists, and, especially, Jews – for instance, during the NSDAP boycott of Jewish businesses.

The SA were also called the "Brownshirts" (Braunhemden) from the color of their uniform shirts, similar to Benito Mussolini's blackshirts. The SA developed pseudo-military titles for its members, with ranks that were later adopted by several other NSDAP Party groups, chief amongst them the Schutzstaffel (SS), which originated as a branch of the SA before being separated. Brown-colored shirts were chosen as the SA uniform because a large number of them were cheaply available after World War I, having originally been ordered during the war for colonial troops posted to Germany's former African colonies.

The SA became disempowered after Adolf AH ordered the "blood purge" of 1934. This event became known as the Night of the Long Knives (die Nacht der langen Messer). The SA continued to exist, but was effectively superseded by the SS, although it was not formally dissolved until after NSDAP Germany's final capitulation to the Allies in 1945.