Original Items: Only One Set Available. This is a very nice pair of German WWII Sports Awards, which was brought back from the European theater by a USGI after the war was concluded. Many solders traded these on the way back, and would end up with a pocket full of various different collectible items. These came from one such set, which had been separated into various small lots of the same type of badges.

This lovely set includes:

- One German WWII SA Sports Badge. These were available in three grades, Bronze, Silver, and Gold, and we believe this to be the Silver Type, however it is quite worn, and could possibly be another type, as they all were made from plated steel, as this example is. It is marked on the back with E. SCHNEIDER / LÜDENSCHEID on the arms of the swas, for maker Ernst Schneider of Lüdenscheid, a city with a large garment accessories industry.

- One German WWII DRL Sports Badge. In very good condition with a functional pinback. It is marked on the back with WERNSTEIN JENA for Hermann Wernstein of Jena-Lobstadt, a known maker of this badge. It has a lovely patina on the brass, showing wear from age and use.

A wonderful totally genuine set perfect for the German Medal and Insignia collector, especially those who appreciate some real period wear. Ready to research and display!

The SA Sports Badge was a decoration of NSDAP Germany that was issued between the years 1933 and 1945. It was a political version of the much more generic German Sports Badge, which was also issued in great numbers by the NSDAPs. At its center was a 57mm high Roman broad sword, superimposed over a NSDAP swas. It was encircled by an wreath of oak leaves. It was a pin-back badge. There was a cloth version, as well.

The SA Sports Badge was instituted on 28 November 1933 by then SA chief Ernst Röhm. It was originally only issued in bronze through the year 1935. The on 15 February 1935, jugend decreed that the badge be officially recognized. It was thereafter issued in three grades (bronze, silver, and gold). No longer was the physical fitness badge to be awarded only to SA members, but to youth of all German military and paramilitary organizations. Originally the badge grade was awarded on degrees of "proficiency". Then in 1936, a points system was established. In 1937, the requirement for the holder of the award was upgraded. Each recipient had to pass an annual proficiency test to retain the badge.

On 19 January 1939, AH changed the name of the badge from SA-Sportabzeichen (SA Sports Badge) to SA-Wehrabzeichen (SA-Defence Badge). AH challenged all able-bodied boys age 16 and up to compete for the award. Older military men were also encouraged to obtain it. The badge was one of the few political decorations that the armed forces allowed to freely be displayed on a military uniform. By December 1936, one million had been awarded. Then by the end of 1943, over 2.5 million had been awarded.

The physical fitness program was divided into three sections, gymnastics, defensive sports and agricultural service. The badge was to be worn on the left breast, under the Iron Cross.

Grades:
- The Bronze SA Sport/Defence Badge was awarded to those who had successfully passed an educational and physical programme.

- The Silver SA Sport/Defence Badge was awarded to those who held the Bronze badge for five years and had participated and passed the annual requirements and also having passed the age of 35.

- The Gold SA Sport/Defence Badge was awarded to those who held the Silver badge for six years and successfully participated in the annual requirements and were over 40 years old

The German Sports Badge, also known as the "German National Sports Badge" was first created in the year 1913 and is one of the oldest awards of Germany still in active circulation. The badge has an oak leaf wreath around the overlapping letters DRA, standing for Deutscher Reichsausschuss für Leibesübungen (German National Committee for Physical Education). At first the German Sports Badge was only issued to men for the completion of various physical tests. In 1921 it was renamed to Deutsches Turn- und Sportabzeichen and women were eligible as well.

After the NSDAP takeover in 1933, the design of the badge remained basically the same but a swas was added at its base. Since 1935, the letters "DRL" (Deutscher Reichsbund für Leibesübungen) replaced the letters "DRA". On 1 July 1937 the award was renamed to Deutsche Reichsauszeichnung für Leibesübungen and obtained the status as an official recognised decoration of the state. In 1938, the Austrian Sports Badge was incorporated in the German Sports badge. The last tests for the Deutsche Reichsauszeichnung für Leibesübungen were held in 1944.