The SA 1921-45: Hitler's Stormtroopers

Osprey Men at Arms #220

by David Littlejohn

In 1919 Adolf Hitler joined the tiny German Workers' Party (DAP) in Munich, becoming its leader the following year and adding 'National Socialist' to its title. Thus the NSDAP, popularly known as the Nazi Party, was born. All political parties had strong-arm squads to protect their meetings from disruption by rivals, and the NSDAP was no exception. In August 1921 ex-naval Lieutenant Hans Ulrich Klintzsch took command of the NSDAP's 'Defence and Propaganda Troop' which, the following month, was renamed the SA (Sturmabteilung = Storm Detachment). David Littlejohn's fine text examines the history, uniforms and insignia of Hitler's stormtroopers prior to and during World War II.

Genres: World War II, War, Nonfiction, History

48 pages, Paperback

First published March 22, 1990

Reviews

[Michael Dorosh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overall look at the SA, with a basic history of the organization and some eye-opening facts and figures (as the history of the SA is traced all the way through 1945 - far from fading into obscurity after the death of Röhm in 1934), with equal time presented to "Evolution of the SA Uniform" (which includes insignia), history, and a description of sub-organizations.

Would have benefited from full colour treatment of the insignia sections, but that would have taken away from the lovely full colour plates by Volstad.

Insignia portions of the text are well done, with physical descriptions accompanied by regulations for such things as long-service chevrons and stripes - good overall look at this very complicated subject. Many details of insignia given, another example are the summaries of collar patches and piping, which describe the abbreviations worn on the patches and which districts they correspond to.

Good look at history and organization, with special emphasis placed on uniforms.