Stahlhelm Badge

[Ken Jasper]

Does anyone have any pictures of the Stahlhelm Traditions Badge in wear or know where they could be found?

[VerKuilen Ager]

For a quick look, a poor picture of Franz Seldt and a compatriot wearing the thing can be seen on page 25 of Angolia's For Fuhrer and Fatherland, Volume 1. Since the badge was banned from uniform wear in 1935, it had little chance to show up in photos.

While you're looking in Angolia, note that he repeats in three places that this badge was marked by Steinhauer & Luck (which is totally incorrect), an error made even by Kleitmann. A bag of extra salty Blockbuster popcorn to the prizewinner who can name the true meaning of the logotype on the back of these badges.*

*Rick is disqualified since I already told him the answer. Beside, he only like extra buttery.

[Ken Jasper]

Is the STH just the logo of the organization?

[Frank Heukemes]

Histaria,

We are still waiting for that answer, apparently only you and Rick know....what is STH?

Cheers, Frank

[VerKuilen Ager]

Sorry for leaving you hanging. I went Christmas shopping and forgot what the heck I was doing.

The STH was the logo of "Der Stahl Hof", the Stahlhelm's own little PX for members. They sold everything from plaques of Franz Seldt to trinkets for the sweetheart. I wouldn't be surprised if the Nazis got the idea for their RZM from the STH.

[Ken Jasper]

Thanks for the answer re STH. Do you any idea where it was located and any idea who made the badges and why some were 935 silver and others plated?

[VerKuilen Ager]

Like all Stahlhelm activities, the STH was centered in the founding district of Magdeburg. Don't know the true maker of the badges, and we'd probably need the contract records to find out.

This is speculation, but the different badge qualities probably had to do with the ability of the recipient or awarding Landesverbande to afford the things. Somebody had to pay for the badges. Now let's suppose that the Landesverbande paid the bill and shelled out for the engraving. Larger districts could run up quite a bill. In some cases it appears that they picked the silver version for lower numbered (older) members, and non-silver type for the later members. This doesn't seem to have followed in other LVs. Perhaps poorer LVs made their members pay for their own badge. Some folks might have opted for a cheaper version.