SA Group? Which Organization?

[Steve Campbell]

I have this recently aquired four picture group showing the same man. Two are RAD, but I'm wondering about the other two. What is this uniform or group he is in? Is it SA, A veteran's organization?

[Steve Campbell]

This one looks looks like it's SA or an early political uniform. Both these shots are dated 1933. This is a nice shot.

[Steve Campbell]

Here are the two RAD shots.

[Bob Hritz]

The first two photos are of Stahlhelm members.

Bob Hritz

[Steve Campbell]

The first two photos are of Stahlhelm members.

Bob Hritz

I thought it might be something like that. They have that steel helmet badge on thier collars, but I don't see the Der Stahhelm logo on them. Also, these guys look young. I figured WW1 veterans would at least be in thier 30's by the time this was taken. Maybe they are.

[Steve Campbell]

RAD group shot. Looks like he's on the left, back row.

[HPL2008]

I thought it might be something like that. They have that steel helmet badge on thier collars, but I don't see the Der Stahhelm logo on them. Also, these guys look young. I figured WW1 veterans would at least be in thier 30's by the time this was taken. Maybe they are.

They don't have to be in their thirties; by far not all of the Stahlhelmbund's members were WWI vetarans.
This was only the case in the early period of the organization's existence, but it had already established a "junior" section called Jungstahlhelm as early as 1924, which accepted young men from 17 - 23 years of age, while its youth section, the Scharnhorstbund even contained youths aged from 13 - 17.
As a matter of fact, these men definitely are Jungstahlhelm members; they can be identified as such by the pin-on "sword" badges they are wearing. These photos were apparently taken around 1933, when the Jungstahlhelm was absorbed into the SA. By, the way, the sleeve shield clearly seen in the second photo is for the "Nordmark" Landesverband.
Great photos, by the way!

[Steve Campbell]

Thanks for the info HPL2008. These are nice photos for sure. Probably hard to find examples of the first one. Now, the second picture, is that SA?

[HPL2008]

Thanks for the info HPL2008. These are nice photos for sure. Probably hard to find examples of the first one. Now, the second picture, is that SA?

Technically, yes. As I said, they are Jungstahlhelm members during the transitional period where that branch was in the process of being absorbed into the SA.

There are certainly other members with more knowledge of this subject than me; but a bit simplified, it broke down like this:

In June 1933, the so-called Wehrstahlhelm (which consisted of the Jungstahlhelm, the Stahlhelm's sports units and all other Stahlhelm members below the age of 35) was subordinated and attached to the SA. [The rest of the Stahlhelm, made up of the so-called Kernstahlhelm, carried on for a while as the "NSDFB (Stahlhelm)" until, after further SA-influence, re-organisations, size reductions and the introduction of a new, somewhat less military-style uniform in 1934, it was eventually completely dissolved in November 1935.]

For a short transitional phase, these Wehrstahlhelm/SA members continued to wear their old Stahlhelm uniforms with SA-style swastika brassards and cap eagles while their units were re-organised and fully integrated into the SA. This photograph was taken during this transitional period.

By November 1933, the former Wehrstahlhelm's process of integration into the SA was completed and it had ceased to exist as such:
SA uniforms and insignia were worn, SA organizational structures, ranks etc. had been fully adopted and all ties to the Stahlhelm had been completely severed. The former Wehrstahlhelm units had become regular SA units.

[Steve Campbell]

That clears things up alot. Thanks. Glad I picked this group up.