SA Unit Collar Patch

[uknews]

Hi, would it be normal for there to be an RZM label on a SA collar patch with hand applied chain-stitched unit markings? Thanks, Mark.

[Bob Coleman]

Mark-
The Presence Of An R Z M Tag Would Depend On When The Tab Was Manufactured. A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words.

[uknews]

Only one picture Bob. http://www.theoldbrigade.co.uk/shop/...h=29603&phqu=1
Cheers, Mark.

[laurens]

This tab is 100% and could have a RZM-tag of course. Reservestandarte 214 was from Lüneburg and part of Gruppe Niedersachsen.

Best,

Laurens

[luftwaffe blue]

I have bought SA tabs from TheOldBrigade in the past and found them all in order..no worries

[Bob Coleman]

I agree with my counterparts. Although R Z M tags wee attached to the unit side tab of the set, there was no regulation that they remain in place for eternity. As a uniform or brown shirt was worn, it is natural that they either denigrated or removed during laundering.

[Von Hoth]

I just read how the Brown shirts were chosen. A large number of brown uniforms were recieved by accident bound for Africa. so the SA used them. (we are talking very early days)

this is according to that large history book "The SS, order of the Death's Head".

that book is really informative with information I've never seen in other sources.

[Erich B.]

There are a number of stories about how and why the brownshirt was chosen, but it appears the Africa shipment tale is not true. It was also said that there were a large number of bolts of khaki cotton twill that were intended to be made into tropical shirts or tunics that were purchased cheaply and then made available for the SA to use for their uniforms.
Erich

[sjl]

RZM manufacturing regulations actually show how chainstitching should be applied, so a tag with a chainstitched tab is perfectly OK.

[Von Hoth]

There are a number of stories about how and why the brownshirt was chosen, but it appears the Africa shipment tale is not true. It was also said that there were a large number of bolts of khaki cotton twill that were intended to be made into tropical shirts or tunics that were purchased cheaply and then made available for the SA to use for their uniforms.
Erich

According to Heinz Hohne on page 24 in "The order of the death's head"

it is true..... and goes as follows.

page 24....

"The brown shirt had become the official party uniform by accident. A certain SA commander named Rossbach had been in Austria and there recieved a large consignment of brown shirts, originally intended for German troops in East Africa. Rossbach took them back to germany in 1924. With the brown shirt the SA wore a brown tie, the SS, a black tie.

Heinze Hohne's reference is the following: Bennecke: op cit, p. 125


How is this untrue?

[Erich B.]

Hello!
I'll look up Bennecke's quote (I have his book on the SA) and I'll have to look around to find the other sources regarding the use of the shirts. Apparently, a lot of individuals tried to take credit for the introduction of the brownshirt, (as well as other things) and I believe there were some articles in 'Der SA Mann' from the 30s that tried to get the true story of who actually introduced them. I know that in addition to the SA and later the SS, the Rot Kämpferbund and a few other Kampfbunds wore identical shirts, as well as the Jungsturm, etc. They were somewhat different than those of the SA.
I'll try to find some additional info for you.

Erich