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Sturm Abteilung (SA) Collar Tab and Shoulder Board Identification Guide

This is an identification guide for the many different Collar Tabs worn during the 3rd Reich period by the SA. To the best of our knowledge, all the examples shown are original pre-1945 manufacture. If anyone has questions or suggestions, please contact Vern@GermanDaggers.com.

© 2000, 2010, 2013 by GermanDaggers.com

Early SA Collar Tabs - 1926-1934

Contemporary photos show collar tabs being worn in the 1926-29 period. Most consisted of two oakleaves, identified as "Captain", or one oak leaf, identified as "Leiutenant". Other collar tabs are present, but the rank is unknown. A rank chart with 18 levels and a color chart for the SA Groups was in place for the SA by 1929. Enforcement was up to the local Group and variations have been noted. The chart and collar tab examples are as follows -





Standartenführer - Sachsen



Truppführer - SudWest - Baden



Scharführer - Nordsee



SA Mann - Hamberg


SA 1st Regulation and 2nd Regulation Collar Tabs

The 1st Regulation of 1934 retained the 18 rank levels and standardized Group colors and piping. Enlisted and NCO tabs were piped in the Group colors, and Officers were piped in the Insignia color (silver or gold). In June 1934, piping was removed from the Enlisted tabs. The 2nd Regulation of 1939 added two levels to the rank structure and changed the tab piping colors. Officers continued to be piped in the Insignia color (silver or gold) but NCOs and Enlisted would also be piped in the Insignia color (white/silver or yellow/gold).

Group Colors - where 2 or more Groups have the same color, the piping and/or insginia colors will be different.





Bright Red
Stabschef, Group Staff



Carmine
Obersten SA Führung, Feldherrnhalle



Dark Wine Red
Ostland, Westfalen



Black
Niederrhein, Berlin & Brandenburg



Rose Red
Ostmark



Apple Green
Pommern, Thüringen



Dark Brown
Westmark, Niedersachsen



Emerald Green
Sachsen, Nordmark



Orange Yellow
Mitte, Südwest



Sulpfur Yellow
Schlesien, Franken



Light Blue
Hochland, Bayerische Ostmark



Steel Green
Nordsee, Kurpfalz



Navy Blue
Hansa, Hessen, SA Marine



Red Brown
Donau, Alpland



Blue Gray
Sudeten, Weichsel



Cornflower Blue
Warthe


SA Rank Collar Tabs





SA-Stabschef



Obergruppenführer



Gruppenführer



Brigadeführer



Oberführer



Standartenführer



Obersturmbannführer



Sturmbannführer



Sturmhauptführer



Obersturmführer



Sturmführer



Haupttruppführer - added 1939



Obertruppführer



Truppführer



Oberscharführer



Scharführer



Rottenführer



Sturmmann - Obersturmmann after 1939



SA Mann - SA Sturmmann after 1939



Anwarter (SA Candidate) - added 1942


SA Shoulder Boards

Group Colors are used on early shoulder boards for the lowest rank, and as an underlay for upper ranks with the insignia color (gold or silver) used for the braid. Shoulder Boards were used for several ranks.





Brigadeführer to Obergruppenführer
Until 1940



Standarteführer to Oberberführer
Until 1940



Sturmführer to Obersturmführer
Until 1940



Mann to Obertruppführer
Until 1940



SA Marine
Until 1940



Sanitats Strumfuhrer
Pommern, Thüringen



Oberführer to Obergruppenführer
1940-1945



Sturmbannführer to Standartenführer
1940-1945



Sturmführer to Hauptsturmführer
1940-1945



Mann to Hauptruppführer
1940-1945



Wehrmanner - military student
1939-1945

















SA Regulation Collar Tabs




Obersturmmann
3rd Sturm, 135th Standarte - Sachsen



Scharführer
Sturmbann 2, 415th Standarte - Sachsen



Obersturmführer
Sturmbann 2, 109th Standarte - Südwest



Obersturmbannführer
88th Standarte Staff - Hessen



Rottenführer
61th Brigade Staff - Westmark



SA Mann
Sturmbann 1, 76th Brigade Staff - Berlin/Brandenburg



Sturmführer
21st Reserve Sturm, 52nd Standarte - Hansa



Oberscharführer
Sturmbann 4, 32nd Reserve Standarte - Hessen



SA Mann
13th Reserve Standarte - Berlin/Brandenburg



Obertruppführer
7th Motorized Sturm, 11th Standarte - Berlin/Brandenburg



SA Mann
1st Sturm, 86th Motorized Standarte - Hochland



SA Mann
1st Signals Sturm, 160th Standarte - Berlin/Brandenburg



Obersturmmann
Signals Sturmbann 2, 65th Standarte - Südwest



Obersturmmann
41st Signals Sturm, 7th Reserve Standarte - Berlin/Brandenburg



Oberscharführer
14th Sturm, 9th SA Marine Standarte - Nordsee



Sturmhauptführer
SA Marine Group Staff - Nordsee



Sturmführer
2nd SA Marine Obergruppen Staff



SA Mann
Reiter, 466th Standarte - West Falen



SA Mann
2nd Reiter Sturm, 117th Standarte - Nordmark



Sturmbannführer
1st Sturm, Leibstandarte - Hochland



Sturmbannführer
23rd Sturm, 16th Standarte "List" - Hochland



SA Mann
4th SA Obergruppen Staff - Westmark



SA Mann
SA Group Staff - Niderrehein



Sturmbannführer
1st Standarte Staff - Nordsee



SA Mann
SA Band, 5th Standarte - Donau



Scharführer
35th Railway Standarte - Westmark



SA Mann
31st Sturm, 134th Pioneer/Engineer Standarte - Sachsen



SA Mann
5th Pioneer/Engineer Standarte - Berlin/Brandenburg



Oberscharführer
14th Sturm, 7th Jager Standarte - Alpenland



Sturmhauptführer
44th Jager Sttandarte - Donau



SA Mann
1st Pioneer Sturm, 3rd Jager Standarte - Alpenland



Scharführer
Medical Sturm 1, Standarte 14 - Niedersachsen



Truppführer
SA Flieger 1st style - Group Hochland



SA Mann
SA Flieger 2nd style - 5th Standarte - Westfalen



Obersturmmann
Sturm 51, 1st Security Standarte - Hochland



Standartenführer
22nd Standarte Commanding Officer - Ostmark



Oberführer
Group Commanding Officer - Tannenberg



Standartenführer
Leibstandarte Commanding Officer - Hochland



Standartenführer
Jager Standarten Commanding Officer - Alpenland



Standartenführer
Schutzen Standarten Commanding Officer - Westfalen


SA Special Group Collar Tabs - 1938-1945




Sturmführer
Adjutant to SA Chief of Staff



Hauptamt Brigadeführer
Oberst SA Fuhrung



Sturmführer
Oberst SA Fuhrung Hauptamt Staff



Obersturmführer
Party Rally Facilities Staff



Truppführer
Ausbildungswesens Staff



Obersturmführer
SA Leadership School Instructor



no rank
SA Leadership School Student



Strumbannführer
SA Sanitats School Instructor



Sturmführer
SA Sanitats Official



Strumbannführer
Standarte Feldherrnhalle Officer



Strumbannführer
Standarte Feldherrnhalle Signals Officer



SA Mann
Standarte Feldherrnhalle Enlisted



Hauptamt Gruppenführer
Headquarters - Berlin/Brandenburg



Obertruppführer
SA FeldJagerkorps - Berlin



Obersturmführer
SA Feldjagerkorps - Prussen



Standarte Ehrenführer
SA Honor Leader


Stahlhelm Collar Tabs - 1918-1934

Der Stahlhelm was one of the many paramilitary organizations that arose after the German defeat of World War I. All of the paramilitary organizations were merged into the SA by 1934.





Wehrmann - early pattern



Bundesführer



Divisionsführer



Kompanieführer



Oberzugführer



Zugführer



Oberfeldmeister



Feldmeister



Gruppenführer



Wehrmann



Scarnhorst Jungen Group Leader



Scarnhorst Jungen Leader