Der Stahlhelm Insignia Identification Guide

Der Stahlhelm was founded by Franz Seldte as a parpmilitary organization on December 25, 1918, in Magdeburg, Germany. The league was formed of ex-servicemen as a rallying point for revanchist and nationalistic forces. The organization was oriented toward the Imperial regime and the Hohenzollern monarchy. Financing was provided by the Deutscher Herrenklub, an association of German industrialists and business leaders with elements of the landed gentry (Junker). Women and youth leagues were established in 1923. After the failed Kapp Putsch of 1920, the organization gained further support from dissolved Freikorps units. In 1924, the Landstrum chapters were formed to include both veterans and new recruits. These were expected to provide a standing armed force in support of the 100,000 man Reichswehr. With 500,000 members in 1930, the league was the largest paramilitary organization in the Weimar Republic. Although Der Stahlhelm was officially a non-party entity and above party politics, after 1929 it took on an anti-republican and anti-democratic character. Its goals were a German dictatorship, the preparation of a revanchist program, and the direction of local anti-parliamentarian action. For political reasons its members distinguished themselves from the Nazi Party (NSDAP) as "German Fascists". Among their demands were the establishment of a Greater Germanic People's Reich and repuidation of Social Democracy, the "mercantilism of the Jews" and the general liberal democratic worldview. After the Nazi seizure of power on 30 January 1933, the Nazi authorities urged Der Stahlhelm to merge into the party's Sturmabteilung (SA). Der Stahlhelm still tried to keep its distance from the Nazis. On 27 March 1933, an SA raid with the intention of disarming Stahlhelm members in Braunschweig, who had forged an alliance with scattered Republican Reichsbanner forces. The violent incident, later called Der Stahlhelm Putsch, was characteristic of the pressure applied by the Nazis on Der Stahlhelm. In April, Seldte applied for membership in the NSDAP and officially declared Der Stahlhelm subordinate to the SA. He joined the SA in August 1933 at the rank of Obergruppenführer. Der Stahlhelm was integrated into the party structure in November of 1933 in the course of the "voluntary" Synchronization process of veteran and paramilitary groups. Der Stahlhelm was renamed Nationalsozialistischer Deutscher Frontkämpfer-Bund Stahlhelm. Large parts of the NSDFBSt were merged into the SA as members of the Wehrstahlhelm, Reserve I and Reserve II Standarte. The remaining NSDFBSt local groups were dissolved by decree on 7 November 1935. This is an identification guide for the different badges and patches worn by Der Stahlhelm. To the best of our knowledge, all the examples shown are original pre-1945 manufacture. If anyone has questions or suggestions, please contact [email protected].

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Membership badges and special awards.

Typically worn on the left lapel or left posket.


Der Stahlhelm Pin - Adopted 1919	JungStahlhelm Pin - Adopted 1923	Bund Koningin Luise Type 1 - Adopted 1923	Bund Koningin Luise Tyoe 2 - Adopted 1923	Bund Koningin Luise Type 3 - Adopted 1923	FrauenBund - Adopted 1924	MadchenBund - Adopted 1924	Landstrum Type 1 - Adopted 1924


Landstrum Type 2 - Adopted 1924	WehrSports Cross - Adopted 1930	WehrSports Collar Tab - Adopted 1930	Honor Award for Continuous Service - Adopted 1932 Dated 1918 to 1932	Honor Award for Non-members - Adopted 1932	Membership Pin - Adopted 1934

First style Rank Insignia

Because Der Stahlhelm members continued to wear their military uniforms, a different method of signifing rank was needed. A lether crossbelt with colored edging was adopted to identify the various ranks. Belt width could be 4cm, 3cm, or 2cm with one or two edging colors used to identify the individuals rank. A badge identifying functional assignment could be worn centered on the front of the belt. In 1924, the government forbid the wearing of military collar tabs and shoulder boards, but the crossbelt rank system continued in use until 1932. Ranks were changed and added over time, but the below ranks are as of 1929.


Orange and Gold 4 cm - BundesFuhrer	Carmine and Gold 4 cm - Bundestanzler	Carmine and Gold 3 cm - Abteilungschefs	Carmine and Gold 2 cm - Mitarbeiter
White and Silver 4 cm - Landesfuhrer	White and Silver 2 cm - Mitglieder des Stabs	Carmine and Silver 3 cm - Leiter des Landesamtes	White 4 cm - Gaufuhrer
White 2 cm - Gau Siellvertreter	Red 4 cm - Kreisfuhrer	Red 2 cm - Kreis Siellvertreter	Green 4 cm - Ortsgruppenfuhrer
Green 2 cm - Orts Siellvertreter	Blue 2 cm - Kameradschaftsfuhrer		Yellow 2 cm - Scharnhorst Bund der Jungmannen

Assignment pin examples.


Staff Leader Badge - Adopted 1919	Leader Badge - Adopted 1919	Scharnhorst Bund Jungmennen - Adopted 1922	Jungstahlhelm Leader - Adopted 1923	Konigin Luise Leader - Adopted 1924	Kraftfahr Leader - Adopted 1926	Wehrsports Leader - Adopted 1930	Signals Leader - Adopted 1931
Leader Badge - Adopted 1933	Staff Leader Badge - Adopted 1934	Leader Badge - Adopted 1934

Second style Rank Insignia

With over 500,000 members, a new rank structure was needed. A rank system based on collar tabs was adopted in 1932. Note that in addition to the collar tab, a Gruppenfuhrer wore three chevrons on the upper left sleeve, a Stabswehrmann wore two chevrons on the upper left sleeve, and an Oberwehrmann wore one chevron on the upper left sleeve. The collar tabs were piped in white for regular members, green for reserve members, and blue for local self defense squad members.


BundesFuhrer	Landesfuhrer	Bataillonsfuhrer	Kompagniefuhrer
Oberzugfuhrer	Zugfuhrer	Oberfeldmeister	Feldmeister
Gruppenfuhrer	Stabswehrmann Oberwehrmann Wehrmann
Gruppenfuhrer Chevron	Stabswehrmann Chevron	Oberwehrmann Chevron

In early 1933, two additional ranks were added. The collar tab piping was changed to reflect the member's branch of service. White was used for infantry, yellow for cavalry, pick for motorized units, light brown for signals, light blue for quartermasters and paymasters, red for staff, and twisted red and black for press, welfare, and culture specialties.


Regimentsfuhrer	Stabsfuhrer

In late 1933, four additional ranks were added. This system of collar tabs remained in effect until November 1933 when Der Stahlhelm was absorbed into the SA.


Bundeshauptmann	Obergruppenfuhrer	Divisionsfuhrer	Brigadefuhrer

Cufftitles and District Patches

Der Stahlhelm was originally formed in Madgeberg. As membership spread to other cities and states, a method of local identification was needed. Cuff titles began to appear around 1926 and were worn on the right lower sleeve. By 1929, patches identifying districts appear on the right upper sleeve, but cuff titles could still be worn.


Gau Braunkohle	Gau Magdeburg	Gau Minden Ravensberg West	Gau Neidersachsen
Gau Salle-Thuringen	Landes Verband Gross Hamburg	Landes Verband Niedersachsen	Landes Verband Rheinland
Landes Verband Nordmark	Oldenburg-Ostfriesland


Baden	Bayern	Brandenburg	Braunschweig
Bremen	Danzig	Gross Berlin	Gross hessen
Hamburg	Hannover	Magdeburg	Mecklenburg
Mitte	MittelDeutschland	Niederhein	NordMark
NordSee	OstMark	OstPreussen	Pommern Grenzmark
Saar	Sachen	Schlesien	Thuringen
WestFalen	WestMark	Wurttemberg

Speciality Patches

Occupational Speciality patches were authorized beginning in 1925. They were worn on the left upper sleeve.


Signals Service Personnel - Adopted 1925	Medical Orderlies - Adopted 1925	Stretcher Bearers - Adopted 1925	Medical Orderlies - Adopted 1926	Senior Medical Orderlies - Adopted 1926	Stretcher Bearers - Adopted 1926	Qualified Doctors - Adopted 1926	Consulting Physicians - Adopted 1926
Qualified Drivers - Adopted 1928	Cyclist Unit Personnel - Adopted 1931	Qualified Doctors - Adopted 1931	Mounted Unit Personnel - Adopted 1932	Signals Unit Personnel - Adopted 1932	Motor Unit Personnel - Adopted 1932	Cyclist Unit Personnel - Adopted 1932	Medical Orderlies - Adopted 1932

Branch of Service Badgeses

Adopted in 1932, the Branch of Service badges were worn on the left lower sleeve and identified the frountline soldier's Imperial Army Branch of Service.


Infantry	Cavalry	Field Artillery	Foot Artillery	Machine Gun Detachments	Mortar Units	Jagers	Engineers
Signal Units	Railway Troops	Mobile Train Units	Motor Car Units	Baloon Crews	Aviators	Airship Crews	Flame-thrower Units
Tank Crews	Medical Orderlies	Sailors	U-Boat Crews	Colonial Troops