Nürnberg 1929 Party Day Badge

The Nuremberg Rally was the annual rally of the NSDAP (Nazi Party) in Germany, held from 1923 to 1938. These Reichsparteitag or Reich national party convention were large Nazi propaganda events held at the Nazi party rally grounds in Nuremberg from 1933 to 1938 meant to symbolize the solidarity between the German people and the Nazi Party. Each annual rally was given a programmatic theme and in 1929 in relation to this particular badge, the 4th Party Congress, was known as the "Day of Composure" and held on August 2, 1929.

This 1929 badge was the very first NSDAP award which pre-dates the Blood Order and the Coburg Badge, making it the 1st official NSDAP award. Early badges that were sold at the Rally were not stamped with RZM marks and only showed the maker which in this badge shown is made by Hoffstätter. The RZM badges were produced after 1936 when it became an Honor award of the Party, marked with the numeral 15, or in a solid backed version both by the same firm of Ferdinand Hoffstätter, Bonn am Rhein. Bronze and silver versions exist with the silver variant pictured here. From author's own collection.

Above is a late issue of the Silver version of the Nürnberg 1929 party day badge, as evident from the maker mark on the reverse, showing RZM M1/15 for the firm Ferdinand Hoffstätter, based in Bonn am Rhein. Made of stamped metal, the details are well preserved and the pin is firmly soldered. There are differences between the first issue (described in the article below) and that of the later version (as shown below). In the first issue badge, the Nürnberg cityscape is shown to be more defined and the text more sharply executed. More distinctively, the background has a finely textured finish while in the later version shown below, has coarser pebbled finish and the letters less well defined. On the reverse, the first pattern has the full text of the maker Hoffstätter Bonn and Ges. Geschützt stamped on the pinning disc, while the later variant only shows RZM M1/15. In the photo from Life magazine, Hitler is shown wearing the badge, recognised as an official party award after the event. From author's own collection. 
 

Nürnberg 1929 Party Day Stickpin and Table Medal

The Nürnberg 1929 Party Day Stickpin shows a resting eagle on top of a German steel helmet emblazoned with a swastika. On the top shows the landscape of the Nürnberg city with the words 1914-1919 NSDAP Parteitag 1929. This particular stickpin is marked on the reverse with the marker F. Hoffstätter, Bonn and GES GESCH for registered trademark. The knurled pin is affixed onto a disc, again with the Bonn firm of Ferdinand Hoffstättermarker's mark and very carefully soldered onto the badge. The overall badge is very well made despite its small size and being rarely offered in the collector's market. Private purchase pieces marked 800 for silver are sometimes also encountered. From author's own collection.

This is a table medal variant of the Nürnberg 1929 party day award, said to be bestowed to dignitaries and VIPs. The plaque is constructed from solid bronze, and the reverse is plain with the exception of an embossed maker’s name that reads, F. Hoffstatter Bonn. Cased examples exist with a blood red case and usually embellished with a dark blue coloured lining on the inside. There are fakes in circulation. When comparing to the badges, there is greater similarity to that of the late-issue badge where there are consistencies to the style of text such as the G of Nürnberg and the numerals with a drooping tip. The details of the eagle on this plaque is excellent, with feathered streaks on the body. From author's own collection.

Second pattern SA treffen for Braunschweig badge

Hitler arrived in the morning of 17 October in Braunschweig, filled SA men marching through the city singing songs and taking part in street battles. The following Sunday, 18th October, the SA associations marched early in the morning to Franz's field where Hitler consecrated new SA associations by touching the "Blood Flag" of the failed putsch of 1923 and gave ​​a speech.this was then followed by a march past of SA and SS units in front of Braunschweig palace that took six hours, ending with a speech by Hitler in front of the town hall.This is a second pattern SA treffen for Braunschweig badge, made in hollow die-stamped method of manufacture and unmarked. This variant is one of the more commonly encountered pieces, but has extremely well defined details to the front. From author's own collection.

This second pattern SA treffen for Braunschweig badge is similar to the one described below, but has markings on the reverse. It is marked with C. Poellath Schrobenhausen which also made numerous other badges, tinnies and the Barvarian / Imperial German flight badge. The firm, Carl Poellath founded in 1778 still operates today http://www.poellath.de Other later variants include solid-backed RZM marked pieces by M1/63 Steinhauer und Lück, Lüdenscheid; M1/17 F. W. Assmann und Söhne, Lüdenscheid; M1/35 Wachtler und Lange, Mittweida. The badge shown here has its pin affixed onto a disc showing the manufacturer's stamp, and is soldered to the back of the badge. This is one of the more sought after variants. The badge belongs to the author, and the photograph showing this second pattern badge in wear is from the Larrister Collection.

First Pattern SA Treffen for Braunschweig Badge

The SA rally that took place in Braunschweig on 17 and 18 October 1931 in the presence of Adolf Hitler was the largest deployment of paramilitary organizations during the Weimar Republic with tens of thousands of SA and SS men from across Germany taking part. This badge started life as a lowly donation type of badge which was then elevated to a national decoration due to the importance of this particular SA meeting and was allowed to be worn by those having taken part. Two designs exist and the badge below is the rarer first pattern with a round configuration and embossed lettering. Fakes exist in the form of having raised letters. The original first pattern badge is made of thin zinc material and feels very light. On the reverse, a pin is soldered and has no markings shown. This is one of the more sought after political collectibles and rather scarce to find. From author's own collection.