Is the designer of the SA symbol known?

[StefanM]

Is the designer of the SA symbol known?

[HPL2008]

Allegedly, it was designed by Walter Heck; see:

Axis History Forum • SS-Hstuf(?) Walter Heck, the designer of the SS emblem .

That link refers to Robin Lumsden; the text passage from "Himmler's Black Order" crediting Heck as the designer of the SA symbol states:

"In 1931, SS-Sturmführer Walter Heck, who was a graphic designer employed by the badge manufacturing firm of Ferdinand Hoffstätter in Bonn, drew two Sig-Runes side by side and thus created the ubiquitous 'SS Runes' insignia widely used by all branches of the organisation after 1933. [...] Heck was likewise responsible for the 'SA runes' badge, which combined a runic 'S' with a Gothic 'A'."

(Sorry; I have no period documentation on this.)

[StefanM]

Many thanks for the link & information

[Wilhelm Saris]

This is what the "Uniformen-Markt" from May 1, 1936 says on page 86:
(published also in the magazine "Der SA-Mann", number 15 from 1936):
the SA symbol originated from a 1929-contest, which was lauched by the
SA High-Command. The design was handed over by Hans Zöberlein (the
well-known poet) and the leader from Sturmbann II from Standarte "List"
from Munich, Obersturmbannführer Max Zankl.

The symbol was the old Teutonic sign for lightning together with the so-called
"Mannrune" (the symbol of a stern and unbending man with a flaming sword).
Both symbols were combined with a ring. Later the hook to connect both was
added.



Maybe it was Heck who added the hook, but this is not mentioned!

[HPL2008]

Heck no, err, no Heck then.

Thanks to Wim Saris for providing excellent period information (as always)!

For the benefit of the non-German speaking members, allow me to add the full translation of the above article:

"How the SA-civilian insignia came to be. (From an illustrated report in the magazine "Der SA-Mann", no. 15/1936.) Originating from an idea contest announced in 1929 by the then-Supreme SA Command, the SA civilian insignia was created from the so-called Siegrune - the ancient Germanic symbol for lightning - combined with a second component, the so-called Mannrune, the rune for the "me". These symbols - the symbol for the sparking word, with which the enemies of the idea are hit and the symbol of the upright, indomitable man - were connected by a ring (unity of these two ideas). The arrangement of the runes was done in such a way that the two letters S and A are recognizable in them. Later on, the addition of a tick made the A even more clearly recognizable. The design was a joint submission by Standartenführer Hans Zöberlin (author of the book "Der Glaube an Deutschland") and the now-commander of Sturmbann II of Standarte "List", Munich, Obersturmbannführer Max Zankl."

[Wilhelm Saris]

Thanks HPL2008 for the translation. Much appreciated.

[Wilhelm Saris]

From a friend I got a great booklet with drawings of nazi symbols:
Gemalte Zeichen und Symbole des Staates sowie der NSDAP und ihrer Gliederungen
(Sonderdruck Heft 12/1936 from the magazine "Form und Farbe", published at Berlin.
12 pages).
Page 4 gives a description how to design the SA-symbol (see included image).



For those interested it might be Weitze has this booklet (anyway a while ago).

[StefanM]

Thanks for posting Wilheim.

It is great to see a page from a corporate identity manual of the period

Presumably there must have been many more such corporate design manuals issued covering Nazi symbology also?