| Service Entry Badge of Der Stahlhelm, Bund der Frontsoldaten | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Awarded for | "Service in Der Stahlhelm" |
| Country | Germany |
| Presented by | Leader of Der Stahlhelm |
| First awarded | 13 November 1933 |
The Service Entry Badge was a was a commemorative medal of Der Stahlhelm, Bund der Frontsoldaten (English: The Steel helmet, League of front-line Soldiers) established on 13 November 1933 by Franz Seldte. The badge was awarded to recognize Der Stahlhelm service "during the harsh years of struggle" (1918–1933).
The Service Entry Badge displayed a German helmet above a year number, indicating the bearer's year of joining, ca. 1862. The lowest (and most respected) number was "1918," the year of the founding of Der Stahlhelm. The badges extended upwards to the year 1932. A sleeve chevron was also available for members of Der Stahlhelm who joined the Sturmabteilung (SA). Only one badge could be awarded, and more than one badge could not be worn on the veteran's uniform. [1]
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Volker Rolf Berghahn is a historian of German and modern European history at Columbia University. His research interests have included the fin de siècle period in Europe, the origins of World War I, and German-American relations. He received his M.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1961 and his Ph.D., under supervision of Francis L. Carsten, from the University of London in 1964. Prior to teaching in the United States, Berghahn worked in the United Kingdom and Germany. In 1988, he accepted a position at Brown University, and moved to Columbia ten years later.
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