BACKGROUND: The Allgemeine-SS, (General-SS), was originally formed in May 1923 as the Stosstrupp Adolf Hitler (Shock Troops), and redesignated Schutzstaffel, (Protection Squad), in April 1925 with the official acceptance of the name verified on the second anniversary of the failed Munich "Beer-Hall" Putsch on November 9^TH 1925. On January 6^TH 1929 Heinrich Himmler was appointed as Reichsführer-SS, (National Leader {of the} SS), and on July 20^TH 1934 shortly after the, June 30^TH 1934, purge of the SA, Sturm Abteilung, (Storm/Assault Detachment), on the "Night of the Long Knives", the SS was rewarded by Hitler by being granted the status of an independent organization under direct control of the NSDAP, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party). From its inception the SS began an aggressive policy of expansion which resulted in the formation of the SS-SD, SS-Sicherheitsdienst und Sicherheitspolizei, (SS-Security Service and Security Police), in June 1931, the SS-VT, SS-Verfügungstruppe, (SS-Special Purpose Troops), the SS-TV, SS-Totenkopfverbände, (SS-Death’s Head Units), in March 1933 and eventually the Waffen-SS in December 1939. Like other NSDAP, organizations the SS held numerous assorted rallies and events that were generally held as a show of strength and solidarity or were assorted sports competitions that were thinly veiled para-military exercises. With a deep understanding of the psychological effectiveness of awards and the recognition of special accomplishments the German army and the SS introduced numerous unofficial and semi-official items to acknowledge and reward a wide variety of achievements. Being unofficial or semi-official these types of items were generally privately purchased by a specific unit and came in numerous assorted designs and patterns. These type of items were quite often bestowed to acknowledge and reward a profusion of accomplishments including the victors of sporting events, superior vehicle maintenance, exceptional marksmanship or even to commemorate service in a particular unit or garrison.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 2 3/4" diameter, 1/8" thick, cast alloy construction, medallion with a silver wash features an embossed, canted swastika to one side encompassed by an embossed, laurel leaf wreath to one side and the embossed, stylized Gothic script and SS runes, "Sportfest der 24. SS Standarte 10. 6. 1934", (Sports Festival of the 24^TH SS Regiment June 10^TH 1934). The medallion retains about 65% of its silver wash with spots of wear to the base alloy. The medallion has no visible manufacturer’s markings. The medallion comes housed in its original, roughly, 4 7/8" x 4 1/8" x 5/8", cardboard and wood construction presentation case with a simulated, grained, burgundy leather cover. The fold back top lid of the case has dual, small, magnetic staggered internal bar hinges to the reverse and an alloy, spring loaded closure button to the obverse. Both the hinge and the closure button still function. The interior of the top lid is lined in white satin while the interior bottom of the case has a pale greyish/tan flock lining with a circular recess to secure the medallion in place. The case is in overall very good condition with minimal chafe wear to the exterior and minor age toning to the interior linings.

GRADE ***1/4                             PRICE $610.00