Hitler's Stormtroopers: The SA, The Nazis' Brownshirts, 1922 - 1945

The Sturm Abteilung der NSDAP (SA, assault battalion of the Nazi party) created in August 1920 were squads of strong arms intended to protect the Nazis meetings, to provoke disturbance, to break up other parties meetings, and to attack and assault political opponents as part of a deliberate campaign of intimidation.

After 1925 the name Braunhemden (Brownshirts) was also given to its members because of the color of their uniforms. Under the leadership of Hitlers close political associate, Ern...