Rare SS Sturm 5/I/3 Fürth Sportfest Tinnie

The year 1933 marked a pivotal turning point in German history and the rapid expansion of the SS (Schutzstaffel). During this "Year of Power," local SS units organized numerous athletic events, or Sportfeste, to demonstrate physical prowess and promote camaraderie among the ranks.
The sports festival held in Fürth on October 21-22, 1933, was a significant regional event for the SS-Gruppe Süd. Badges like this one, known as Tagungsabzeichen or "Tinnies," were issued in limited numbers to participants and supporters of specific local units—in this case, the SS Sturm 5/I/3.
Unlike mass-produced political badges from later years, these early unit-specific pieces were often produced by local craftsmen, such as the renowned Balmberger firm in nearby Nuremberg. Today, these badges are highly prized by historians and collectors alike as authentic artifacts from the formative months of the SS, representing a rare glimpse into the early paramilitary culture of the era.

This item:
An exceptionally rare and authentic early SS commemorative badge (Tinnie) for the SS Sports Festival held in Fürth on October 21-22, 1933. This badge was exclusively issued for members of SS Sturm 5/I/3. This particular version features a clean, minimalist design centered around the SS-runes, without the eagle or Totenkopf found on other regional variants. The reverse is correctly marked with the manufacturer "BALMBERGER NÜRNBERG" in straight lines on the pin plate. Authentic vertical pin assembly on a rectangular plate.
High-quality die-stamped brass with a perfect glossy bronze finish. Pristine/Mint. It weighs 3 grams in total to the high die struck quality. The strike is incredibly sharp, and the gilt remains brilliant with no signs of age-related oxidation. This is a textbook example of a hard-to-find early SS unit-specific badge, documented in the Tieste catalog and highly prized for its simple yet powerful Runes-only design.