BACKGROUND: "Der Stahlhelmbund" (The Steel-helmet-league) was conceived by the nationalist ex-army officer Franz Seldte in November 1918, and was officially instituted on Christmas day of that year. It consisted mostly of WWI veterans trying to assimilate back into a devastated society. The Stahlhelm became the largest of the post-war veterans’ groups and absorbed many of the smaller Freikorps groups. Most of its members were absorbed by the SA in 1933, and it was disbanded in 1935, with its remaining members absorbed by the DRKB ("Deutscher Reichs-krieger-bund"), which in turn was absorbed by the NS-RKB ("National-sozialistische - Reichs-krieger-bund") in 1938.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A stamped alloy badge which features an embossed, profiled M16 helmet to its center, with either a silver wash or with its alloy polished, against a ribbed, mobile swastika encircled by a plain ring. To the base of the ring is embossed "N.S.D." and "F.B.St." (For "National-sozialistische Deutsche Frontkämpfer-bund/Stahlhelm"). A horizontal pin-back device is to its reverse, above which is embossed "M.M. Ges. Gesch."