History

The Badge was awarded to men and women, ages 18 to 24, to encourage achievements in physical education.

The Sports Badge had roots in the German Empire with the Award for Physical Exercise, and it continued to be amended and expand during the Weimar Republic.

The acronym for the German Imperial Commission for Physical Exercise (Deutscher Reichsausschuss für Leibesübungen), DRA, is featured on the Model I badges as a remnant of the Weimar Republic Sports Badge design.

The DRA was replaced by the German Reich Federation for Physical Education (Deutscher Reichsbund für Leibesübungen) on July 27, 1934, and beginning in 1935 the Sports Badge design featured a swastika and the acronym DRL.

The Gold Badge was awarded to citizens who had already received the Silver Badge, and continued to pass the physical fitness tests every year for a period of over seven years. It was also awarded to men over the age of 40 who passed the tests once in a period of 12 months.

The tests included various activities in running, swimming, jumping, weight throwing and speed tests. Some exercises had to be observed and accessed by trained gymnasts.