Adolf Hitler's bodyguard
When Hitler returned to Munich from military service in 1918, he became a member of the Nazi Party, an extremist far-right political party in Bavaria. In 1921, he was elected leader of the party. As his speeches promoted violence and racism, Hitler needed permanent security.
Adolf Hitler's rise to power
Hitler's considerable oratory and propaganda skills were appreciated by the party leadership. With the support of Anton Drexler, Hitler became chief of propaganda for the party in early 1920 and his actions began to transform the party. He organised their biggest meeting yet of 2,000 people, on 24 February 1920 in the "Staatliches Hofbräuhaus in München". There Hitler announced the party's 25-point program ("see" National Socialist Program). He engineered the name change of the DAP to the "Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei" – NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers' Party), commonly known to the rest of the world as the Nazi Party. Hitler designed the party's banner of a swastika in a white circle on a red background. Hitler was later discharged from the army in March 1920 and began working full-time for the NSDAP.
In 1920, a small "hall protection" squad was organised around Emil Maurice. The group was first named the "Order troops" ("Ordnertruppen"). Later in August 1921, Hitler redefined the group, which became known as the "Gymnastic and Sports Division" of the party ("Turn- und Sportabteilung"). By the autumn of 1921 the group was being called the "Sturmabteilung" (Storm Detachment) or SA, and in November 1921 the group was officially known by that name.