Original Item: Only One Available. This is a rare, genuine Reichsarbeitsdienst (National Labor corps) officers armband, in the correct brown color with silver bullion machine embroidery work. The armband has silver bullion borders on both sides, and a larger Reichsadler eagle perched on top of a half laurel / half oak leave wreath. Inside is the RAD logo: a shovelhead bearing a canted Swas (hook cross) in the middle, with two sheaves of wheat extending from the bottom at 45 degree angles. The armband measures about 16" x 4" and is sewn together in the back.

This example is definitely in service worn condition, and shows deterioration of the bullion border, which is frayed in many areas. The rear of the decal also shows wear and staining, and has now become stiff and fragile. These are very rare even in this condition, and this is the first example that we have ever handled.

The basis of the RAD, Reichsarbeitsdienst, (National Labor Service), dates back, at least, to 1929 with the formation of the AAD (Anhalt Arbeitsdienst) and the FAD-B (Freiwillingen Arbeitsdienst-Bayern). Shortly after AH’s appointment as Chancellor in Jan 1933, the NSDAP consolidated all labor organizations into the NSAD (Nationalsozialist Arbeitsdienst), a national labor service. It served as an agency to help mitigate the effects of unemployment on the German economy, militarize the workforce and indoctrinate it with NSDAP ideology. It was the official state labor service, divided into separate sections for men and women.

On June 26 1935 the NSAD was officially re-designated RAD. Originally personnel serving with RAD wore a variety of earlier FAD/NSAD belt buckles until February 15TH 1936 when new pattern belt buckles for Officer’s and EM/NCO’s were introduced to provided uniformity in dress.