Original German WWII Reichsarbeitsdienst RAD Labor Service Vormann NCO's Greatcoat with Armband & Bullion Embroidered Unit Assignment Shield - Dated 1934

Original Item: Only One Available. This is a high quality RAD Labor Service NCO’s Greatcoat, with an earth brown wool outer shell. It features a six button double-breasted closure with a chocolate brown collar, which has a hook and loop closure. All of the buttons are the pebbled aluminum variety, maker marked and dated on the back and sewn directly to the fabric. The greatcoat is an issue example with fantastic markings on the interior and a manufacture date of May 1934. It’s also marked Arbeitsgau 9, likely the depot in that RAD administrative district. There are clear size markings as well.

The collar tabs or “Litzen” on this example identify the wearer’s rank, Vormann (Foreman), and are in good shape with all period stitching. On the left sleeve is a lovely embroidered bullion unit assignment shield which is hand stitched on (original stitching), which shows a white RAD inverted shovel with red numbers 182 / 5 in the center. This indicates the unit that they were a member of. Below this is an early war multi-piece cotton NSDAP armelbinde (armband) with a sewn on multi-piece rayon black swas. It shows some wear from service, with overall age toning and light staining, with a small stitching repair on the back.

The greatcoat is in fair condition overall with scattered moth damage found across, but primarily on the front flaps around the buttons, the sleeves, and on the back. The interior shows very clear markings. This greatcoat saw a great deal of service.

A fantastic RAD Labor Service Vormann's greatcoat, complete with insignia and an armband! Ready to add to your collection!

Approximate Measurements:-
Collar to shoulder: 10"
Shoulder to sleeve: 25.5”
Shoulder to shoulder: 16"
Chest width: 20”
Waist: 21"
Hip: 26
Front length: 48"

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.