History

The DAF (Deutsche Arbeitsfront = German Labour Front) was the result of a forced association of all German trade unions, established on May 10, 1933. Its purpose was the coordination and control of all aspects of German labour to serve the interests of the NSDAP. The DAF leader was Reichsleiter Robert Ley.

The organisation concerned with the welfare of workers who became victims of industrial accidents or injuries was founded at an unknown date prior to the nationalsocialist rise to political power in 1933. It was named Nationalsozialistischer Reichsverband der Deutschen Arbeitsopfer (National Socialist Association for Work Victims), NSAO. In 1933, the name was changed to Gesamtverband Arbeitsopfer (United Association of Work Victims), GAO, and then to Gesamtverband Deutscher Arbeitsopfer (United Association of German Work Victims), GDAO. The final name change occured possibly during the war years when the organisation was renamed Deutsche Arbeitsopfer-Versorgung (German Work Victims Welfare), DAOV.

The emblem for the organisation stayed the same throughout all the name changes, except that the organisation's abbreviation letters would change. The emblem features an upright hammer with a swastika superimposed over its shaft, with oak leaves at its base, all superimposed on a cogwheel. At the bottom, a field was superimposed over the cogwheel and oak leaves featuring the organisation's abbreviation.