History

The RAD (Reichsarbeitsdienst = Reich Labour Service) was officially established on June 26, 1935 as the sole, and compulsory, labour service of Germany. Its purposes were to help the economy, curb unemployment, and indoctrinate its members with the NSDAP ideology, as well as play its part in militarising the German population.

The FAD (Freiwilliger Arbeitsdienst = Voluntary Labour Service) was the precursor of the RAD in the early 1930s. Official uniform regulations were first introduced on October 1, 1933, with modifications made in July 1934. It is also known as NSAD (Nationalsozialistischer Arbeitsdienst = National Socialist Labour Service).

The earliest uniforms were a not entirely successful attempt at standardisation. They gave way to a second wave of FAD uniforms that, when the RAD was established, experienced no significant changes.

The Feldmütze (Field Cap) has no visor and is in the "Schiffchen" (overseas) form. It was initially worn squared on the head, which proved to be unpopular, so in 1938 this was changed to canted over the right ear.

The top edge of the turn-up, and for Generals and Officers the elongated top as well, were piped to reflect the wearer’s rank, gold-coloured for Generals, silver-coloured for Officers, and black for NCO/EM (Non-Commissioned Officers/Enlisted Men) ranks.
Post-1940 the NCO/EM piping was removed, and Generals and Officers only retained the piping on the elongated top.
The cap features one or two metal grommets for air ventilation on each side and the RAD emblem on the front.