RAD NCO/EM's Field Cap
CATEGORY: Version
SKU: 80.GOR.01.01.03.003.000
Estimated market value:
Estimated market value:
Constructed of olive-green wool and two rows of contrasting off-white stitching along the side panels. The front center of the field cap features a single insignia consisting of an early machine woven logo of the RAD, consisting of a white and red shoved with a mobile black swastika in the centre and two outward facing wheat stalks at a 45 degree angle hand stitched to the cap with black threading with an olive-green coloured threaded background; with the interior of the cap lined in brown satin-like fabric; with a repaired sweatband using a strip of dark blue cotton; measuring 275 mm x 105 mm; scattered field repair; with wear to wool from period use; near very fine condition.
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.
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