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 earth-brown Einheitsfeldmütze (Visored Field Cap) was introduced in 1943, which is why collectors refer to it as M43, with the "M" for “Model”. It is similar to the M43 cap used by the Wehrmacht. It has two flaps that are usually worn turned-up and button-secured at the front. This cap usually features two metal buttons, however examples with just one button are known to exist. When the weather grew colder, the flaps could be unbuttoned and pulled down to cover ears and neck.

General and Officer caps usually, but not always, have gold-coloured and silver-coloured piping respectively. NCO/EM (Non-Commissioned Officers/Enlisted Men) caps are never piped. There are usually no air vents on this cap.

The cap features the RAD emblem on the front.