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.

RAD members deployed for combat service in war zones wore the same helmets as members of the Heer or Luftwaffe, as well as Air Raid Protection helmets and possibly those of other organisations. A RAD decal was painted on the right side, in the form of a black shield with a silver eagle sitting on a wreath with the RAD spade and wheat ears inside. The left side of the helmet usually features the decal of the organisation the RAD member was affiliated with, like the Heer or the Luftwaffe. Sometimes the RAD decal is found on both sides.