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.

Belt Buckles for the FAD were introduced in July 1932. They were worn by all ranks. Officers were distinguished by wearing a brown leather cross strap with a silvered and pebbled rectangular adjusting buckle.

There is a standard version, but also several other variants that only differ in their motif and make, but not in rank or purpose. The standard version is a rectangular buckle featuring a circle with a spade inside with sometimes a flat edge, sometimes a rounded head, and two wheat ears at a 45 degree angle. It is stamped steel with a dull silver-coloured finish.

This version has several variations, for example pebbled or smooth, painted blue-black or field-grey, or a silver-coloured circle on a gold-coloured field.

The motif of the first variant features a circle with an open oak leaf wreath with a spade inside. On the spade are the letters FAD, with the F in the middle and standing higher than the other two. The buckle is smooth brass, whereas the centerpiece is nickel-plated or silver wash. This variant has been given the identifier 213(5).36.

The motif of the second variant features a circle with a spade, a pick axe, a wheat ear, and the letters FAD. The buckle is smooth brass, the motif is silver wash. This variant has been given the identifier 213(6).37.

The motif of the third variant is very similar to variant 2, featuring a circle with a spade, a pick axe, a wheat ear, and the letters FAD inside a sunburst. The buckle is plain brass, the sunburst is silvered, and the motif is gold-coloured. This variant has been given the identifier 213(11).

The motif of the fourth variant features the stylized FAD letters inside a circle, with an open wreath at the bottom and the words “Für Volk u. Heimat” (for people and home) at the top. The buckle is smooth brass, the motif is silver wash. This variant has been given the identifier 213(7).37.

The motif of the fifth variant features a circle with a crossed spade and pick axe, with a national emblem at the top, the letters FAD at the bottom, an open book at the left, and three wheat ears on the right. The buckle is smooth iron with a matte finish. This variant is very rare and has been given the identifiers 213(8).177 and 213(7).182.

The motif of the sixth variant features the stylized letters FAD inside a circle with an open wreath at the bottom and the words “Nichts als Deutschland” (nothing but Germany) at the top. The buckle is plain brass, the motif is silver plate or wash. This variant has been given the identifier 213(9).

The motif of the seventh variant features a hand holding a spade around which are the words “Der Arbeit die Ehre” (Honour to Labour). Buckle and motif are gold-coloured.

The motif of the eighth variant shows a spade with two wheat ears superimposed over two pick axes. It is pebbled with a matte-silver finish. This variant has been given the identifiers 213(10) and 213(11).

The motif of the ninth variant shows a downward pointing crossed pick axe and spade inside a wreath of laurel leaves. Buckle and motif have been found with aluminum paint finish, painted blue-black, or made of plain nickel. This variant has been given the identifier 213(12).