BACKGROUND: The basis of the RAD, "Reichs Arbeitsdienst" (National Labor-service), dates back, at least, to 1929 with the formation of the AAD, "Anhalt Arbeitsdienst" (Anhalt Labor-service), and the FAD-B, "Freiwillingen Arbeitsdienst-Bayern" (Volunteer Labor-service [of]-Bavaria). Shortly after Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor, on January 30th, 1933, the NSDAP consolidated these, and other labor organizations, into the NSAD, "Nationalsozialist Arbeitsdienst" (National-socialist Labor-service) - a national labor service. In June of 1935 the NSAD was re-designated RAD. In July of the same year RAD service became compulsory, with all German citizens between 19 and 25 years of age required to enlist for a six month term. This law also decreed that all military conscripts serve a nine month term.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A second pattern collar tab, designed by Egon Jantke and used from 1936 onwards, indicating the rank of an "Arbeitsführer." The collar tab, is in the form of 80mm x 40mm black velvet parallelogram, featuring embroidered, silver-aluminum wire sprigs of barley enclosed by double borders, the innermost having jagged edges. The velvet base is folded over to the reverse where its muslin backing may be seen. The color of the base of the collar tab indicates the branch, in this case, the black used for general service.