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: Mid brown cotton/rayon armband, with machine woven stylized eagle clutching a wreathed RAD emblem of spade head with swastika flanked by sheaths of wheat, all in silver/aluminum threads. Wreath with oak-leaves to right, laurel leaves to left. Armband bordered top and bottom in machine woven silver/aluminum stripes with evenly spaced diagonal lines of the base brown. Note, Armband has the same motif as the shoulder board cypher, of Reichsarbeitsfuhrer Hierl, introduced in September 1942, and was possibly worn by members of his staff. Scarce.