BACKGROUND: The NSDAP, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), was originally founded in Munich as the DAP, Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (German Worker’s Party), on January 5TH 1919. When Adolf Hitler joined the DAP in the autumn of 1919 he was to reform what was basically a debating society into an active political party. Appointed as the first chairman of the party on July 29TH 1921 Hitler was to restructure it along para-military lines in a hierarchy of four levels of government consisting of the Reichsleitung, (National Level), the Gauleitung, (Provincial/State Level), the Kreisleitung, (District Level), and the Ortsgruppenleitung, (Local Level). The NSDAP had utilized the basic, identifying ,swastika armbands as early as 1922 to be worn by party members at all rallies or political functions. Shortly afterwards, (circa 1923), Political Leader’s began wearing a new pattern armband with additional stripes that indicated functional positions within the party. In 1939 a second pattern of Political Leader’s armbands were introduced which denoted administrative or operational functions and level of government. Of Note: The swastika, (a Sanskrit word meaning "well being"), is an ancient symbol that was utilized in numerous diverse cultures and signified both the cycle of life and the sun. The swastika was also a Nordic rune and the pagan Germanic symbol for Thor, God of Adventurers. During WWI the swastika began to represent national and anti-Semitic leanings in such organizations as the Thule society and other German nationalistic movements and later, assorted Freikorps, (Free Corps), groups. In the midsummer of 1920 Hitler adopted the swastika as the premier symbol of the NSDAP. In "Mein Kampf", Hitler states that although numerous party members had proposed the swastika and red, black and white as the party emblem and colors it was he himself who came up with the final design. Also Of Note: The RZM, Reich Zeug Meisterei, (National Equipment Quartermaster), was officially founded in June 1934 in Munich by the NSDAP as a Reich Hauptamt, (State Central Office), and was based on the earlier SA, Sturm Abteilung, (Storm/Assault Detachment), Quartermaster’s Department which was established, circa April 1929. The functions of the RZM were not only to procure and distribute items to Party formations, but also to approve chosen designs and to act as a quality control supervisor to ensure items manufactured for the Party met required specification and were standardized.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 4 3/8", (11cm), tall, 15", (38cm), long, multi-piece, woven, rayon and cotton construction armband features a red rayon, base field with a roughly, 3 3/4", (9.5cm), diameter, white rayon disc machine stitched to the front center with a multi-piece, black, cotton tape, canted swastika with an HBT, (Herring Bone Twill), weave, machine stitched in place. The top and bottom edges of the armband have folded over, machine stitched "hems" and the reverse of the armband has a machine stitched, vertical seam. The armband is in overall excellent, unissued condition with minimal age toning and some light storage wrinkling.