Reichs Arbeits Dienst (RAD)

The origins of the Reich Labour Service were dated back to 1931 when the Weimar government established the Freiwilliger Arbeitsdienst or volunteer labour service.
It was designed to provide national coordination for the large number of local work projects established to reduce the high unemployment in the late 1920s.

In 1933 the organisation was renamed the National Socialist labour service or NSAD, becoming the more familiar RAD or ReichsArbeitsDienst in 1934.

In June 1935 all German men and women between 18 and 25 years old was required by law to serve a period of six month in the RAD.
The RAD was divided into two major sections, the ReichsArbeitsDienst Männer (RAD/M) for men and the ReichsArbeitDienst der weiblichen Jugend (RAD/wJ) for women.

Before the war the RAD took part in large scale labour projects like road construction and in the armament industry
When the war broke out its primary function was to provide the Wehrmacht with logistics and construction support.
In the final months of the war RAD men formed 6 major frontline units, which saw heavy fighting.
Konstantin Hierl was the leader of RAD through the organization's lifetime.

Konstantin Hierl 1935

RAD (Quick Dagger Description)

The standard pattern Hewer (1934)
A massive dagger adopted 1934 and designed by Paul Casburg initially worn by both officers and enlisted personnel. The Hewer had a practical use as well as worn on dress occasions.
The grips are staghorn and retained by two screws. Early daggers made with full stag grips exist but are quite rare to find.
The metal parts of the hilt are either nickel-silver or nickel plated steel fittings with the RAD emblem engraved on the lower fitting.

The heavy blade made of steel was designed for field use and had the etched motto: Arbeit adelt. The dagger measured 40 cm.
The Scabbard was oxide finished and clear coat lacquered on early daggers and later painted black.
The upper and lower nickel plated steel fittings had the Rad emblem engraved on the lower fitting.
The combination of both tool and weapon symbolized the RAD proverb “new land for our people, a new people for our land”

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