WWII German Reich Labour Service (RAD) Men's Cap Badge
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
c. 1935-1945
This is an authentic Third Reich period cap badge (Mützenabzeichen) issued to enlisted men and non-commissioned officers of the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD), the German State Labour Service.
Designed as a functional piece of uniform insignia, the badge was worn on the RAD enlisted man's side cap, frequently referred to as the "Robin Hood" cap. The badge is constructed using die-stamping techniques in an open-work style, crafted from a metal alloy, likely aluminum or zinc, and finished with a silver-grey coating. The design centers on a swastika integrated with two stylized wheat sheaves, which together symbolize the organization's agricultural labor mission and national service ideology.
Measuring approximately 40x37mm, this badge represents a specific historical artifact from the era of mandatory labor service in Germany between 1935 and 1945. It is noted that this particular specimen is missing a prong on the reverse side, consistent with its age and period usage.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Finish
- Silver-grey
- Material
- Metal alloy (likely aluminum or zinc)
- Dimensions
- 40x37mm
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Die-stamped open-work insignia
Design
- Obverse
- Swastika flanked by two wheat sheaves
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.