DESCRIPTION: The Reichs Arbeits Dienst was the compulsary labor service unit of the NSDAP. Formed July 1934 as the official state labor service, the RAD was an amalgamation of many labor organizations. It basically was an institution set up in NS Germany as an instrument to combat unemployment, similar to the Civilian Conservation Corps of the U.S., that in fact was a copy of the original RAD. Konstantin Hierl was the leader all through the organization's lifetime. It was a well planned, good organization and it provided jobs, comraderie, snappy uniforms and pride in work for a great segment of Germany's youth. During the ware, the RAD was classified as Wehrmachtgefolge (armed forces auxiliaries). Wouldn't a plan like this be great to put the unemployed to work and as military auxiliaries? They could also be put to work guarding our now penetrated border with Mexico. No illegals need to apply!

The stein is in very good condition and measures about 5" high, not counting the thumblift that take the shape of the spade symbolizing the RAD. It entailed hard work but was rewarding in many ways. The saying on the Labor Corps' dagger said it all -- Arbeit Adelt! Work Glorifies! The stein has the spade in the middle of its central design with the time of service of Herr Hans Beck, and in the spade's center is the unit he served in, which was the 10th Brigade and the 238th Regiment. It says (translated)..."In Memory of My Work Service Time in the Region Oberleichtsrsbach." There are some maker marks on the bottom. A very nice momento of the social programs of the Third Reich.

PRICE: $295.00

Album: Personalized Memory Book for Service in RAD (Item RAD 6-3 & ALBUM 3-2)

DESCRIPTION: This is a book that was given to Orbeitsmen (Verker Service Men) in some work districts in commemoration of their time spent in this the RAD Reich Arbeits Dienste. This one was the Arbeitgau (Secton) XXIX in the Bavarian (Ost Mark), the East. It is known as a ‘Erinnerungsbuch’ book of memory and it was owned by the worker Josef Biller, born 29 August 1928, and he did his compulsary service from 1 April 1938 to 15 April 1939 in Section 7/297. The document inside is signed by the Oberfeldmeister. The book opens with portraits of Adolf Hitler with the Reichsarbeitsfuhrer heil and another picture of the leader of this section (Arbeitsgaves XXIV Laur).  The book has 63 printed pages with many great pictures of men at work and parade, ceremonies, etc. At the back there are some more pages of actual unpublished pictures that were taken by the owner of the book, Arbeitsmann Josef Biller. He shows the camp, the leader,  himself, his comrades, their projects and two great pictures of them clowning around.  Thirtenn in all in the 3 ½" by 2 ½" size. Then there are 11 of the postage stamp size pictures of further activities. The book is in great shape and seldom does an actual personalized one show up.

PRICE: $125.00

DESCRIPTION:  A mess hall bowl 1938 for the Reich Labor Corp (Reichsarbeitsdienst).  It was made by the Meissen-based company Kaesfuer, Saxonia and it bears their mark -- crossed swords supporting a crown. The plare measures 9 inches in diameter and in perfect condition. With the usual slight and light food staining in the bowl (natural and expected.) This is much more rare than the army types.

PRICE: $135.00

DESCRIPTION: This is the Big Guy of Third Reich daggers -- 15.8" in size. A huge knife used in the field as well as for use with the uniform. The RAD was formed in the late 1920's and used throughout the 30's and 40's. Its leader was Konserntin Hierl. He organized it for the purpose of eliminating the unemployment existing among the youth of Germany. Every young German male was required to serve a period of six months in the RAD prior to joining the army (Wehrmacht). It was a good program and the American CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) was copied directly from it. With the onset of the war, RAD members were given military training and then were transferred directly into the German armed forces. During the war, RAD members were called upon to level roads and air fields, clear away rubble, collect captured war materials and generally perform manual labor in the liberated territories. This piece is the standard pattern hewer that was worm initially by officers and enlisted personnel. Later, a 1937 model was introduced and this example would only be worn by subordinate ranks. The type shown here is the model 1934. The knife symbolized the objective of this austere labor service -- New land for our people, a new people for our land. The motto on the blade "Arbeit Adelt" means Labor Enobles. The dagger offered here is by Carl Jul. Krebs of Solingen and bears the #538 on the blade. Krebs had the original contract with the RAD and his examples were the best always. Our pictured hewer is in near mint condition and remarkably without the usual dents, abrasions, etc. caused by vigorous usage. Generally the top of the backstrap is banged up from the owners tacking up notices, etc. Ninety percent of the time this is noted on these particular weapons. The blade is thankfully not sharpened and the words stand out clearly. The throat end cap (or boot) are pristine. The scabbard may be re-painted, but if so, done right. And, there is the possibility it was re-painted back then in the time of the Third Reich. This was often done. This piece is complete with its large accompanying black leather hanger. This is the full hanger (very rare); hanger in three parts. Tom Johnson, in his magnificent volume, "German Daggers of WWI: A Photographic Reference" shows a E. Pack and Sohne model with the full three part hanger on page 498. The hanger is a bit used; shows some light deterioration, but is holding. The hanger clip that actually holds the dagger is marked with the Assmann symbol. This is an all around complete and excellent plus RAD hewer. One would be hard pressed to find a better one than this.

PRICE: $2,250.00

DESCRIPTION: This is a beautiful pewter dish that is quite large, about 14 inches in diameter with the symbol of the Reichsnahrstand. This was a social organization that was formed by the Reichsminister for agriculture and the distribution of food-stuff, Reichsleiter Walter Darre. This was a powerful office empowered to intervene and regulate all agriculture. The title means “Reich Food Estate.”  The RNS was responsible for price controls and the quality of farm produce. Exhibitions were sponsored all over the Reich of farming techniques employed in all functions of farming; even with the antagonism against the Third Reich which is still prevalent today, serious conservation minded persons respect and admire Walter Darre and this organization for its outstanding work in the fields of animal husbandry, sowing the soil and generally making the lot of the farmer as important as it surely should be (favored!). Farming was lifted to the level of importance with all the other critical functions of governmental administration within the Third Reich. The Zinn pewter plate we offer is a prize given at the Fourth Grand Exhibition of the Reichsnahrstand held in Munich in 1937 (71 years ago). This was the honor prize given by the organization with the Bavarian county-authority. The prize was presented for excellence and supreme efficacy in sheep herding (shepherding). The dish is in solid first grade pewter and of course pure pewter is a soft metallic material so over the years a few dents and bulges have been acquired but they just do not detract from the apparent beauty of the piece.  The wheat sheath that lies across the swastika symbolizes the importance of agriculture to the well-being of the German nation while the sword is symbolic of the strength of the people as a result of effective use of the gifts of the earth.  A very meaningful relic of the great social experiment brought low by the terrible fratricidal war, this is a wonderful example of an important ‘Blood and Soil’ item. The Germans were quite aware that the health of the people came directly from the strength of the soil and its abundance.

PRICE: $894.00