Original Item: One-of-a-kind. This is an original pre-WWII NSDAP membership book issued in 1936 and accompanied by an original enameled party membership badge marked RZM M1/8 for Ferdinand Wagner of Pforzheim. The book records membership information, personal details, and party dues through 1943, while the badge retains its original enamel work and functional pin attachment.

The National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei), commonly known in English as the NSDAP, was a political party in Germany between 1919 and 1945. It was known as the German Workers' Party (DAP) before the name was changed in 1920. The party's last leader, Adolf AH, was appointed Chancellor of Germany by president Paul von Hindenburg in 1933. AH rapidly established a totalitarian regime known as the Third Reich.

All members who joined the NSDAP "party" were given a Mitgliedsbuch (Membership book), which would contain their picture, personal information, and basic information about they party. It also contains pages listing when they paid their Partei-Beiträge (party dues), indicated by stamps, as well as further contributions to the party. It also would contain information regarding any changes in their residential location, as they were required to notify the Ortsgruppe (local group) when this occurred. This tracks the various locations the other was stationed during the NSDAP period.

This NSDAP membership book is named on pages 8-9 to Hans Köllner, born 13. Juni 1898, and a resident of Alexandersbad when the book was issued 20. 2. 36, which was also where he was born. The name listed on page 8 looks to read "Franz Georg Köllner", so we assume "Hans" is the nickname, as it is listed on page 9 as his signature. His Stand oder Beruf (Status or profession) is listed as Zimmermann (Carpenter). There are party dues listed from 1936 to 1943.

Included with the book is an original German NSDAP (NSDAP) Party Enameled Badge Pin, ((RZM)) marked with M1/8 on the back for manufacture by Ferdinand Wagner of Pforzheim. We have only seen a few from this maker before, and they seem to be somewhat scarce.

This example is a standard issue membership badge, awarded to all personnel on acceptance as an official party member. It is a 24mm diameter, die struck alloy badge NSDAP membership badge with multi-colored enamel work. The badge features a translucent red, pebbled, circular outer border with embossed silvered script, NATIONAL-SOZIALSTISCHE-D.A.P., encompassing a white enamel field with canted black enamel Swas.

It is in very good condition, retaining the original plating well on the reverse, while the obverse has had it all wear away, now displaying an oxidized "mustard" patina. The "safety pin" style attachment on the back is fully functional as well.

With its named 1936 membership book, dues entries through 1943, Alexandersbad association, carpenter occupation entry, and accompanying RZM M1/8 enameled membership badge by Ferdinand Wagner, this is a strong matched grouping of prewar and wartime German political ephemera. The differing Hans and Franz Georg name entries, obverse plating loss, and aged mustard patina are all fully disclosed. It would fit especially well in an NSDAP membership document, RZM marked badge, German political ephemera, or advanced Third Reich paper and insignia collection.

Of note: the persons filling out the books often wrote using Kurrentschrift, an older form of Germanic script writing, which is why the all the "u" letters are written as "ŭ". In this script the lowercase "n" and "u" are identical, so the latter gets the arc shaped mark over it. This is not indicative of an umlaut or other diacritical marking.

Of Note: In late 1934 items manufactured for the NSDAP and other organizations, including membership pins, came under the quality control of the RZM, Reichzeugmeisterei, (National Equipment Quartermaster) and as a result were marked with the RZM logo when appropriate. The registry was was based at the Brown house in Munich and NSDAP party headquarters in Berlin. The RZM ensured that the manufacturers of military items were consistent in design, quality of materials and other characteristics of the items. It also defined standards of design, manufacturing and quality and published an authoritative color chart for textiles. The M1 in the code stands for Metal Badges, with Ferdinand Wagner of Pforzheim being contractor number 8.