Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German pre-WWII armband for the Nationalsozialistische Betriebszellenorganisation, or NSBO, the National Socialist Factory Cell Organization. The piece is constructed from red cotton with a separately applied BeVo woven NSBO insignia and dates from the comparatively brief period in which the organization operated from 1931 before being absorbed into the Deutsche Arbeitsfront, or DAF, in 1935.

The central woven insignia features the distinctive NSBO emblem of a hand holding a rectangular headed hammer bearing a mobile hook cross, joined to a large cogwheel or gear marked NSBO. The insignia is sewn to the red cotton band, while the outer edges are neatly finished with fine stitching. The armband measures approximately 15" x 4" and is joined at the rear with a French seam.

Overall condition is very good. The red cotton shows scattered staining and the woven insignia has some age toning, but there are no major tears, open seams, or significant structural losses. The construction remains crisp and the NSBO emblem is well preserved and easily legible.

With its multi-piece construction, distinctive BeVo woven NSBO hammer and cogwheel insignia, French seam, and well preserved overall condition, this is an appealing example of a pre-WWII NSBO armband. The scattered staining and age toning are fully disclosed. It would display especially well in an NSBO, DAF predecessor, German political organization, pre-WWII textile insignia, or advanced armband collection.

The RBA, "Reichsbetriebszellenabteilung" (National-factory-cells-department), was founded in January of 1931 and was renamed the NSBO, "Nationalsozialische Betriebszellen Organization" (National-socialist Industrial-cells Organization), in March of that year. This organization acted as the NSDAP's alternative to labor unions and communist worker groups in industrial factories. Officially a national organization, the NSBO was concentrated in the heavy industrial centers, with very little representation outside these areas. After all non-NSDAP trade unions were outlawed by decree on 2 May 1933, the NSBO became the only official workers' organization in Germany.

This moment of glory, however, was short, for the German Labour Front (DAF) was established a few days later. More organized and better represented at national level, the DAF ended up absorbing the NSBO in 1934, and in March 1935 it ceased to exist.