Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice service worn example of a WWII German Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD - National Labor Service) M38 overseas cap (Schiffchen). The overseas cap, nicknamed in German military slang as Schiffchen, or literally "little ship" as it resembled an up-turned row-boat, was standard issue for all branches of the Wehrmacht, as well as many civil organizations of the NSDAP.

This example is constructed of "earth brown" wool, with a white canvas lining and gray rayon sweatband around the circumference. The front features a fine BeVO- style machine embroidered RAD shovelhead insignia, which has a canted Swas (Swas) in the middle, with 2 sheaves of wheat extending from the bottom at 45 degree angles. As there is no black piping on the top of the "scallop", it is a post-1940 made example.

The interior of the cap still retains an original name tag, which reads:

Arbeitzmann
Köhn
4 / 23

"Arbeitzmann" (working man) was the lowest rank of the RAD structure, equivalent to a Heer "Soldat". We are not sure if the numbers under the name are for a unit, or other type of information.

Condition of this cap is good, showing wear from service and use, which gives it a fantastic "been there" look. There are some small tears on the exterior, as well as staining in areas. The fuzzy "Nap" of the exterior fabric is worn away in many areas, and there is a bit of minor mothing. The interior has some small tears as well as repairs, and there is minor staining on the sweatband. Size is relatively small, probably a 56cm or less.

A very nice service worn example of an RAD Enlisted M38 cap, ready to display!

The basis of the RAD, Reichsarbeitsdienst, (National Labor Service), dates back, at least, to 1929 with the formation of the AAD (Anhalt Arbeitsdienst) and the FAD-B (Freiwillingen Arbeitsdienst-Bayern). Shortly after AH’s appointment as Chancellor in Jan 1933, the NSDAP consolidated all labor organizations into the NSAD (Nationalsozialist Arbeitsdienst), a national labor service, under the control of Reichsarbeitsführer Konstatin Hierl. It served as an agency to help mitigate the effects of unemployment on the German economy, militarize the workforce and indoctrinate it with NSDAP ideology. It was the official state labor service, divided into separate sections for men and women.

On June 26 1935 the NSAD was officially re-designated RAD, and from then onward, men aged between 18 and 25 may have served six months before their military service. During World War II compulsory service also included young women and the RAD developed to an auxiliary formation which provided support for the Wehrmacht armed forces.

In April 1934 Hierl had developed a uniform, including the distinctive "Robin Hood" style service cap. The design of the cap was based on a cross between a traditional style peasant cap and the traditional hunters cap. Originally the caps were issued with rank distinction piping with black piping for the EM/NCO ranks of Arbeitsmann to Truppführer, silver piping for company and field grade Officer’s ranks of Obertruppführer to Oberstarbeitsführer and gold piping for General Officer’s ranks of Generalarbeitsführer to Reichsarbeitsführer. In 1940 the use of the black piping for the EM/NCO ranks was discontinued but the silver and gold Officer’s piping remained in use until the end of the war.