Original Item: Only One Available. The NSDAP or Nationalsozialistische Deutsche ArbeiterPartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), was originally founded in Munich as the DAP, Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (German Worker’s Party), on January 5TH 1919. When Adolf AH joined the DAP in the autumn of 1919 he was to reform what was basically a debating society into an active political party. Appointed as the first chairman of the party on July 29TH 1921, AH was to restructure it along para-military lines in a hierarchy.

This new NSDAP structure consisted of four ascending levels of government: the Ortsgruppenleitung (Local group leadership), the Kreisleitung (District leadership), the Gauleitung (Regional District leadership), and the Reichsleitung (National leadership). Each group was distinguished by a specific color of piping on the collar tabs and visor cap. From 1936 to 1939 in this scheme, light blue was for the Ortsgruppe level, black for Kreis level, burgundy red for Gau level, and gold yellow for the Reich level. After that the Kreis level changed to white piping.

Kreisleiter ("District Leader") was a National Socialist Party political rank and title which existed as a political rank between 1930 and 1945 and as an NSDAP title from as early as 1928. The position of Kreisleiter was first formed to provide German election district coordination and, after the NSDAP assumption of power, the position became one of county municipal government, effectively replacing the traditional German government establishment. The rank of Kreisleiter was phased out of the Party in 1939, to be replaced by one of several paramilitary political ranks. After this time, the position of Kreisleiter was denoted by a special armband.

This lovely armband is constructed of a red wool/cotton blend cloth with a central black swas on a white rayon field, all bordered by yellow/gold cotton thread. To the center is a band of gold bullion wire oak leaves with the top and bottom bordered by a single narrow band of gold bullion wire threads, the outer edges also bear narrow bands of gold bullion wire threads. White piping completes the outer edges, pinned into the center of the swas is a single brass pip with an NSDAP style German national eagle embossed in the center. Total length is 20” with a width of 5 1/8”. The armband is in very good, lightly worn condition, showing light overall staining and age toning. There is some scattered mothing, which is confined to the fuzzy "nap" on the fabric.

The inner side still features the original RZM tag which is a complete example. The tag has a correct “F” tax code and features a RZM logo. The ink stamped numerical designation of the hersteller (manufacturer) is A4/134 and has the lot No. 085881 beneath it. It also has a paint stamped label that looks to be a partial N.S.D.A.P. Kampfbinden-Tuch (armband cloth) with an RZM marking.

A very nice example of a hard to find NSDAP armband! Comes ready to display.