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.

This is an excellent condition NSDAP Armband from the Kreisleitung (District leadership) level, with the correct white piping on the edge. The top and bottom edges of the armband are trimmed with a 20mm wide, machine woven horizontal strip of repeating golden yellow celleon oak-leaves, which indicates the party rank of Leiter Eines Amtes Stelle (Leader of a Department).

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. The golden oak leaf borders and piping are machine stitched to the band, and look great. Total length is 21” with a width of 5”. The armband is in very good, lightly worn condition, with just a bit of wear and no moth damage we can see. There are just a few small stains and a bit of fraying at the ends.

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 A4/849 and has the lot No. 049981 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 really great example of one of these highly decorative armbands! Comes ready to display.