Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a WWII German Reichsarbeitsdienst Gürtelschnalle für Leiter, or National Labor Service Belt Buckle for Leaders. It is a stamped, two piece aluminum circular buckle measuring 47mm in diameter, and features five highly embossed sheaves of wheat encompassing an embossed inverted spade head with high relief canted swas hook cross) on a finely pebbled, domed central field. The reverse of the buckle has crimped outer edges and a separate circular plate insert with crimped on double loop and retaining hook. This attaches to the included second double loop, which originally would have been on the other end of the belt.

Overall condition is very good, showing light wear commensurate with service, and there is some overall light oxidation and dirt. We were not able to find any maker mark on the buckle.

A lovely example of a hard to find RAD Leader's belt buckle, 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. 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. Originally personnel serving with RAD wore a variety of earlier FAD/NSAD belt buckles until February 15TH 1936 when new pattern belt buckles for Officer’s and EM/NCO’s were introduced to provided uniformity in dress.