Original German Reich Labour Service RAD Cap Badge By W.D. Wilhelm Deumer, Lüdenscheid

SKU: 896

Original/Reproduction: Original

Availability: In-stock

Manufacturer: W.D. Wilhelm Deumer, Lüdenscheid

Date Manufactured: 1939

Model: RAD

Size / Dimensions: 37 mm X 44mm.

Materials / Construction: zinc, with silvered or painted finishes.

Condition: Excellent

Price: $95.00

Seller Type: WW2C

Seller ID: JMW

Code: PS40

Return Policy: 3-day inspection and return policy on used guns and accessories.

Description

This is an Original German Reich Labour Service (Reichsarbeitsdienst – RAD) Cap Badge. It was made by German Insignia and Awards makers Wilhelm Deumer of Lüdenscheid and is in excellent condition.

The Reichsarbeitsdienst (Reich Labor Service) was Germany’s national labor-service organization during the Third Reich period. It was established in its compulsory form in 1935 and in the meantime had already been organized as a voluntary organization already in 1931. There young men were put into uniformed labor formations, which were then deployed for agricultural work as well as for other types of work, such as construction, land-improvement and other infrastructure work.

RAD Cap Insignia

The unique Insignia of the RAD, featuring a traditional laborer’s spade, merged with a wheat ear. This highly recognizable spade and wheat motif was also included on RAD uniform items, RAD equipment, flags, and on awards and items issued by the various organizations affiliated with the Reich Labour Service.

Cap insignia like this were worn on the uniforms of RAD members and denoted their membership of the organization.

Wilhelm Deumer – Lüdenscheid

A nice connection for the collector of historic German Militaria, here is another insight into the insignia manufacturers of Germany during World War II. This RAD Cap Badge was made by Wilhelm Deumer of Lüdenscheid.

Deumer produced German military and paramilitary insignia and thus also produced a large number of decorations during the Third Reich. Today collector pieces from that period are occasionally found with the maker’s mark “Wilhelm Deumer, Lüdenscheid” or codes associated with this manufacturer. As can be expected from the period, a few signs of aging are noticeable. However, these do not detract from the quality of the piece and are by no means as pronounced as to render the object unsuitable for display.

This RAD cap badge is of special interest to those collectors who not only collect items related to the Reich Labor Service, but also items with maker marks on them, specifically those that were produced by German firms that produced military awards, decorations, and other types of military Insignia.

Condition

This is an original German Third Reich Labour Service, Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD) Cap Badge in excellent condition.

The RAD Cap Insignia shows very nice material, great details and is perfectly suitable for a museum or for display in a showcase. Only very minor signs of aging or of having been handled can be detected and these are of a nature to have been produced during the period of use of the artifacts.

Collector Significance

Original RAD uniform insignia is a fast-growing area of interest for collectors of German WWII militaria. Maker associated examples are especially desirable as they allow the collector to identify the manufacturer of the large quantity of decorations and insignia produced by Germany during the Third Reich.

A beautiful piece from German labor-service of the Third Reich era. A well-crafted piece for the serious historian or collector of German WWII militaria, Third Reich uniform insignia, or German labor-service of the Third Reich.

Highlights:

• Original German Third Reich period RAD cap badge
• Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD) – Reich Labour Service
• Traditional RAD spade-and-wheat insignia
• Manufactured by Wilhelm Deumer, Lüdenscheid
• Desirable maker-associated German insignia
• Period uniform cap insignia
• Strong, well-defined detailing
• Excellent condition
• Excellent addition to an RAD, German uniform insignia, or WWII militaria collection

Historical Collector's Note: We sell only original historical articles. Description of organizations and of the used symbols of that time is only for historical purposes, for the context.