History

The RAD (Reichsarbeitsdienst = Reich Labour Service) was officially established on June 26, 1935 as the sole, and compulsory, labour service of Germany. Its purposes were to help the economy, curb unemployment, and indoctrinate its members with the NSDAP ideology, as well as play its part in militarising the German population.

The FAD (Freiwilliger Arbeitsdienst = Voluntary Labour Service) was the precursor of the RAD in the early 1930s. Official uniform regulations were first introduced on October 1, 1933, with modifications made in July 1934. It is also known as NSAD (Nationalsozialistischer Arbeitsdienst = National Socialist Labour Service).

The earliest uniforms were a not entirely successful attempt at standardisation. They gave way to a second wave of FAD uniforms that, when the RAD was established, experienced no significant changes.

Aiguillettes in the RAD were only worn by adjutants. There were no female adjutants in the RAD.

The first aiguillette introduced after the establishing of the RAD dates to December 21, 1937. It was made from brown silk-like material. Contrary to the 1934 FAD aiguillette, this one only has one double cord, but ending in two metal tips, each showing three wheat ears each on two sides. This version was worn with the regular dress and the service dress, on both the tunic and greatcoat.

A second version exists, made from thin aluminum fabric with interwoven brown thread. This version was worn with the tunic of the formal and informal (evening) dress by ranks Feldmeister and above. It has 41 windings and is a little bit thicker than the brown version.