History

The Long Service Awards were instituted by Adolf Hitler on January 30th, 1938, and were conferred upon voluntary male and female members of the National Labour Service for long and meritorious service.

The National Labour Service was established in 1929 as a voluntary service, but in June 1935, it became compulsorily for men ages 18-26 to serve for a period of six months. In 1938, the compulsory service period was extended to women.

The number of years serving in the RAD during war counted for double.

There are two versions of each grade, one for men and one for women. The Awards conferred upon men feature a swastika on a spade between two ears of barley. The Awards conferred upon women feature a large swastika between two ears of barley.

The ribbon of the II Class features a small eagle holding a swastika in a laurel wreath in its talons.

The eagle on the II Class for Men was sewn onto the ribbon using gilt thread.

The eagle on the II Class for Women was a small gilt pin facing right on the centre of the bow ribbon.