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Militaria Autumn Auction 2022
Lot 157:
Reich Labor Service (RAD) Sports Pants
Original German WWII Unissued RAD Labor Force Athletic Shorts, Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD) Sporthose (Badehose)
Chamber piece, green cotton cloth, Bevo-woven badge,
Stamped:
638 RADBAM/L, RAD 1/185, ESCHER STEINER & Co. ZSCHORLAU/ E438 II on the inside.
In the early 19th century, coincident with the rise of nationalism, Friedrich Ludwig Jahn, considered the “father of gymnastics, ” founded the turnverein, a gymnastics club, and invented several of the disciplines that are now part of the Olympic gymnastics program. At the same time, Johann Christoph Friedrich GutsMuths initiated school programs that helped bring physical education to the forefront of German education. Ideals of health—Gesund—and athletic prowess became important components of the German conception of self. These ideals were later critical to the NSDAP conception of the ideal German.
The Reichsarbeitsdienst, (“RAD” National Labor Service), dates back, at least, to 1929 with the formation of the AAD, Anhalt Arbeitsdienst, (Anhalt Labor Service), and the FAD-B, Freiwilligen Arbeitsdienst-Bayern, (Volunteer Labor Service Bavaria). Shortly after AH’s appointment as Chancellor, the NSDAP consolidated these, and other labor organizations into the NSAD, Nationalsozialist Arbeitsdienst, (National Socialist Labor Service), under the control of Reichsarbeitsführer Konstatin Hierl. On June 26th 1935 the NSAD was re-designated RAD. In April 1934 Hierl developed a uniform for all NSAD
These unissued light brown, cotton sports shorts feature an adjustable tie-string at the waist. The interior of the waistband is maker marked with
ESCHER, STEINER & CO. ZSCHORLAU / E438 II
There is also a stamp that may indicate which RAD unit it was intended for. The upper right has a lovely RAD insignia consisting of a narrow black outer border stripe with a white inner border stripe encompassing a red base with a central white circular field featuring a black spade head flanked by two diagonally angled sheaths of wheat.
These shorts are a lovely unissued example and show signs of absolutely no wear or staining.
VERY IMPORTANT!!!
Shipping from our office in Europe
Condition: As in the attached photos.
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