RAD NCO/EM's Visored Field Cap M43
CATEGORY: Version
SKU: 80.GOR.01.01.02.003.000
Estimated market value:
Estimated market value:
Manufactured in brown wool with fold-down scalloped side panels, secured at the front by a single olive-drab coloured pebbled aluminum button. The cap features thick chocolate brown piping along the bottom brim with a red, black, and green machine embroidered RAD insignia, consisting of a white pointed spade with red bordering, and a back swastika in the center, with outward facing wheat stalks at a 45 degree angle, with a olive-green coloured threaded background on a olive-green coloured wool backer. The insignia is original to the cap and appears to be hand stitched to the cap. In addition, the cap also features a cardboard-reinforced visor at the front. The interior is lined in a light brown cotton/rayon blend, with a non-perforated brown leatherette sweatband around the entire cap. The liner cap is unit marked “RAD Br.8”, dated “42” (1942), size stamped “59”, with maker stamp “Clemens Wagner, Braunschweig”. Measuring 260 mm x 190 mm. The cap is generally well preserved with the exterior wool being intact with only minor wear spots. The interior headband is cracked in multiple spots and has started to degenerate through age and wear. Overall near very fine condition.
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.
The earth-brown Einheitsfeldmütze (Visored Field Cap) was introduced in 1943, which is why collectors refer to it as M43, with the "M" for “Model”. It is similar to the M43 cap used by the Wehrmacht. It has two flaps that are usually worn turned-up and button-secured at the front. This cap usually features two metal buttons, however examples with just one button are known to exist. When the weather grew colder, the flaps could be unbuttoned and pulled down to cover ears and neck.
General and Officer caps usually, but not always, have gold-coloured and silver-coloured piping respectively. NCO/EM (Non-Commissioned Officers/Enlisted Men) caps are never piped. There are usually no air vents on this cap.
The cap features the RAD emblem on the front.
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