Reich Labour Service (Reichs Arbeits Dienst - RAD)

The German Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD), or German Reich Labor Service, was formed in July of 1934 as the official state and party labor service. The RAD was a voluntary service, but it was made compulsory in 1935 for all young men to serve in the RAD for six months. The RAD was was a major organisation established in Nazi Germany as an agency to help mitigate the effects of unemployment on the German economy, militarise the workforce and indoctrinate it with Nazi ideology. It was the official state labour service, divided into separate sections for men and women. In 1935 there were 422,000 men serving in the RAD. RAD units served on all fronts during WWII, from Norway to the Mediterranean Sea, and from France in the west, to the far reaches of Russia in the east. Units served in Albania, Greece, and the former Yugoslavia. Elastolin,Lineol and Kienel produced RAD composition soldiers during 30s. These days RAD figurines are quite rare.