Reich Labour Service (RAD) Enlisted Man's Cap "Robin Hood"

[Horst]

Cap shown by MAP was worn by Arbeitsmann through Unterfeldmeister with the black piping after 1940 this piping was no longer worn - After 1938 the cloth version of the emblem was introduced and authorized for wear .
Horst

[MAP]

Thanks Horst. So....this fell between 1938 and 1940? Which matches with what appears to be the date on the cap (6/40).

Michael

[Rossi]

Great looking coffee bean cap - they even look better on a full mannequin + a desk top trophy.
Horst
Attachment 976365Attachment 976369

Nice display Horst! Happy to see another Spaten alive for reference.

[Horst]

Rossi many thanks - here we discussed the shovel on the forum

RAD Weapon of Choice

Here is my cap with a friend

Horst

[Wilhelm Saris]

After 1938 the cloth version of the emblem was introduced and authorized for wear

Are you sure about this? Would like to see this stated with a publication, order or announcement!
My 1938 and 1939 official publications do tell me otherwise. In a survey of orders from 1941 all
was as in 1938 and 1939!

By the way: the disappearing of the black piping was never mentioned in any official RAD-publication,
but during the war it often was not longer included, due to the saving of raw materials.

[Wilhelm Saris]

In 1938 indeed a cloth version came into being. But there is a but!!

Here a note from February 1, 1938 where the cloth version was introduced.
It was just for leaders (and not enlisted ranks) and came instead of
the enameled version. Note it from the "Uniformen-Markt" and was
also published in other sources. Enlisted ranks continued wearing the
metal version. A woven cloth version was introduced, but was actually
not for the "Robin Hood"-cap, but for the field- and skiing cap.



And so the metal version was for enlisted ranks; the handembroidered
for leaders (see for rank the note from the "UM"):





The information is from the uniform-regulation DV.18 from early 1939,
as well as the "Handbuch der Verwaltung", also from early 1939. In the
"Verordnungsblatt RAD" no changes were mentioned (available into
ultimate 1944) ever. In a survey of all regulations neither a change was
mentioned (Zusammenstellung Verfügungen from January 1941).

From the same source, "Bekleidungsvorschrift RAD" (Dv.18), the woven
version information came. With the field-cap and skiing-cap this version was worn
(with the description for the "Robin Hood"-cap no insignia was included, while
the caps were to be delivered without them):



Description for the woven version for the field-cap.

I do not have the time at the moment to go through all of my RAD sources
to find other and more detailed information, sorry!

[Wilhelm Saris]

The hand-embroidered cap insignia for leaders set going in 1938.
To be specific and accurate however:
New items, as the cap insginia, were announced December 22, 1937
in the "Verordnungsblatt für den Reichsarbeitsdienst", number 198.
The order from Hierl was dated December 21, 1937 as VW 2 I 7100-6198/37.



The description for the cap insignia for leaders was published in detail with
the date February 22, 1938 and to be in force March 1, 1938. Here the
specific details:





Fakers also read forums and will use in a while these details for faking this
cap insignia, believe me!

[Wilhelm Saris]

the disappearing of the black piping was never mentioned in any official RAD-publication,
but during the war it often was not longer included, due to the saving of raw materials.

There were two mayor simplifications during the war: spring 1942 and fall 1943. Various things
were mentioned, but the black piping wasn't. May have taken place at one of the occasions!!
Maybe it was not that important?

[Horst]

Great research Wilhelm thanks - my information comes from reference books i.e. Angolia & Littlejohns Labor organizations of the reich etc. My guess is as the war cranked on no one cared what emblem who wore as this is the case in may pictures from the period in all branches i.e. Heer,SS & also other political branches. One wore what was available. Those of us who have been in this hobby for many years have come across this situation many times. Everything was not written in stone.
Horst

[Gwar]

Great research Wilhelm thanks - my information comes from reference books i.e. Angolia & Littlejohns Labor organizations of the reich etc. My guess is as the war cranked on no one cared what emblem who wore as this is the case in may pictures from the period in all branches i.e. Heer,SS & also other political branches. One wore what was available. Those of us who have been in this hobby for many years have come across this situation many times. Everything was not written in stone.
Horst

Unfortunately, We rely on certain books that do not have the resources such as Wim. Thank goodness we have such a member here on our Forum..