Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD)

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'clock High!:

Dave Pawlikowski
Helmut Lipfert - Arbeitsdienst ?
Fri Jan 5 18:49:18 2001


I have found a passage stating - " As a former Arbeitsdienst leader, he came to 2/JG52 in the East on 16-12-1942. "

What is Arbeitsdienst? A organization of some sort?

Thank you!

[This message has been edited by Richard T Eger (edited 25 January 2001).]

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Andreas Brekken
RAD - Reichsarbeitsdienst
Fri Jan 5 22:34:32 2001


Hi,

for more info check the net and other sources for the RAD or Reichsarbeitsdienst.

It was a kind of work duty, that I believe most capable german men had to do before they joined the armed forces for their ordinary military service.

Regards,

Andreas

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

Hank
Reichsarbeitsdienst - RAD
Sun Jan 7 19:19:07 2001


Dave, During the III Reich, all German males were required to serve in the RAD for eighteen months upon reaching age 18. Modelled along the lines of the American Civilian
Conservation Corps (CCC), the RAD performed public works projects such drainage clearing, forestry reclamation, etc, basic manual labor. The RAD was the Nazi Party's
initial effort to deal with the massive unemployment they inherited in Jan33. The recruits were billeted in rather spartan camps and received their initial military training, i.e.
manual of arms using spades instead of rifles, PT, and drill & ceremonies. It was another step in the process of indoctrinating the German youth to service for the nation,
Volk (people)and, of course, der Fuehrer. Once the war started, some males were able to avoid RAD service by entering officer training programs directly from high school.
The average German got no higher than laborer during his year and a half of service. Since Lipfert was an Arbeitsdienstfuehrer, he held the equivalent of officer rank and, so,
would have been a voluntary RAD officer serving in such capacity as his primary occupation. The RAD uniformed their personnel, carried attractive daggers as symbols of
rank, and wore robin hood style caps. The two key words in the Nazi Party are nationalist and socialist. The RAD was a major manifestation of the latter under a cloak of
militarism.

[Richard T Eger]

From TOCH!:

eric kent
Re: RAD
Thu Jan 11 04:04:22 2001


My friend's Grandmother was in the RAD as well. At least that's what she called it ("Reichsabeitsdienst"). So, apparently lower or working class women were sometimes
called into it as well.