RAD Leader’s Dagger by Krebs
Price: Sold
Description: A RAD leader’s dagger with a 26cm long, single-edged, nickel-silver plated blade, in its original scabbard. The dagger has a cast, nickel-silver plated alloy pommel in the form of a stylized eagle’s head, and a diagonally ribbed bolster beneath its molded, cream-colored bakelite grips. A single flush screw to the reverse grip holds them in place. The nickel-silver plated cross guard decoratively curls at either end and a langet is to its obverse. The langet features the RAD emblem of an upright spade head, whose background is horizontally ribbed, upon which is a mobile swastika, and with sprigs of barley extending upward from either side of the spade’s base. The pommel, bolster, cross guard and langet are all decent condition showing normal period wear and use. The drop forged steel blade has a narrow fuller to each side and a false edge. Its obverse features the acid etched RAD motto, “Arbeit Adelt” (Work ennobles), in Gothic script. The reverse ricasso is also well marked with the acid etched manufacturers logo for Carl Julius Krebs, Solingen. The blade does show some buffing, reflected by the generous price of this still very uncommon Leaders dagger. The 27.5cm tall scabbard has a nickel-silver plated alloy mouthpiece, held in place by two small dome-headed retaining screws, and two similarly plated, wire hanger support loops are soldered along its upper edge.
BACKGROUND:. The basis of the “Reichsarbeitsdienst” (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 [of]-Bavaria). Shortly after Hitler’s appointment as Chancellor, on January 30th 1933, the NSDAP consolidated these, and other labor organizations, into the NSAD, “Nationalsozialist Arbeitsdienst ” (National-socialist Labor-service); a national labor service. In June of 1935 the NSAD was re-designated RAD. In July of the same year RAD service became compulsory, with all German citizens between 19 and 25 years of age required to enlist for a six month term. Of Note: This law also decreed that all military conscripts serve a nine month term. The first RAD sidearm, a Subordinate’s Hewer, was introduced by Reichsarbeitsführer Konstatin Hierl in August of 1934, and was worn by the ranks of “Truppführer” (Corporal) and above. In 1937 a RAD Leader’s Dagger was introduced for the ranks of “Feldmeister (Second Lieutenant) and above, the hewer then being worn only by RAD “Unterführen” (EM/NCO’s).
