Figure 1.-Here we see a RAD grouo wuth their uniforms, shovels and unit banner. The photograph is undated, but was probnly taken before the War. |
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The RAD was for youths 18-25 years of age. We are not sure just how recritment worked. I believe that some youths volunteered. Others were drafted. Upon graduation at age 18, secondary students joined the RAD. Participation in the Hitler Youth and completion of the RAD requirement was necessary for university entrance. Previous to the Reich Labor Service Law, a law was passed in which military service was also made compulsory. Together, the two laws created a centralized, national and compulsory system in which all males between the ages 18 and 25 would first enter labor service for a period of 6 months, and upon completetion, enter service for a further 2 years in one of the branches of the Wehrmacht - the German Armed Forces. University students received deferments from military service, at least until the War began. Most German youth in the 1930s did not attend secondary school so they were conscripted out of their jobs. Quite a number were unemployed. They worked for the government for 6 months. All the images of youth in RAD uniforms that we have found are male. There was, however also a female RAD program. The male program was the Reichsarbeitdienst Manner (RAD/M). The female program ws the Reichsarbeitdienst der weibliche Jugend (RAD/wJ).
The law creating the Rich Labor Service (RAD) was decreed at the same time military conscription was instituted (June 1935). The Reicharbeitsdienstgesetz mandated that all German boys and girls work in an 'honorary service to the German people". Males immediately began to volunteer and be drafted for RAD service, far fewer females were affected. For them RAD service was voluntary. [Hagemann, pp.493-94.]
The RAD was for youths 18-25 years of age.
We are not sure just how recritment worked. I believe that some youths volunteered. Others were drafted. Upon graduation at age 18, secondary students joined the RAD. Participation in the Hitler Youth and completion of the RAD requirement was necessary for university entrance. Previous to the Reich Labor Service Law, a law was passed in which military service was also made compulsory. Together, the two laws created a centralized, national and compulsory system in which all males between the ages 18 and 25 would first enter labor service for a period of 6 months, and upon completetion, enter service for a further 2 years in one of the branches of the Wehrmacht - the German Armed Forces. University students received deferments from military service, at least until the War began. Most German youth in the 1930s did not attend secondary school so they were conscripted out of their jobs. Quite a number were unemployed. They worked for the government for 6 months.
The RAD was primarily a male organization. Virtually All the images of RAD youth we have found are are male, usually teenagers. There was, however, also a female RAD program. The male program was the Reichsarbeitdienst Manner (RAD/M). The female program ws the Reichsarbeitdienst der weibliche Jugend (RAD/wJ).
The BMD (girl's Hitler Youth) operated under the same law regulating the boys making paricipation mandatory. This does not seen to have been the case for the RAD. It was voluntary for the girls at first. This reflcted the NAZI view that women belonged in the home. As a result, there were at first few RAD Arbeitsmaiden (labor girls). One author suggests about 40,000 girls. [Hagemann, p. 494.] This was a small fraction of the number of BDM girls. Many of the initial RAD Arbeitsmaiden were graduating secondary school girls who wanted to enter university. This was in contrast to the boys who wre many youths who only hs primary educations. NAZI policy was to restrict female unversity matriculation, but many young women wanted to enter the university. To do so they had to sucessfully complete 6-months of RAD service. The girls wre not used for heavy labor cinstruction projects. They were usually used for agriculture and gardening as wll as domestic dutis, assigned to qualifuin households as well as care gor children abd the elderly. This began to change with the advent of World War II (1939). The Government issued the Verordnung für die Durchführung der Reichsarbeitspflicht für die weibliche Jungend (Implementation of the Reich Labor Service for Female Youth). RAD service became mandatory to aid in the war effort for girls age 17-25 years. This applied to girls who were not working or in school or needed on family farms. The number if RAD girlswas increased to 100,000. Gradually as the war dragged on, the use of the girls began to change from gardening and domestic service. The Wehrmacht upon launching Brbarossa needed more personnel. They begn tappinging into female youth. This was authorized by the Erlss über den weiterenKriegshilfsdienstmaiden (Decree in the Further Deployment of the Reich Labor Service for Female Youth). This authorized using the teenage Arbeitsmaiden in auxilery military services -- Kriegshilfsdiennstmaiden (Wartime Auxilery Service Girls). The plan was to increase the number of RAD girls from 100,000 to 150,000. The girls took over non-combat dties such as offce work bd communications, rleasing men for combat. [Seidler, pp. 44-50.] This was different than the approximately 1.5 million BDM girls who were more commonly used for agicultural labor.
Hagemann, Karen, in Barton C. Hacker and Margaret Vining. A Companion to Women's Military History (Brill: 2012).
Seidler (1978).
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