Alles Gute zum 5-jährigen Jubiläum der KB1-Sammlung!
( Happy 5th Anniversary of the KB1 Collection! )
This is a special post dedicated to you the reader, the supporters and friends who we have made along this journey to 5 years of The Kriegsberichter 41 Collection (KB41 Collection). It has been a pleasure to share the collection with you for the past 5 years and interact with you all. Here is to another 5 years and many more of sharing original unpublished stories and history unique to the collection. We officially marked our 5 year milestone on the 4th January 2023, however we didnt post on our anniversary day as we was sorting our Herbert Feldpost series!
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The photograph grouping here shows a Arbeitsmann of the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD) celebrating a event, likely a birthday with his friend or brother, seen in smart civilian dress. The two are seen in this 4-piece photograph grouping celebrating and having a great time with decorations and props having a good time in each other’s company. The two are seen celebrating wearing small party hats, one rounded and small and the other a small pointed party hat. The streamers covering them as they are photo'd together, one shows a the Arbeitsmann using a party blower.
The Arbeitsmann of the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD) is seen smartly wearing a 1933 pattern open dress tunic. On the sleeve of the tunic a swastika armband is in wear. This armband was worn by all members of the RAD, whilst it was usual for members of the NSDAP and Organisations of it to wear such armbands, the RAD being a State labour service was the only exception to wear the armband whilst not being a NSDAP organisation. This was due to the RAD being a state labour service, and the NSDAP being in control of the state.
Seen above the armband is what is known as a Reichsarbeitsdiesnt Abteilung patch. The Abteilung patch (department patch), this seen with a white shovel head detailed with numbers inside it. The Abteilung patch denotes the information that the Arbeitsmann is attached to, the numbers are “305” with “3” underneath it. The “305” is split into two numbers, 30 and 5. The number 30 denotes it as the 30th Arbeitsgau whilst added with the 5 for 305 denotes it as Gruppe 305. Whilst the “3” below it refers to the Abteilung or Abt. The area of Germany that the Arbeitsmann’s Arbeitsgau is from is the Bayern-Hochland, Southern Germany.
Also, to note on his lower sleeve, below the arbeitsgau patch there is another piece of insignia known as the ämelabzeichen (sleeve badge or cuff title). This ämelabzeichen is a thin band with two white lines either side of a letter “R” in the centre. The “R” seen in gothic script font denotes the region in which the Arbeitsmann was under, this being Gau Rhineland region of Germany. The “R” ämelabzeichen was also worn by workers of the Siegfried line from 1939-1941, to which the Arbeitsmann depicted was likely apart of.
This photograph group shows not only the details of the young Arbeitsmanns tunic and allows for a location in which the Arbeitsmann would be apart of but shows the comedic and social elements away from work that members of the Reichsarbeitsdienst would be apart of. The two seen here one proudly wearing his RAD uniform, likely on leave from his duties celebrates an event with his friend or family in smart civilian dress. The photos show the two individually enjoying the celebration in addition to a photograph together showing them exhausted from the event with their small party hats covering their faces. This together photograph shows how the tiered pair have enjoyed their party and that the event has been photographed to remember the occasion. Like most photographs from the period, one that would be reflected on and remembered. This type shows the personal and comedic elements of the period, away from the war and in the field.