Reicharbeitsdienst - the RAD (German/National Labour Service).

From 1934 to 1939 the Castle was used to house the regional RAD. The massive German economic expansion plans of the 1930s were often undertaken by the RAD. The road, rail and bridge construction programmes were rapidly undertaken by the uniformed workers. Often seen as preliminary force to subsequent military units they were clothed, fed, given a roof over their heads and developed a sense of purpose and bond of comradeship among themselves. The photograph below encapsulates this.

Above. Reicharbeitsdienst in the Tiergarten.

Above. Reicharbeitsdienst marching over the ‘Adolf Hitler’ bridge.

Above. Reicharbeitsdienst in the inner courtyard at the Castle.

Dagger or hewer of the RAD (’work enables’ inscription) & Sports vest insignia. 

Above. RAD Intermediate Leader’s field cap.

Above. A sub-division flag of the RAD (top), Camp flag of men’s RAD (bottom left) & Camp flag of the female Youth of the RAD (bottom right).

The RAD Camp at the Castle made way for the opening of the Oflag IVC Transit Camp in 1939.