Germany, RAD. An Exceptionally Rare Set of Reichsarbeitsfürer Shoulder Boards, Third Pattern, from the Estate of Konstantin Hierl

(Reichsarbeitsdienst Schulterklappen für Reichsarbeitsführer). An exceptionally rare set of unworn third pattern Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD) Reichsarbeitsführer (Reich Labour Leader) shoulder boards, each constructed of fine black doeskin velvet with a heavy card stock core and magnetic metal wire internal reinforcement, the obverse bearing two bands of interwoven gold bullion wire piping, set around a single band of silver aluminum wire piping presenting in a Russian braid style and interspersed with black threaded chevrons, and pinned with an ornate silvered tombak Reichsarbeitsführer cyphers consisting of a German national eagle perched on top of a circular oak leaf wreath, in turn set around an RAD insignia in the form of a shovel head overlaid by a raised mobile swastika, each measuring 31 mm (w) x 48 mm (h), joined together through the outer buttonholes by a silver aluminum wire cord fastened together by an intact magnetic metal seal of the RAD Beschaffungsamt (Procurement Office), each measuring 38 mm (w) x 125 mm (l), the gold bullion wire demonstrates a moderate patina in addition to oxidation of the Beschaffungsamt seal consistent with storage conditions, an unworn and high-quality set of rare shoulder boards in near extremely fine condition.

Footnote: The position of Reichsführer of the Reichsarbeitsdienst was held solely by Konstantin Hierl. A long-time nationalist agitator and associate of the Führer, Hierl joined the NSDAP in April 1929 and became the leader and founding member of the then-Freiwilliger Arbeitsdienst (FAD) on 5 June 1931. He continued in this capacity when the FAD evolved into the Nationalsozialistischer Arbeitsdienst (NSAD) after the NSDAP’s seizure of power, and continued to consolidate power when the Third Reich’s chief labour organization finally coalesced into the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD) on 11 July 1934. He was awarded the title of Reichsarbeitsführer in 1935, when the RAD transformed from providing economic alleviation from the lingering effects of the Great Depression through public works projects into a paramilitary organization with the aim of subverting Treaty of Versailles restrictions. Accordingly, the RAD provided military-style training and became an essential stepping stone to full-fledged Wehrmacht service. During the Second World War, RAD personnel were involved with providing food and ammunition to frontline forces, building fortifications, laying minefields, and manning anti-aircraft guns. For his services, Hierl was a recipient of the Gold Party Badge of the NSDAP and was notably one of only 11 recipients of the German Order. Having survived the war, he was arrested by Allied authorities, convicted of war crimes, and sentenced to five years of hard labour. Granted early release, Hierl later lived quietly in West Germany and died in Heidelberg on 23 September 1955.