photographs Arbeidsdienst.

[nesredep]

Hello!

          ARBEITSDIENST ; Wearing Armband Non-Members f the Armed Forces (Introduced by the Army Mobilization Order of 1937) All wearing Regular WH Cap.

 

        Number 2 from left wearing at top Party Badge and WW1 Black Wound Badge Cutout.

 

 

Best from Norway,Km-Norway.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 4, 2016 by hucks216

[Odulf]

Hi Morten,

These are men of the Construction Units, mainly they were elderly men and experienced construction workers, unlike the young RAD conscripts. They were subordinate to RAD Battalions, who were acting under the command of the Army in Poland. They were regarded as combattants, hence their yellow armband. The black soutache (colored cloth reversed chevron over the roundel) indicates that they are rated as Pioniere (pioneers).

In other photos they are waring the yellow armband "DEUTSCHE WEHRMACHT", as RAD personnel who are subordinate ti the Army (Wehrmachtsgehilfen).

Enclosed some photos from my collection with similar Construction Units (Bau Truppen) and RAD in Poland.

Edited July 3, 2016 by Odulf

[LarryT]

Very nice photos on a subject not talked about much.

I thought I would contribute this RAD wedding portrait.

Cheers,

Larry

[Odulf]

Nice one Larry, the yellow armband is (after Sept. 1939) often seen in combination with the black cuffband with one Gothic letter, indicating service on the Westwall (Siegfriedline) or on the Ostwall (along the Polish border).

My 2nd photo shows men of RAD-Baubataillon 306 in Poland in September 1939, still wearing their cuffband for the Ostwall.

[LarryT]

8 hours ago, Odulf said:

Nice one Larry, the yellow armband is (after Sept. 1939) often seen in combination with the black cuffband with one Gothic letter, indicating service on the Westwall (Siegfriedline) or on the Ostwall (along the Polish border).

My 2nd photo shows men of RAD-Baubataillon 306 in Poland in September 1939, still wearing their cuffband for the Ostwall.

Thanks for the information. I believe the "n" stands for Niedersachsen.

Other organisations such as Deutsche Reichsbahn also wore the same Deutsche Wehrmacht armband while on active duty in enemy territory.

Cheers,

Larry

[Gert Bruhn]

Hi Odulf,

 

Would you have any information about the particular Baubataillon to which the RAD-Abt. 2/83 (Kliestow) belonged, and where in Poland it was employed? Thanks.

 

Regards,

Gert