WW2, German, Enlisted Man's RAD Hewer and Original Scabbard

*WW2, German, Enlisted Man's RAD Hewer and Original Scabbard*

Formerly established in 1934, the Reich Labor Service (RAD or Reichsarbeitsdienst) aimed to combat mass unemployment in Germany. It mandated that every young German male serve six months in the RAD before joining the military. They received training and lived in camps but were unarmed. By 1939, it had 360,000 men and became compulsory. With the onset of war in 1939, the RAD members were given military training and transferred directly into the Nazi Armed Forces to perform manual labour such as road clearing, repair railways etc. In 1943, the RAD was armed and militarized for operations in those areas.

RAD Officers and men initially wore the same edged weapon, a large Hewer with stag gripped plates. From 1939 officers wore a scaled down version with silvered head. This is an enlisted mans Hewer with eaglehead pommel, stag horn grips, reeded and curved quillon and 24cm matte-finished, Bowie-shape blade, etched with the RAD motto, Arbeit Adelt (Work Enobles), 37.1cm overall. The silvered scabbard has curled design decoration at the upper and a shovel over wheat stalks at the lower end.

The Hewer was not available by private purchase but issued from local battalion bases as required. Each Hewer had a unit abbreviation and serial number as well as the RAD’s triangular proof mark. Post 1936, this practice stopped.

*Condition*
This Hewer is in good condition commensurate with its age and service. It has no markings in keeping with those issued post 1936. The blade has minor nicks and some discolouration. The gild in the engraving is slightly faded and also worn on the grip. The scabbard fits securely and is in good condition again with age and service related wear to the black metal paintwork and slight rusting to the white metal. See photographs as part of the condition report.

RQMEOOXGOO_5471136138