RAD was Reich Labor Service.
“an eagle, wings spread carrying a swastika in its talons”=Probably an exercise shirt from the Luftwaffe (Air Force). It could be a “kid’s size”. Most of the those manning the 88 anti-aircraft batteries were Luftwaffe and kids around 12-15.
Can you email me photos....my friend will know some of this and I will forward the photos to him.
I will pm you the email address.
I don’t but I’ll PING a few that probably can help.
Over here Please, TIA to Any and All.
A video link for you:
OSNABRUECK/GERMANY - AUGUST 20: Nazi High Leader General Fritz Schinnerer of the Reich Labor Service (RAD) inspects troops in Osnabrueck, Germany on August 20, 1937.
https://www.shutterstock.com/video/clip-7872676-osnabrueckgermany-—august-20-nazi-high-leader
Good Lord, get a hold of the Smithsonian.
I think the artifacts you are describing are rare and they would LOVE to have them.
I am sure they will assign historians to help you determine exactly what each piece is.
Osnabrück, Niedersachsen Map & Directions - MapQuest
https://www.mapquest.com/germany/osnabruck-282256544
Get directions, maps, and traffic for Osnabrück, Niedersachsen
The Nazi stuff is valuable. Have it appraised and don’t handle it too much unless you’re wearing cotton gloves. Oils from your skin and too much handling will degrade it.
The small tank top shirt with nazi eagle logo is a Hitler Youth shirt— for calisthenics. You can see it in old b/w videos of the youth exercises.
The other flag, armband etc. are generic nazi uniform items, but, if preserved could be donated to a museum. They are, by law— against the law to display in Germany of today.
From a “reenactor” supplier site (so they say):https://www.epicmilitaria.com/german-hitler-youth-vest.html
Daddy brought home a fair amount of nice stuff from WWII. Most of it acquired after the war ended and they were sent into Berlin as part of the Army of Occupation.
The biggies were a Luger and P-38. Also a .32 which I can’t recall except he called it an Austro-Hungarian pistol. A lot of photos, some of them probably of historical interest such as the first Russian tank to enter Berlin.
One medal I recall was a German one which had an inscription something like: Winterschlact Im Osten. He didn’t get any medals except the ones everyone got except the expert rifleman.
With 5 children and a dozen grandchildren, all of it just seemed to melt away. He sold all the pistols while he and Mother were farming and money was close.
One thing I got from reading about his outfit which was disbanded and sent home in Nov. 1945, was that it was considered poor form to accept a purple heart for a minor wound when others were really badly hurt.
The Wehrmacht had sleeveless PT/sports shirts that feature a sew-on eagle woven into a white triangular applique. Their army and navy use a stylized eagle “perched” on a wreath-encircled swastika, the same eagle being black or navy blue respectively; their air force used a more naturalistic black “flying” eagle clutching a swastika in its talons.
Rad Vorten**** does an exact translation. Norwegian and German.
I’ll guess it’s a first and last name that’s got 4 letters unreadable.
Is it INK or STAMPED ? If STAMPED try a paper/pencil rubbing or moisten with water and a Qtip just a bit and see if it helps. Also try a magnifying glass or take a pic with your phone and enlarge it to maybe read.
need pics....I dabble in this kind of stuff.
should be able to accurately identify items with good pics.
you can PM me for my email addy, and send them that way, if you prefer.
Get in touch with FReeper “Kathy in Alaska” at Freeper Canteen. I’m sure she’ll be able to help you.
Wow! I told my wife there’d be knowledgeable answers but...I’m overwhelmed. Thank you all. I’ll follow up as best I can. Maybe find a way to post photos other than in the thread. Thanks so much.
hey Jim, long time no see... can't say more than has already been said but i AM looking forward to you next book!!!
Here is a link to a WW2 US Army pamphlet that was distributed to US troops in France: