This uniform ensemble for an RAD-Führerin (female leader) of Arbeitsgau XXI (Lower Rhine) represents a significant artifact of the organization of the Reichsarbeitsdienst der weiblichen Jugend (RADwJ - Reich Labour Service for Female Youth) during the National Socialist era. This particular uniform documents the hierarchical structure and regional organization of an institution that encompassed millions of young women between 1939 and 1945.
The Reichsarbeitsdienst (Reich Labour Service) was established as compulsory service for all young Germans on June 26, 1935, through the Reich Labour Service Law. Initially, the service obligation applied only to young men, but with the outbreak of World War II on September 4, 1939, a six-month compulsory service was also introduced for women. The female RAD was organized into Arbeitsgaue (labour districts), with Arbeitsgau XXI Lower Rhine covering the region along the lower Rhine River.
The jacket made of earth-brown gabardine conforms to the official dress regulations for female leaders in the RADwJ. The characteristic earth-brown color was the hallmark of the entire Reich Labour Service and symbolized connection to the soil and agricultural work. The dark brown collar with silver cord indicated leadership status within the organization. The hierarchy in the RADwJ ranged from simple labour maidens through work supervisors and comradeship leaders to higher-ranking leaders at district levels.
Particularly noteworthy is the silver-woven sleeve badge “XXI”, which documents membership in the Lower Rhine labour district. These district badges were worn on the right upper sleeve and enabled quick identification of regional affiliation. The use of horn buttons and the purple silk lining indicate the higher quality of leadership uniforms compared to the simpler versions for labour maidens.
The accompanying skirt for female helpers shows a simpler execution without inner lining, which could indicate later wartime production or a lower rank. The side zipper by the company “Zipp” was a characteristic feature of RAD skirts and met the practical requirements of labour service. The Zipp company was one of the leading German zipper manufacturers of that time.
The activities of women in the RAD primarily included agricultural work, household assistance in families with many children, and from 1941 increasingly also war auxiliary services. The young women, mostly aged 17 to 25, lived in camps under military-like conditions. The service was intended to promote physical fitness, education in “national community” (Volksgemeinschaft), and preparation for the later role as mother and housewife.
The female leaders of the RADwJ bore considerable responsibility for the care and training of the labour maidens entrusted to them. They were responsible for conducting labour service, ideological instruction, and maintaining discipline in the camps. Their uniforms were designed to project authority and clearly distinguish them from ordinary service members.
The dress regulations for the RADwJ were established in several service instructions and uniform regulations. Procurement of uniforms was centralized, though increasingly severe material shortages occurred during the war. This led to simplifications in execution and the use of substitute materials.
After the war ended in 1945, the Reich Labour Service was dissolved. The uniforms were often destroyed or discarded, making complete ensembles rare today. Such objects now serve as important sources for historical research on organizational structure, material culture, and daily life under National Socialism. They document a dark chapter of German history in which young women were also integrated into a system of compulsion and ideology.
The ensemble from Arbeitsgau XXI Lower Rhine is thus not only an object of uniform history but also evidence of social mobilization under National Socialism and the specific role assigned to women in this system.
