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Front View

76. National Labour Service - Women's Section: Arbeitsmaid, 1942, Work Clothing.
77. National Labour Service - Women's Section: RADwJ Jungführerin, 1939, Service Uniform.
78. National Labour Service - Women's Section: RADwJ Maidenführerin, 1941, Service Uniform.
The Reichsarbeitsdienst der weiblichen Jugend - RADwl was the Women's (Female Youth) section of the RAD. Girls entered the RADwJ from the BDM and after completing a six month period of service were normally released. However, under the war-time emergency conditions they were obliged to remain in the RADwJ for the duration. In the main their tasks included: work in factories and munitions plants; workers as auxiliary agricultural labour force (No. 76); to assist in various National Socialist war relief agencies; service in hospitals and schools and to help maintain the public utilities and transportation systems (see No. 235). The Service uniforms as worn by the members of the RADwJ were in the same earth brown colour with the same chocolate brown collar as were used by the RAD.

79. German Labour Front: DAF-Gauwerksscharführer, 1938, Service Dress.
80. German Labour Front: Werksscharführer als politische Leiter, 1943, Service Dress.
81. German Labour Front: DAF-Spielm.
Under the leadership of Reichsleiter Dr Robert Ley (see No. 10) the German Labour Front or Deutsche Arbeitsfront DAF - was set up immediately after the Nazi Party had declared illegal and abolished all Trade Unions throughout Germany. Membership of these outlawed trade unions was forbidden, their property and funds were seized and those workers considered acceptable were compelled to become part of the new State Labour organisation. Membership of the DAF was open to corporate entities as well as individual Aryan workers who had to pay about one and a half percent of their monthly wages as dues. The Labour Front was so devised as to parallel the structure of the NSDAP itself. It consisted of the NSBO (the Nationalsozialistische Betnebsorganisation) responsible for the political work and guidance of the DAF, the NSHAGO (NS-Handels und Cewerbeorganisation) representing salaried employees, the Reichsn~hrstand or Food Estate representing agriculture, the Reich Culture Chamber, the Association of NS German Jurists, the thirteen Trustees of Labour (Treuhänder der Arbeit), the leaders of the twelve groups of the Reichstand der Industrie, the Organisation of German Industrialists and the Gauleiters of the Party. Its organisation reached from the Zentralbüro controlled by the Leiter der Deutschen Arbeitsfront Dr Ley down through Gau, Kreis and Ortsgruppen levels to the smallest factory trade cell (Betriebszellen) led by a Betriebsfiihrer or Trade Unit Leader. The purpose of the DAF was to ensure the political stability and trouble-free running of German industry and commerce. The Werksscharen were intended to act as a form of shop steward but as they were required to be ardent National Socialists in reality they proved to be the watchdogs of the Party in checking any disharmony or discontent amongst the workforce at source. In November 1933 dark blue uniforms together with ctnblcms were provided for all members of the Arbeitsfront which had to be obtained at the expense of the members. Rank was indicated by a series of arm chevrons. Silver for lower ranks and gold for the more senior positions. Four colours were adopted to indicate various State levels for the DAF Werksscharführer; yellow for DAF OberstWerksscharführer; red for DAF Cau-Werksscharführer (No. 79); black for DAF Kreis-Werksscharführer and light blue for DAF Haupt-Wlerksscharführer and DAF Werkksscharführer. These four colours were used as piping to the shoulder straps and for the coloured lanyards worn on the uniform (No. 79).