UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories Medals & Badges of the Third Reich Forum Badges of the Female RAD (RADwJ)

At the request of dj-Joe, I've put together a summary of the badges of the Female RAD.
--Reichsbeitsdienst fur den Weiblichen Jugend--

Their rank was designated by a brooch worn at the neck. Piping around the uniform collar and silver/cotton sleeve emblems denoting their district also indicated rank. As this is a badge forum, we'll concentrate on the metal items.

If you are interested in the RADwJ sit back and enjoy the show. If you're not - I apologize in advance.

The brooches were in three distinct patterns.

The first pattern was offered in 4 grades. It was worn until 1937. These badges were all serial numbered. There was no maker code or year markings on the reverse.
See photo 1

Photo 2. Close up of the "old silver" and "bronze".

Reverse of a bronze first pattern brooch.
This one has an engaving.

a few photos of a photo ID and matching numbered first pattern brooch.
photo 1

Inside of the first pattern photo ID.

Matching numbered badge/Photo ID (first pattern brooch)

Second Pattern brooches worn from 1937-1939.

These badges were maker marked, year dated, and RADJ proofmarked. I believe that the originals are all solid (or scoopback).

I'm not sure how many grades it was issued in, two or three. I have silver and "iron" grades. I've never seen a "gold" grade, and the literature I have is not specific for this pattern badge. If anyone's seen a gold second pattern brooch let me know!

Reverse of some 2nd pattern brooches.

Another reverse of a 2nd pattern brooch - different maker.

And another reverse of a second pattern with a different maker

Third (and final) pattern brooches.
Worn from 1939-1945.
Issued in 4 metals: gold, silver, bronze, and iron.
Each metal type had three rank levels: Ornamented, ribbed, and plain borders.

These brooched were both solid and stamped. All the badges were maked with a maker code, year date, and RADJ proofmark.

Gold brooches.

3rd pattern silver brooches.
I'm missing the ornamented silver... Anybody have one?

Third pattern bronze brooches

Third pattern iron brooches

Some reverse photos of the third pattern brooches. I've chosen different makers than we saw on the 2nd pattern brooches.

Another 3rd pattern reverse.
This one is a stamped version.

And the third pattern Assmann

When a female retired from the RADwJ she was authorized to wear a different style brooch on the civilian clothing.
The books say there were three grades, but I think there were four. The same as the third pattern badges, gold, silver, bronze and iron.
These reverse of the badges could be plain or maker marked. There is no RADJ proofmark, or date - maybe because it was for civilian wear.

Retired brooch in shown in wear. This brooch is unissued in the box.

The RADwJ War Helpers badge was institued in 1941. Shown in wear.

The RADwJ hat badge was issued in 4 grades as the brooches were. Shown in wear. The badge was worn on the side of the hat on the hat band.

The RADwJ long service medals were issued in four grades, gold with eagle on the ribbon, silver with eagle on the ribbon, silver, and bronze.

Reverse of a third class 12-year medal

The standard portrait postcard size photos showing the uniform and the brooches in wear.

REPRODUCTIONS

There is a dark side to this area like many others. The reproductions are [to date] pretty easy to spot if you know what to look for.

First pattern brooch: I've never encountered a first pattern brooch fake.

Second pattern brooch: I've encountered fake bronze versions. I'm not sure if they even had a bronze version. They are stamped and pretty thin. There is no markings on the reverse. The reverse of the badge has that "oil film on water" discoloration in the metal.

Third pattern: Yes, I've found fake bronze with a plain edge, and iron with ribbed edge.

War helper pin: There are some of these that I've stayed away from, but maybe I'm over cautious.

I've photo'ed three of my originals of the ones that I've described in this section. At a minimum these three badges are being reproduced.

They may fake many more, but I've not seen them yet.

To stay safe: 2nd and 3rd pattern should be marked on the back.
2nd pattern badges should be solid or scoop backed.
All of the original brooches are not flimsy, they shouldn't be able to be bent.

The show's over guys.

Thanks for letting me share what I feel is an under-collected area.

Kevin S.

Well Done great review. Thanks for the great effort much appreciated

PAUL

An excellent & informative thread, thanks.

Have you ever encountered a War Helpers badge with a maker mark?

Cheers
Don

Don,

I've never seen a solid back war helper badge that was marked. They usually have a couple of dots (that whould feel like brail) on the back.

I don't have a stamped one, so I can't comment on those. I need one of those I guess.

Kevin

Kevin, an enjoyable well detailed post!
My references were vague on the subject. I now understand the various patterns. Much appreciated!
On the first pattern was the alt silber considered Iron grade?
The hat badges I have only observed in grey/silver. Probably due to zinc content absorbing color. I take it the grades were Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron.

Regards,--dj--Joe

Spelling correction.

I'll ask about the third pattern here, not sure I can ask correctly what I am wondering.
As the wearer went up in rank did the broaches also change back and forth in pattern? For example Iron plain edge, next higher Iron ribbed, to the next, iron rope border, then on to the Bronze grades? Then through the silver and into the Gold grades?

--dj--Joe

Really nice collection. Thanks for showing us!
I always liked the first pattern and the War Helpers badges.

Heres a image of one of the broochs in wear I got off the Military Fundforum..

Kevin, Gaspare, nice in wear pictures! Always a treat to see them.

I forgot to mention the Female RAD medals. Hard to locate and harder "for me" to purchase. I have yet to fork over the asking price for a full size example.

Bronze = 4 years service.
Silver = 12 years.
Silver with a silver eagle ribbon emblem = 18 years service.
Gold with a gold eagle ribbon emblem = 25 years.

Thanks for showing your examples Kevin.

--dj--Joe

Joe,

1) Yes that's correct, Jack Angolia states that the "old silver" is the lowest rank on the first pattern.
My photo was out of order. woops.

2) Good question. It could be put another way, "Did a plain border silver wearer outrank a braided bronze wearer"? Based on the quantity that I've seen for sale and the number of braided badges I've seen in photos in wear, I'd say that the braided brooches in any grade were fewer and harder to earn than the plain borders of grades (with the possible exception of gold). This raises a very interesting point. Maybe gold was "staff" and silver "camp staff" etc.

I'll try to find that out.
Now I'm curious.
I'll ask some heavy hitters.

Have you ever seen, heard or read of grades of the third pattern smooth border with bronze center / silver rim. Silver center / silver rim ( which sounds confusing as it would be all silver). Gold center / silver rim. ?

--dj--Joe

This is one heck of a thread and extremely informitive, hats off Kevin for a good post and for showing us all the variations .

Fritziii

dj-Joe:
No, I've never seen 3rd pattern mixed metal brooches. Just because I've not seen them does not mean they don't exist though.

Fritzii:
Thanks - It was fun to put together. Not too much on RADwJ out there.

kevin

Kevin, I have not seen an example either. Written description only.

Any one recall ever having seen any such examples?

--dj--Joe

Another "Post active service pin" in wear.

Guys, you're supposed to be looking at the pin...

This one is a sad one,

20 year old Anni and killed in an air raid in Nurnberg.

kevin

Link to an RADwJ hat badge. Maker marked Deumer.
http://daggers.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/800097573/m/1030015753

--dj--Joe