WWII German RAD Reich Labour Service Man Portrait Photograph- Identified on Reverse, “Franz”

Original period black-and-white portrait photograph of a uniformed member of the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD), or Reich Labour Service, from the Third Reich/WWII era.

The RAD affiliation is supported by the distinctive insignia visible on the front of his field cap. The upper emblem appears consistent with the RAD’s characteristic spade-and-wheat-ear insignia, with the national cockade immediately beneath it. He wears a button-front RAD uniform shirt with breast pockets and a cross-body equipment strap.

The reverse bears a handwritten name that appears to read “Franz …”, although I cannot confidently decipher the surname from the photograph. This is particularly desirable compared with an unidentified portrait because the surviving inscription provides an avenue for further research into the individual.

The Reichsarbeitsdienst was Germany’s compulsory national labor organization during the Third Reich. Male RAD members performed labor and construction projects and, during WWII, increasingly supported military operations through airfield construction, fortifications, logistics and other wartime duties. RAD photographs displaying clearly recognizable uniform details and insignia are collectible pieces of original German WWII photographic history.

This example has strong visual appeal: the subject faces the camera directly, the uniform is clearly displayed, and the RAD cap insignia is prominent. The photograph remains in good original condition with normal light surface wear, minor edge/corner wear and age-related handling. The handwritten identification remains visible on the reverse.