WWII GERMAN - RAD SWIMMING SUIT The German National Work Service (RAD - Reichsarbeitdienst) was established on July 1934. This started as a labor organization. It provided labor to several agricultural and public works around Germany. On June of 1935 it was transformed into a full blown ministry. With the passage of the Reichs Labor Service law, all males between the ages of 18 and 25 were required to serve 6 months under the RAD organization. This acted as a stepping stone where later they were obligated to serve 2 years in a branch of the military.

While the RAD swimsuit is not the most valuable item portrayed on this website it is however a rare and interesting find. The author has not seen another example of its kind. The item is in un-used condition.

The suit is of cotton construction. Blue color and has a patch with the RAD emblem sewn to its left side (left picture). The same side of the suit has two draw strings. The inside front and back contain markings stamped with black ink. One of the markings is a date, 1939.