WW2 German Labour Service RAD Aluminum Belt Buckle With Tab Dated 1939 Maker D.R. Franke and Co.

This item is a World War II German Labour Service (Reichsarbeitsdienst, RAD) aluminum belt buckle, complete with its original leather tab. The buckle is dated 1939 and produced by the maker D.R. Franke & Co. Markings on the reverse side confirm the manufacturer’s details and the year of issue, along with RAD insignia featuring the organization’s distinctive spade and swastika emblem within a wreath. The attached leather tab is also marked and dated, enhancing its collectability and helping verify authenticity and period use. Belt buckles of this type were standard issue for RAD personnel, a paramilitary organization responsible for labor and infrastructure projects in Germany before and during World War II. Constructed from lightweight aluminum, these buckles replaced earlier nickel and steel versions to conserve materials. This example illustrates typical construction and design features seen in uniforms and equipment used by RAD members during the late 1930s.