Photothread: Reichsarbeitsdienst vehicles

[john_g_kearney]

This Auto Union has the licence plate number RAD-20297. Did the RAD really have over 20,000 vehicles?
John.

RAD 20297.jpg

[Rnox]

Yes...











Rnox.

[SIS 5]

Hi John,

there were also vehicles without a special RAD license plate. Here pics of Hansa-Lloyd trucks.

Best regards

Bert

[SIS 5]

Hi John,

here a pic of a RAD Ford V 3000 S. Source of the pic: https://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-Lkw-im-Die ... Sw2BddtZQm

Best regards

Bert

[john_g_kearney]

Gentlemen, thank you very much - fascinating photographs.

John.

[Maxschnauzer]

Hi John,
Thanks for starting this most interesting thread. Borgward also made some lorries specially for the RAD, having a unique cab I have not seen on other versions:

[john_g_kearney]

Thanks, Max - more interesting photographs.

The highest licence plate number on these photographs is on a motorcycle: RAD-90490. Did the RAD really have over 90,000 vehicles, or were the numbers allocated in batches?

From the photographs,
RAD-20xxx = automobiles
RAD-40xxx = lorries / trucks
RAD-80xxx = motorcycles.

John.

[Maxschnauzer]

Hi John,
I don't know about the RAD, but in the Wehrmacht plate numbers were generally assigned in blocks by military district, e.g. in 1935 Heer Military District I was assigned 10,000-19,999, District II 20,000-29,999, etc.. However this differed for other branches of Wehrmacht and changed through the years. In no case were these numbers necessarily indicative of the number of vehicles actually in service, however. See http://www.kfzderwehrmacht.de/Homepage_ ... -mil-.html for further info.

[john_g_kearney]

Many thanks, Max.

I see Holger's website says that the RAD licence plates were introduced in 1941. I wonder why? The NSKK (for the most part) used civilian licence plates as here. The lorry is a Ford BB, with a IIIY (Münsingen and Ravensburg, Württemburg) licence plate.

John.

NSKK_IIIY xxxx.jpg

[SIS 5]

Hi John,

yes, the RAD license plates were introduced in 1941. Till 1941 the RAD vehicles had normal license plates depending of the regions of their RAD units. Please, have a look on the pics I posted. But in 1941 the RAD units had no relationsship to their origin regions. They were in action all over Europe, especially in Russia and France.

Best regards

Bert

[Maxschnauzer]

Now that we've solved the license plate issue here's a few more RAD vehicles.

[SIS 5]

Hi Max,

thank You very much for posting these pics with more RAD vehicles. I will continue with three RAD vehicles (source of the pics: expired ebay auctions).

Best regards

Bert

[Rnox]

Next pic's...

[RAD-10064]



[RAD-10215] & [RAD-10476]



[RAD-10222]



Rnox.

[Maxschnauzer]

Nice photos, guys! Here's three more special RAD Borgwards. Note that one also has a WL marking.

[john_g_kearney]

Fascinating photographs, many thanks to all. I was particularly interested to see the Auto Union with the aircraft (a B17?) painted on the front mudguard. Indicating an RAD Flak unit, perhaps?

John.