Help with Uniform Identification

[IowanWW2Historian]

Hello everyone,

Can you guys help answer some questions regarding these infantry soldiers?

1.) The Patch on their left arm. What is it?
2.) Why are they wearing swastika armbands? I thought this was uncommon in the Wehrmacht especially the Heer. Home guard units?
3.) The white or light trousers? I'm assuming this is "bootcamp" but I have never seen them.

Any help from you guys would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone.

[Laurence Strong]

RAD. Reichsarbeitsdienst.....the Reich Labor Service

The shovel like badge indicates District/Battalion....IIRC

https://www.axishistory.com/axis-nation ... eitsdienst

https://www.feldgrau.com/WW2-German-Nat ... eitsdienst


Cheers
Larry

[IowanWW2Historian]

Thank you so much Larry.

[Laurence Strong]

Thank you so much Larry.

My pleasure

Cheers
Larry

[von thoma]

Why are they wearing swastika armbands? I thought this was uncommon in the Wehrmacht especially the Heer. Home guard units?

RAD was a NSDAP Organisation, by this reason they are wearing nazi armbands.
RAD was not a part of the Wehrmacht, but many of its members were enlisted in the Army ( Heer ).
Last picture shows two RAD officers, a Oberstfeldmeister ( Captain ), and a Feldmeister ( Second lieutenant ) with high boots and breeches.
In the pre-war they paraded with shovels