Something for Yancy - RAD Miniature Spade

[TobyR]

Hi Everybody,

I thought I'd post this, not something I've seen before, although perhaps other members have (Yancy?).

Anyway, it is a scaled down RAD spade, made from balsa wood (measures approx. 40.5cm (16") long). As you can see it has the RAD insignia on it, and the unit information (7/73). Also, the RAD insignia seems to have an applied gold wash or lacquer.

I presume it would have been some sort of service award (end of service?).

All the best,
Toby.

[TobyR]

And a close-up:

[Radcollector]

And a close-up:

Hello Toby,

i have never seen anything like that before,its not a end of service award that i know of,most likely a handmade remembrance of RAD service piece,i have seen different types of these before but never one like this,there is a end of service spade that was given to men when they finished their RAD service but these are much larger than this (Helmut Weitze has one for sale on his site)the other interesting thing about this is the gold colored RAD insignia,the gold colored hat badge is for RAD high ranking officers (generalarbeitsfuhrer and up)and the pin would have been an enamled type, not like this one,also the highest ranking officer for that unit (7/73) would have been a obertsfeldmeister ( rank equal to a army captain i believe)so i dont understand the gold coloring on the badge?maybe for looks?a very unique item and something that i think would be hard to put a price on due to the lack of anything like it to compare it with!!,thanks for posting it,i see/learn something new everyday

[TobyR]

Hi Yancy,

Thanks for taking a look. It's an interesting piece and surprisingly well made, given its size. I presume it would have been made by one of the men, as opposed to someone external to the camp.

And the ingsignia is certainly more eyecatching in gold. Perhaps, it was as you think, purely for aesthetics.

All the best,
Toby.