Origin of Labor Day Badges?

[Br. James]

Most collectors who find interest in tinnies will have accumulated at least a few Labor Day/1 Mai Badges. Unlike other event tinnies, Labor Day Badges have no reference to a specific location attached to them, hence my question: was the 1 Mai/Tag der Arbeit event as observed by each year's badge one single event, perhaps in Berlin, or was this badge sold at local and regional Labor Day events all across Germany each year?

Br. James

[Br. James]

Anyone have any thoughts, comments or response here??

Many thanks,

Br. James

[Curt Steinbach]

Hello Br. - Considering the fact that the first of May was and still is a national holiday (equivalent to our Labour Day) it would be safe to assume that this was sold all over to commemorate the day itself rather than at any particular event. That would also explain the huge numbers of them around and the long list of makers for them.

Curt

[Br. James]

Very good points, Curt; quite sensible.

Anyone else have any thoughts or comments? Thanks,

Br. James

[feldpost 58]

Hi,

The NSDAP came into power in January 1933, and they "gave" the German people the 1st of May 1933 as a bank holiday and then abolished free trade unions on the 2nd May 1933.
After this, most workers had to be affiliated to the DAF which was a Nazi "Trade Union" supervised by Dr. Robert Ley.
In most jobs, a person had to join the DAF to continue in work; and this programme was the NSDAP's main source of income after coming to power before and during the war.
Millions were raised by the DAF, and as a person who experienced these times said to me:- "what do you do when a Mafia style gang take over your country?
You can't complain or you will go to a KZ, it was best to keep quiet and do your job"
This is the origin of the "Tag Der Arbeit" badge.

Best wishes,

John.

[Br. James]

Thanks for the background note, John. So do I assume that you agree with Curt that the Tag der Arbeit / 1 Mai badges were created in huge bulk orders from throughout Germany, and the one annual design used everywhere a Labor Day event or ceremony was held that year, all across the nation?

Br. James