- Title:
- The Reich labour service in peace and war; a survey of the Reichsarbeitsdienst and its predecessors 1920-1945.
- Creator:
- Heyck, Hartmut
- Date Created:
- 1997
- Degree Awarded:
- Master of Arts
- Subjects:
- Labor Service Germany National Service, Germany National Socialism Young Volunteers In Community Development Youth Employment
- Geographical Focus:
- Germany
- Supporting Materials:
- n/a
- Description:
- This thesis examines the origins, aims and organisation of Nazi Germany’s Reich Labour Service (Reichsarbeitsdienst = RAD) . From the late nineteenth century there had been many proponents of compulsory or voluntary labour service, both in Germany and abroad, and in 1931 the German government established camps for youth employment. In 1933 these camps were "coordinated" by the National Socialists. In 1935 service in the RAD became compulsory for young men; in 1939 for young women. In the decade 1935-1945 some three million young RAD men and women were engaged in various public works and military projects. Despite its many opponents and its questionable economic, political or ideological utility, RAD leader Konstantin Hierl, with Hitler's blessing, was able for virtually the entire period to retain a special position within the German administration for the Labour Service. This thesis argues that the ideological component of RAD training was likely the decisive element in its survival.
Source
- Preferred Citation:
- Heyck, Hartmut. 1997. "The Reich labour service in peace and war; a survey of the Reichsarbeitsdienst and its predecessors 1920-1945.", Department of History, Carleton University
- Link to this page:
- https://cuhistory.github.io/grads/items/hist_211.html
Rights
- Rights:
- Copyright the author, all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.