What was the primary purpose of the National Labour Service (RAD)?

The National Labour Service (RAD) was established by the Nazi regime primarily to provide manual work for the unemployed. This initiative aimed to address the widespread unemployment in Germany during the early 1930s, which had resulted from the Great Depression. By creating jobs through public works projects and other labor-intensive programs, RAD not only sought to reduce unemployment but also instilled a sense of discipline and loyalty among workers.

The work assigned through the RAD often included infrastructure projects, such as the construction of roads, bridges, and public buildings, which contributed to the economic recovery of Germany. This labor service served both a practical purpose of providing employment and a ideological purpose by reinforcing the regime’s values around hard work and contribution to the nation.