Die Reichsarbeitsdienst en die Spesiale Diensbataljon in die periode 1933-1939 : 'n vergelyking

Abstract

The aim of this study is to compare the Reicharbeitsdienst (RAD) in Germany and the Special Service Battalion (SSB) in South Africa; The study focuses on the circumstances that led to the creation of the RAD and the SSB, their aims, structure, general functioning and whether the SSB has in any way been influenced by the RAD. Both organisations are analysed separately concerning their creation, structure, purpose and the role they played during the Second World War; and in the final chapter the organisations are compared directly. The findings of the study reveal that both the RAD and the SSB came into being due to abnormal socio-economical circumstances in Germany and in South Africa during the early thirties. The main cause for the creation of both organisations was unemployment. The main aims of the RAD and the SSB were to dissolve unemployment and to give the youth a new sense of pride. The main difference between the RAD and the SSB was that, unlike the SSB, the RAD did not want to make soldiers out of its members. The RAD gave its members an ideology, in this case National-Socialism. The SSB also wanted to be a distinctive unit, but no attempts were made to subject its members to an ideology. There is also no evidence that the SSB had been influenced by the RAD. With the outbreak of the Second World War both organisations had to adapt. The RAD was forced to give limited training in the use of weapons to its members. On the other hand the SSB became a fully operational military war unit.