Germany - Third Reich: Membership Badge for the VDA Volksbund für das Deutschtum im Ausland - the Association for Germans Abroad. Of mid 1930’s manufacture, in silvered alloy and enamels, the reverse bears no makers marks, and is fitted with the original safety pin device. Scarce.
Condition: light evidence of wear, about Good Very Fine.
Originally known as the Verein für Deutsche Kulturbeziehungen im Ausland or the Association for German cultural relations abroad, it was renamed in 1933 as the Volksbund für das Deutschtum im Ausland - the Association for Germans Abroad, and was abbreviated VDA. Whilst be origin it was a German cultural organisation, during the era of the Third Reich it was engaged in spying across the whole world, using German minorities living in other countries. Its other goals included preservation of German culture among "racial Germans”. It was also involved in fundraising activities.
The VDA welcomed the coming of the Nazi regime, as it shared its ideology with the Nazis, including elements such as racism. It was used to promote Nazi political and racist ideas and was especially active in schools. When Klagenfurt in Austria canceled the association's planned rally in 1933, some 18,000 participants flocked to Passau instead. During the pre-war years and through the Second World War, the VDA distributed over 1,200 different donation badges, postcards and other items to raise funds for its charity work. In the middle of 1930s the organisation found itself in dispute with Hitler, as it had more extensive territorial claims against other countries than Hitler was willing to demonstrate in international arena; after the Second World War started in 1939, VDA together with SS was engaged in preparing and carrying out ethnic cleansing in territories conquered by Germany.