Early RZM Setup Information
In an earlier post you mentioned a "transitional period", but there was no transitional period.
It was just a progress in developing the RZM structures, between 1931 and 1935. Briefly this period and
structuring is given for your convenience and for others:
Already in the spring of 1931 they do speak of a Reichszeugmeisterei, divided into the various district-Zeugmeistereien
(depots), where political goods could be obtained. In late 1931 it was noted that various insignia and uniform-fittings
had to be marked with the manufacturers-code, which is the name (logo) or abbreviation, often together with ges. gesch
(gesetzlich Geschützt and so you see for example O&C ges. gesch. Nothing was said about a specific RZM-code. This
was so until anyway at least spring 1933.
April 1, 1933 all the various Zeugmeistereien were re-organized and did not exist anymore. The only official department
where to purchase was the RZM at Munich. Since May 1933 concerns, manufacturing for the party-organization, had to
have a permit (Berechtigungsnachweis), valid with August 1 . In the course of the next months things were better
structured and organized. August 15, 1933 it was listed what was meant with party-uniforms and insignia. A classification-
code was not given, but the numbers used were the later M1-numbers, for example 36 (Berg & Nolte).
June 1, 1934 the Mitteilungsblatt der RZM was published for the first time. About this time the specific codes, the
classifications as MA (Metallwarenhersteller), UE (Uniformeffektenhersteller) and KH (Koppelschlosshersteller)
came into being. These classifications were only used for a short period of time, as already in March 1935 the M-codes
came into being. The change-over for the new code-system took place since early summer and the course of 1935, as it
was allowed to sell first the old stocks.
RZM-tags were already available for a while and with manufacturers orders it was said the RZM codes had to be included
(das Schutzzeichen der RZM as well as the Berechtigungsnummer des betreffenden Herstellers ist eingeprägt).
Note this is said anyway in June 1934. So from about this date for example buckles were including the KH -code
and number (the later M4) or UE-code and number (the later M5 with their specific numbers).