Modell des Amtes 'Schönheit der Arbeit' (dubbed MdASdA) is a pre-war mark used in Nazi Germany. Correctly translated in context it means "model approved by the office for pleasant work"; it was a seal of approval from an organisation officially dedicated to improving ergonomics and safety at work. This office was a branch of the Kraft durch Freude (KdF) organization which in turn was part of the Deutschen Arbeitsfront (DAF) under direct control of Reichorganisationsleiter Robert Ley.
When the National Socialists (the "Nazis") came to power in May 1933, they immediately banned and disbanded all normal workers' unions and parties, leaving only the Deutsche Arbeitsfront (DAF) as the new umbrella organisation, which included representatives of the former workers' unions and workers' associations. Its main representatives were the only remaining trade union, the Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (NSDAP), and the organisation Kraft durch Freude (KdF), which included the Amt für Schönheit der Arbeit.
Kraft durch Freude can be roughly translated into strenght/power through joy/happiness but the various implications behind it are lost in translation. In short one can say that the goal of the organization was to maximize factory output (of course having the military in mind) by offering the workers various ways of rest and recouperation, thus increasing motivation. This started off with simple gymnastics during breaks for the workers, continued with classes for women on how to be a good mother and wife and went right up to family holidays and even cruises (the nickname "KdF-cruisers" was used for various vessels, including the famous Wilhelm Gustloff).
However, this was only the one side of the whole idea, which focused more on the private lives of all employees and their families, including the marketing of a "KdF-Wagen", a simple car designed by Ferdinand Porsche that (almost) all workers could afford. In 1937, a separate production company was set up for this purpose, and its name reflected exactly what it was to produce: a car for the people, hence "Volkswagen". And yes, the KdF car would go on to become the original VW Beetle.
The other aspect of the KdF structure was represented by the Amt für Schönheit der Arbeit, established on 1933-11-27 and in existence until shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War. Its name (roughly "Office for pleasant work") reflected its official mission to improve ergonomics and industrial safety (which sounded good), but its real purpose had nothing to do with the human aspect of production, as it had only one goal: to optimise factories for maximum output. For example, the office printed brochures with detailed plans for washing facilities and toilets that were not only ergonomic, safe and easy to maintain, but also did not use any metals, bearing in mind that these resources would be vital to the war effort.
On the other hand, the building of company (apartment) houses and cultural and entertainment facilities was nothing more than an easy way to bind workers to their employers and to create an environment that was easy to control. Factory canteens not only allowed workers to return to work much faster, as they did not have to go home during breaks, but also allowed many wives to be employed, as they did not have to be at home cooking. All of this not only undermined typical socialist activities, but also allowed the use of a certain number of specialised informers, making the whole act of total control much easier.
Between 1933 and the closure of the office in mid-1939, the entire procedure cost around 200 million Reichsmark, which had to be provided by the companies themselves - a relatively small amount compared to the huge increase in efficiency and safety.
Many people incorrectly refer to the MdASdA mark as "RAD mark" due to an translation error. In the context of the Nazi period, "RAD" is the short form of Reichsarbeitsdienst. The general German term for a cogwheel is Zahnrad, often simply shortened to Rad ("wheel") when referred to in a descriptive context. Many German sources refer to the MdASdA mark as "Radmarke" ("wheel mark") instead of "Zahnradmarke" ("cogwheel mark"), hence I can only assume that somebody came to the incorrect conclusion that the descriptive term "Rad" was equal to the "RAD" abbreviation. Again: the office providing the MdASdA mark was a sub-division of the Kraft durch Freude (KdF) and therefore controlled by Reichorganisationsleiter Robert Ley, whilst the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD) was a sub-division of the Ministry of Labour and controlled by Reichsarbeitsführer Konstantin Hierl. Hence the MdASdA mark has absolutely nothing to do with the Reichsarbeitsdienst as both belonged to completely different head organizations.
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