Vocabulary:

The mark Modell des Amtes 'Schönheit der Arbeit' (dubbed MDASDA for short) is a pre-war mark used in Nazi Germany. It shows a Swastika in a cogwheel-type shape surrounded by the mentioned text and is not a manufacturer mark but rather a 'seal of approval' that was presented for a specific goods like certain figures or other items like complete coffee sets. One has to know the German language as to correctly translate the real meaning of the mark as one otherwise receives a load of nonsense; correctly translated in context it means 'model approved by the office for pleasant work' - an office which officially was dedicated to increase ergonomics and industrial safety. As many sources only provide confusing descriptions in German here is a more convenient description of the 'Amt für Schönheit der Arbeit':

When the National Socialists came to power in May 1933 they immediately prohibited and disbanded all normal workers unions and parties, leaving only the 'Deutsche Arbeitsfront' (DAF) as new head organization which included representatives from former workers unions as well as the employees associations. Its main representatives where the only remaining union, the 'Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei' (NSDAP) as well as the 'Kraft durch Freude' (KdF) organisation which was linked with 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 cruises (hence the name 'KdF cruisers', e.g. the Wilhelm Gustloff) and more. But that was only the 'software' side of the whole idea and concentrated more on the private life of all employees and their families, including even the development and marketing of a 'KdF-Wagen', a simple automobile that (nearly) all workers could afford - developed by Ferdinand Porsche and then built by Volkswagen it later became better known as the 'VW Beetle'.

The 'Amt für Schönheit der Arbeit' was founded on November 27th 1933 and existed until shortly after the outbreak of WW2. It was responsible for the 'hardware' aspect, concentrating on optimizing factories to the maximum possible output. Its name can be translated roughly as 'office for pleasant work' and its official assignment was to increase ergonimcs and industrial safety. The secondary goals (the inofficial side) showed the intentions behind the whole effort: the construction of company (apartment) houses as well as cultural and entertainment facilities was nothing more than a simple way to bind workers to their employers and at the same time create a surrounding that could easily be controlled. Factory canteens not only allowed the workers to return to work much faster as they did not have to go home during breaks but also allowed to employ many of the wives as they would not have to be at home doing the cooking. All that not only undermined typical socialistic activities but also allowed the deployment of a certain number of specialized informers, making the whole act of total control more 'plannable'.

Next to that the office also printed brochures with detailed plans for washing facilities and toilets that next to being 'ergonomic' and 'safe' as well as 'easy to maintain' also did not use any metals, of course already having in mind that these resources would be vital for the war effort. From 1933 until 1939 the total proceedings swallowed approximately 200 million Reichsmark which had to be provided by the companies themselves, a relatively small amount compared to the great increase in efficiency and safety.