BACKGROUND: Formed in late 1932 the Deutscher Luftschutzverband (German Air Protection League), was a voluntary organization designed to provide civil air raid protection in large civilian centers. Shortly after Hitler ascension to power the Deutscher Luftschutzverband was restructured and placed under the supervision of the Reichsluftfahrtministerium, (National Ministry of Aviation), under the control of Hermann Göring. On April 29TH 1933 the Deutscher Luftschutzverband was renamed RLB, Reichs Luftschutz Bund, (National Air Raid Protection League), and was given status as an official, national, organization tasked with all aspects of civil air raid defence. The RLB remained a voluntary organization with a small cadre of paid, full-time, uniformed, officials to oversee the organizations functions until June 1935 when obligatory service was introduced. On its formation in 1933 a distinctive organizational emblem was developed that utilized the initials RLB positioned above a canted swastika on a sunburst patterned base until late 1938 or early 1939 when a new pattern organizational emblem was introduced which eliminated the initials and enlarged the swastika. Presumably this lapel pin was for wear by RLB member’s when in civilian clothes.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 25mm diameter, die struck alloy construction, second pattern, (circa 1938/39-1945), RLB members, lapel pin with bright silver washed and blue enameled finishes. The pin features a silver washed, embossed, forty-eight point, sunburst pattern base with a superimposed, blue enameled, canted, swastika to the center. The silver wash to the sunburst pattern is retained about 70% and the black enamel to the swastika is fully retained. The reverse of the pin is unmarked. The reverse is complete with its original 50mm pin. Nice example.