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 29^TH 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. Only the most basic uniform and equipment items were supplied to the cadre personnel, with the rest having to be bought personally by members. Most uniform and headgear items of the RLB closely followed that of the Luftwaffe and included a visor cap. Originally RLB personnel utilized the first pattern RLB emblem, (Circa 1933-1938/39), on their visor caps that consisted of a forty-eight point white star burst pattern with the stylized initials, "RLB" to the center, positioned above a small, canted, swastika. In October 1938 the first RLB emblem was redesigned and a new distinctive stylized national eagle was introduced for the visor cap. The ranks of Luftschutz-Truppmann up to and including Luftschutz-Obertruppmeister utilized blackened leather chinstraps on their visor caps while the ranks of Luftschutz-Führer up to and including Generalluftschutzführer utilized silver chin cords and the ranks of Generalhauptluftschutzführer up to and including Luftschutz-Präsident utilized gilt chin cords.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Nice quality, private purchased, blue/grey, wool/rayon blend construction visor cap with a subtle whipcord weave features a black wool centerband, and lilac wool piping to the crown edge and both the top and bottom edges of the centerband. The internal crown stiffening wire and a vertical stiffener to the interior front center are still intact and give the cap a nice, rounded top form with a high, central, forward peak. The front center of the cap has a second pattern, (Circa October 1938-May 1945), silver washed, stamped alloy, stylized RLB eagle clutching a canted, black enameled, swastika, superimposed on a sunburst pattern. The front center of the centerband has a silver washed, stamped alloy, winged, opened top, laurel leave wreath encompassing a highly vaunted, three piece national tri-color cockade. The wreath has three, narrow, horizontally extended "wings" to each side. The cockade features a fluted, black, alloy base, polished natural aluminum roundel and a red felt center insert. The eagle, winged wreath and cockade all retain over 95% of their respective finishes and are still quite clean and bright. The cap has a black, patent leather chinstrap with a black painted, vertically rectangular, metal, retaining clip and a sliding, length adjustment buckle. The chinstrap is secured to the cap by two, smooth, black painted sheet metal buttons. One end of the chinstrap has torn away from the button. The cap has an extended, forward, black lacquered, vulcanfibre visor with a subtly raised lip to the forward edge. The interior of the cap is fully lined in ribbed tan rayon. The crown lining has a clear celluloid sweat diamond fully intact. The lining beneath the sweat diamond is well marked with the faint, black printed, manufacturer’s name that appears to be, "Matthias Bayer". The interior of the cap also has a wide, tan leather sweatband with ventilation perforations to the front forehead section. The sweatband has lost almost half of its stitching and has one tear. The cap is in overall good condition with light age and usage toning. The cap is roughly size 57. Scarce cap.

GRADE ***1/4                             PRICE $805.00