BACKGROUND: Formed in late 1932 the Deutsches 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 Deutsches 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 Deutsches 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. As an official national organization the RLB came under the auspices of NSDAP, Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei, (National Socialist German Worker’s Party), with political air defence overseers. When NSDAP personnel were assigned to political air defence functions they were issued an identifying armband to be worn on the upper left sleeve of the service uniform. 

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 4 3/4" tall, 17 1/2", long, forest green cotton construction armband with white printed Gothic script, in two lines to the obverse, "Luftschutz NSDAP". The obverse of the armband also has a faint, partially illegible issuing authority inkstamp. The armband has dual-ply machine stitched hems to both the top and bottom edges and a vertical, dual-ply, machine stitched seam to the reverse. The armband is in overall very good, clean condition. Scarce armband.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $162.00