BACKGROUND: The SHD, Sicherheits und Hilfs Dienst, (Security and Assistance Service), was formed in May 1937 as a uniformed, voluntary, civilian, organization under control of the RLM, Reichsluftfahrtministerium, (National Ministry of Aviation). The SHD worked in conjunction with the RLB, Reichs Luftschutz Bund, (National Air Raid Protection League), and the LSW, Luftschutzwarndienst, (Air Raid Warning Service), in the civil air defence network, with its primary functions being decontamination, fire fighting, rescue and repair and assisting civilian personnel and securing buildings following an air raid. For a short period of time, (June 1939-March 1940), SHD rank insignia was displayed as a series of green armbands with various, white, horizontal bars to indicate the specific ranks until March 1940 when shoulder strap rank insignia was introduced to replace the armbands. For a short period after the introduction of the shoulder strap rank insignia the armbands, without the rank bars, were utilized as cufftitles. Of Note: SHD rank insignia underwent a few minor modifications during the war. Also Of Note: In mid-1942 the organization was renamed Luftschutz-Polizei, (Air Protection Police), and came under control of the Ordnungspolizei, (Order Police).

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: This example is a post March 1940 rank armband modified to a cufftitle. Roughly, 2 1/8" tall, 14 1/2" long, woven, green cotton construction armband/cufftitle with white printed Gothic script, in two lines to the obverse, "Sicherheits-u. Hilfsdienst, (Security and Assistance Service). The top and bottom edges of the armband/cufftitle have dual-ply, machine stitched seams and are folded into the interior modifying it from an armband into a cufftitle. The armband/cufftitle has no rank bars indicating the rank SHD-Mann. The reverse of the armband/cufftitle has a central, vertical machine stitched seam. The armband/cufftitle is in overall good condition with light age and usage toning.

GRADE ****                             PRICE $418.00