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. The RLB worked in close cooperation with the Feuerschutzpolizei, (Fire Protection Police), and other civil other air defense organizations such as the SHD, Sicherheits und Hilfs Dienst, (Security and Assistance Service), and the LSW, Luftschutzwarndienst, (Air Raid Warning Service). Both the SHD and the LSW were formed in 1935 under control of the Reichsluftfahrtministerium, (National Ministry of Aviation). The SHD worked 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. Of Note: In 1939 the SHD began conscripting personnel and on March 19^TH 1942 the organization was renamed Luftschutz-Polizei, (Air Protection Police), and came under control of the Ordnungspolizei, (Order Police). The LSW, was responsible for observation and analysis, of all aircraft especially, enemy bombers in German skies, and the eventual sounding of air raid warning alarms to alert the general public and the assorted civil air defense organizations of air raids. The LSW were also responsible for sounding the "all clear" signal. As a result of their responsibilities all three civil air defense organization were outfitted with assorted fire fighting equipment.

GRADE ***1/2                             PRICE $350.00