History

Air raid protection organisations existed during the time of the Weimar Republic in the 1920s. However, in preparation for a coming war, a greater need for a centralised organisation under NSDAP control arose. It was established mere months after the NSDAP took control of Germany. The Reichsluftschutzbund (National Air Raid Protection League) or RLB was founded on April 29, 1933 under the control of Hermann Göring as Minister of Aviation. Naturally, its leader, as well as the nature of the organisation’s tasks, meant that the RLB would always have close ties to the Luftwaffe. All previously founded air raid protection organisations ceased to exist or were forcefully absorbed into the RLB.

The RLB’s function was to train the public on how to prepare for and deal with enemy air raids, and act as a supervisor of civil protection and defense, for both private homes and for places of work. Therefore, the RLB’s focus was split up into what was referred to as Selbstschutz (self-defense) for homes and Erweiterter Selbstschutz (extended self-defense) for places of work. Air raid protection of industry that was deemed essential to the war effort was referred to as Werkluftschutz (Factory Air Raid Protection) or WLS.
The core of the organisation was made up of high-ranking Luftwaffe officers (the RLB leader was always a Luftwaffe General) and a number of full-time salaried RLB members. These professional RLB members made up only a minority of the organisation, since the vast majority of members were, in fact, volunteers. Eventually, a law passed on June 26, 1935 made it a legal duty for almost everybody to receive training by the RLB.

In May of 1937, the Sicherheits- und Hilfsdienst (Security and Assistance Service) or SHD was founded. This was meant as a sister organisation of the RLB made up of professionals rather than amateurs, including firefighters, medical personnel, and specialist troops like public utilities repair service, gas decontamination service, or salvage crews.

At the same time, the Luftschutzwarndienst (Air Raid Warning Service) or LSW was founded. It was intended as an intermediary between the Flugmeldedienst (Flight Message Service) and the air raid protection organisations. The Flugmeldedienst was responsible for spotting enemy aircraft and determining their likely targets, so the population could receive a warning before an attack was carried out.

The SHD was split in the spring of 1942, with the Luftwaffe taking control of its mobile (motorised) units, and the Police taking control of its static units under the name of Luftschutzpolizei (Air Raid Defense Police).
The water-related units were formed into a new organisation, the Wasserstraßenluftschutz (Waterways Air Defense) or WSL. This organisation was entirely separate from and not affiliated with the Wasserschutzpolizei, the Water Protection Police. The WSL’s creation was officially announced on June 1, 1942.

The visor cap worn by members of the RLB is a blue-grey peaked cap with a black cap band and a black Vulcan fiber visor. It features lilac piping along the crown, as well as above and below the cap band. Initially, this was the case for all ranks, but it was changed in October of 1938. From then on, only lower ranks wore lilac piping, while Officers wore silver piping and Officers of General ranks wore gold piping. The cap featured a black leather chin strap for lower ranks and an aluminum chin cord for Officers. Gold-coloured chin cords for Officers of General ranks were introduced in 1938.

Initially, the cap was worn with a 1st pattern “political” eagle emblem on the top and a plain red/white/black national cockade on the cap band. This was changed in October of 1938 with the introduction of new RLB-specific headgear insignia. From then on, the RLB eagle emblem was worn on the cap top, with a cockade with an additional wreath with wings worn on the cap band. Both insignia were generally made of metal for lower ranks, with silver bullion insignia for Officers and gold bullion insignia for Officers of General ranks. The cockade itself could be made of metal or, on rarer occasions, bullion wire for leader ranks. Cloth insignia for lower ranks were allowed on privately purchased caps.

White tops for these visor caps exist, however, they were never officially authorised, and so were worn contrary to regulations.