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 first armband RLB members wore was the standard NSDAP armband. With time, RLB-specific armbands were introduced. Armbands relating to civil defense were plentiful, and to create a complete list is impossible.

Many were improvised and appear crude in quality at best. Often, a letter or symbol was made separately on a blue circular cloth backing and was then sewn onto a blue armband, even though the shades of blue in question did not match, resulting in a makeshift appearance.

Officially issued armbands should feature an authorisation stamp in ink. Armbands were generally worn on the left arm.

A Blockwart (block warden) was responsible for air raid protection preparations of a block of houses, while a Hauswart (house warden) was responsible for the preparation of a single house.

The 1st pattern Blockwart armband was introduced in 1934. It is blue with an embroidered white eight-sided starburst emblem with the letters “RLB” above a swastika, all in blue, as well as a top and bottom silver-coloured border.

The 1st pattern Hauswart armband was essentially the same, but without the silver-coloured borders.

The 2nd pattern, introduced in October of 1938, saw a change in emblems to the new RLB emblem made up of a starburst with a large black swastika on it. The rest of the designs stayed the same.

The 2nd pattern Hauswart armband was also worn by RLB officials when wearing civilian clothes, and by those serving outside of Germany.

However, this 2nd pattern was discontinued around May of 1939 and replaced with a blue armband with a white circle and white top and bottom borders for Blockwarte, and without the borders for Hauswarte. The terms Blockwart and Hauswart were also discontinued and replaced with Luftschutz-Wart (air raid protection warden) and stellvertretender Luftschutz-Wart (deputy air raid protection warden).

Due to manufacturer variants, different shades of blue exist, ranging from light blue to dark blue and everything in between.