7. NSDAP Political Leaders:Landesinspektor und Fraktionsf�hrer des Reichstages, 1930, early pattern Political Leaders Service Uniform
8. NSDAP Political Leaders:Fahnentr�ger der Ortsgruppen, 1940, Ceremonial Dress
9. NSDAP Political Leaders:NSHaupstellenleiter bei der Ortsgruppe, 1944, Service Uniform

The uniforms worn by Political Leaders of the National Socialist German Workers Party during the formative years of the Movement were in many ways similar in appearance to those worn by members of the Sturmabteilungen (SA). Both wore the Austrian pattern kepi, which even for the SA was originally plain brown colour. Both formations wore the Brown shirt and brown leather waist belt together with brown (and not necessarily matching) breeches and high boots. It was during these early days of the Movement referred to by the Nazis as the 'Kampfieit' or 'Period of Struggle' - that many items of insignia and types of uniforms were introduced, the majority of which were short-lived. An example of some of these insignia can be seen in No. 7. Rank was indicated for a Political Leader by the use of chin strap cords in either silver or gilt which was either plain or had one or two plaited knots. The same system applied to the series of thin shoulder straps used. The small black, diamond-shaped cloth badge bearing an early style eagle and swastika emblem was the arm badge used to indicate that the wearer was a Political Leader and originally it was worn without a swastika armband. Later both were worn together. The small strip of black cloth worn below the Political Leaders arm badge displayed the year of the wearer's date of enrolment into the Nazi Party. The swastika arm band with the three bands of white was one of a number of such arm bands used during this early period to indicate various levels of appointment. The small black cloth badge displaying a coloured shield worn on the right forearm was used to indicate that the wearer was a 'Fraktionsf�hrer des Reichstages', a Leader of a parliamentary faction in the German State Parliament. The 'Landesfar ben' or heraldic colours used on the shield were those of the Land represented by the Political Leader, here shown as blue and white for Bavaria. Flag Bearers of the Political Leadership Corps were distinguished by the use of a gorget referred to as a 'Brustschild f�r Fahnmtr�ger', the wearing of white buckskin gauntlets and a carrying sash or baldric. The colouring of this last item was different for each of the three political levels, Orts, Kreis and Gau in that it matched the colours and piping of the nag bearers' own collar patches, as is the case here in No. 8. It is beyond doubt that the bombing offensive launched against German towns and cities contributed in a very large measure to the ultimate defeat of the German nation. Although this destruction heaped upon the German people during the daytime by the US Army Air Force and at night by RAF Bomber Command in an almost continuous stream of air raids may have helped to destroy their means to fight it should be remembered that, just as with the Londoners during the Blitz, their resolve to survive and to continue the fight, if anything, was stiffened. 'Our walls may break but never our hearts' was just one of many slogans that were painted on walls throughout Germany. The Selbstschutz (Self-Protection Service) was the organization created for the protection of the ordinary householder based on a Warden and Fire-guard system. Each house (generally a block of flats) had a House Warden. Over him was a Blockwart (Block Warden) (see No. 198) who controlled several streets under the supervision of a Ward Protection Leader, thus following closely the organisations of the Nazi Party. After particularly severe air raids when the fire-fighting and rescue services were stretched to their limits every able-bodied person, and especially members of the Party's organisations, who could be made available and who lived or worked in the vicinity were expected to assist the Police and the Fire Police. They helped in rescuing trapped people, in fighting fires, recovering possessions and goods and in administering first aid. In 1942 a 'Leader' was appointed to take charge of several Self-Protection groups with the power to transfer reinforcements from one area to another under heavy raid conditions. The Landluftschutzgemeinschaft (Rural Air Raid Protection Fellowship) provided fire-fighting and rescue squads in rural areas too small to be served by any of the other service. Post-air raid service such as emergency feeding, billeting, and re-housing, the operation of rest centres and information services, and mass evacuation from high risk danger areas were organised by the Nazi Party auxiliary organisations to supplement the regular municipal services. Although a regulation pattern steel helmet had been introduced to be worn by members of these Self-Protection units (see No. 199) deficiencies were often made up by issuing steel helmets captured from other armies or surplus to requirements, as is the case in No. 9 where a Russian steel helmet is shown being worn by a Political Leader carrying out air raid rescue work in 1944.

Tratto da German Militaria and Collectables