196. Reich Air Protection League: RLB Leutnant, 1937, Greatcoat.
197. Reich Air Protection League: Honorary Pr�sident of the RLB, General of Infantry von Roques, 1938, Parade Uniform.
198. Reich Air Protection League: RLB Blockwart, 1939, Service Uniform.
The Reich Air Protection League-Reichsluftschutzbund or RLB - was founded on 28th April 1933 by Hermann G�ring, Generalleutnant Grimm and Major Waldschmitt who headed the Pr�sidium. It was organised into fifteen Landesgruppen with each of these divided into Ortsgruppen. Local police stations were everywhere used as recruiting offices. Civil Defence propaganda and training measures throughout the Reich were handled by the RLB under the supervision of the Air Ministry. The work of the Air Defence League was supported by manufacturers of gas masks, chemicals and building materials who advertised their products in the League's two original periodicals Der Reichsluftschutz and Derrtsche Flugillerstrierte. These two publications were superseded by a single, illustrated fortnightly publication called Die Sirene. This contained articles, adverts and official instructions. The League supervised all civil defence training throughout Germany which included practical demonstrations, lectures and film shows. The membership of the RLB numbered over twenty million. The facing colour used by the RLB was lilac, a colour not used by any other Third Reich uniformed organisation. It appeared as the colour used on the League's collar patches (No. 196), as shoulder strap underlay and as piping to tunics and trousers. The RLB had a variety of arm bands, usually in blue and very often displaying the star-burst emblem ofthe RLU (No. 198).

199. Security and Help Services and Air Raid Warning Service: SHD-Mann, 1943, Duty Uniform.
200. Security and Help Services and Air Raid Warning Service: SHD-Zugf�hrer, 1944, Service Uniform.
201. Security and Help Services and Air Raid Warning Service: LSW-Zugf�hrer, 1945, Service Uniform.
As part of the German defence system built up to minimise the effects of enemy air raids two organisations existed, amongst many others, that could be said to have been created as a direct result of aerial bombing. The Sicherheits und Hilfsdienst - the Security and Help Service, SHD, and the Luftschutz Warndienst or Air Raid Warning Service, LSW. The SHD was a conscripted force of men housed in barracks on a rotating basis. That is to say they were allowed to sleep at home every other night, air raids permitting. Service in the SHD was a form of'reserved occupation' in that it meant its members were exempted from having to serve in the Armed Forces. They were also exempt from doing physical training or rifle drill. They were not however permitted to pursue any other occupation whilst serving in the SHD. The Security and Help Services were highly mobile and they had transportation for both people and animals. Their equipment included pile drivers, hydraulic jacks, cutting equipment and wrecking tools. There were five branches of the SHD: 1) Decontamination Squads, 2) Fire Fighting service, (No. 199), 3) Repair Work Units, 4) Veterinary service, and 5) Medical units. Qualified persons in any of these five units wore an oval cloth badge with the initial letter on a coloured background on the left sleeve of their tunics (No. 199). The LSW was an important organisation that acted in much the same way as Great Britain's Royal Observer Corps in that their observers kept watch during daylight hours for approaching enemy aircraft. At all times, day and night, they analysed incoming reports from other LSW units, from the Police and Flugmeldedienst units (see No. 150) on the progress ofbombcr formations over Germany and it was on their conclusions that the air raid warnings were sounded alerting the local population of an impending air attack. They also worked in close unison with the Police authorities during the coordinating of air raid and post-air raid services. The LSW was also responsible for giving the 'all clear' signal. Both organisations wore Air Force style uniforms in blue-grey with off white fatigue clothing being issued for heavy duty work. Their insignia was very similar in that it was dark green in colour. The letters SHD appeared on the collar patches of the Security and Help Services (No. 200) and on the parches worn by personnel of the Air Raid Warning Service were the letters LSW (No. 201).

Tratto da German Militaria and Collectables