Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a German WWII Luftschutz Ehrenzeichen zweiter Stufe (Air Defense Honor Badge 2nd Grade), complete with ribbon and its original cardboard presentation box!

The 2nd grade Luftschutz medal was awarded for those who gave meritorious service to the civil air defense of Germany from January 1933 onward. It is constructed out of a die struck aluminum-alloy base that has been silver washed. The obverse features a centrally placed mobile swas in a pebbled field, which is surrounded by FÜR VERDIENSTE IM LUFTSCHUTZ (For Merit in Air Defense). The reverse is marked 1938, also in a pebbled field.

Both sides are surrounded by an oak leaf wreath that is tied together at the bottom. To the top is an integral loop and an aluminum ring, though we cannot see a legible maker mark. It comes with the original lavender, white, red and black rayon ribbon, correctly attached to a pin at the top.

Condition of the award is good, with a lot of the original silvering present on front and back, with no wear to the ribbon. It came inside its original case, which is marked clearly on the lid: "Luftschutz-Ehrenzeichen 2. Stufe". The box is a bit crushed at the corners, but still presents very well.

A really nice boxed award from the Air Defense in WWII Germany, ready to display!

History of the RLB
The RLB was organized by Hermann Göring in 1933 as a voluntary association. Existing volunteer air raid precaution associations were forced to merge with RLB. In 1939 the RLB became a Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts (quasi-autonomous non-governmental organization), while in 1944 it became an affiliated organization of the NSDAP Party. It was in charge of educating and training ordinary German men and women in civil defense procedures necessary for the basic level of local self-help of the civil population against air raids. The local level was formed around air raid wardens and operated in small first intervention squads. The training include fire fighting, protection against chemical weapons, communication procedures and preparation of houses and apartments against air raids.