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This is obscure but very historic World War II German home front material issued by the Reichsluftschutzbund (RLB or National Air Raid Protection League). This Nazi organization was in charge of air raid precautions in residential areas and small businesses. It was overseen by the Luftwaffe and like all other political, military and paramilitary Nazi organizations, it was structured on the national, state, city and neighborhood level. Every block had a warden and the material in this lot came from such a neighborhood RLB leader or Blockwart.

The 8-¼ x 11-¾ inch 16-page Luftschutz-Mappe was issued to a Luftschutz-Wart in Vienna. It contains important sections from the Air Protection Law, instructions for RLB personnel on equipment, neighborhood tasks, what to do during and after Fliegeralarm (air raids), and how to equip and furnish air raid shelters. There is a section for RLB helpers but also air raid instructions for families.

The Luftschutz-Wart who owned this Luftschutz-Mappe carefully filled out the personal information about people and families living in his ward with their name, year and place of birth, profession and if the people were members of the RLB (all listed were). Michael Preisegger was the original Luftschutz-Wart but he forwarded the Luftschutz-Mappe to his successor who added his name (Gustav Schwarzbach) in pencil on the front panel.

This lot also includes an unused World War II RLB form on which a Blockwart could cite people who violated black-out regulations, as well as a sheet over Generalfeldmarschall Hermann Göring’s name (shown right) urging German citizens to donate money and/or metal objects during a Nazi charity collection on 20 April, German Chancellor Adolf Hitler’s birthday.

The lot also includes a beautifully printed certificate issued on 1 January 1942 by the Reichsluftschutzbund Gruppe XVII Ostmark to Marie Müller who had served as a RLB Blockwart for two years. Her honorable service had helped her RLB group and showed her willingness to help the German Nation.

By mid-World War II, Allied day and night bombing of German cities and industries was a routine matter. It is quite amazing that this Third Reich Civilian Air Raid Protection ephemera survived in such nice condition!