Freiwillige Posted December 31, 2009 Posted December 31, 2009 Here I'd like to post some Luftschutz photos from my personal collection. Any comments are welcome! No.1 Nice and vivid portrait of the Luftschutzfuehrer (that rank was equivalent to the Leutnant in the Wehrmacht). According to his awards, he was WW1 veteran, NSDAP member and for many years served as a civil official. The national emblem is of the latest 1938 model.
Freiwillige Posted December 31, 2009 Author Posted December 31, 2009 No.2 Caption on the back of this photo states: "Die Frau im Selbstschutz als Hausfeuerwehrmann", so here we have a woman member of the Selbstschutz practicing fighting with fire.
Freiwillige Posted December 31, 2009 Author Posted December 31, 2009 No.3 At the time the photo was taken those kind of scenes were just a colourful amusement for the German citizens... In couple of years LSB members' skills would be vital in saving houses and property from fire.
Freiwillige Posted December 31, 2009 Author Posted December 31, 2009 No.4 Please note the 2nd type RLB armband that was introduced in 1938.
Freiwillige Posted December 31, 2009 Author Posted December 31, 2009 No.5 RLB Stahlhelm is clearly visible here.
Freiwillige Posted December 31, 2009 Author Posted December 31, 2009 No.7 Training at RLB camp. Note women members on the background wearing overalls.
Freiwillige Posted December 31, 2009 Author Posted December 31, 2009 No.8 Senior RLB member. Unfortunately his armband isn't visible at all.
Freiwillige Posted December 31, 2009 Author Posted December 31, 2009 No.9 A joyful group of girls from RLB in overalls.
Freiwillige Posted December 31, 2009 Author Posted December 31, 2009 No.10 Unknown RLB girl in the overall.
Freiwillige Posted December 31, 2009 Author Posted December 31, 2009 No.11 This photo isn't sharp and clear but actually it was in the lot previous two photos are from.
Freiwillige Posted December 31, 2009 Author Posted December 31, 2009 (edited) No.12 Very interesting sharp and clear (and large) photograph. Here we can see members of the WLS-Sachsen (WLS stands for Werkluftschutz) that were the part of the Reichsgruppe Industrie. Special dark grey uniform for the WLS-Sachsen was introduced just a month after the WW2 broke out - in October 1939. Starting from the March 1940 members of the WLS-Sachsen were authorized to wear a distinctive insignia - green triangle with an eagle gripping swastika and two letters - "W" and "L". Edited December 31, 2009 by Freiwillige
Freiwillige Posted December 31, 2009 Author Posted December 31, 2009 The backside of the photo. The caption reads: "Rogo Werke. Oberlungwitz 1944/1945. Luftschutz-Sanitaet". The "Rogo" factory in the Saxonian city Oberlungwitz produced textile goods.
Freiwillige Posted December 31, 2009 Author Posted December 31, 2009 As far as I'm still not allowed to attach a good-quality high resolution scan I'll post several fragments of that Werkluftschutz-Sachsen photo. Fragment No.1 Here we can see DRK-Wachtfuehrer. Please note the diamond-shaped badge of the qualified medic on his right sleeve. According to regulations this badge that have been introduced in 1938 should have been worn on the left sleeve! Also note Eiserner Halbmond that he proudly wears.
Freiwillige Posted December 31, 2009 Author Posted December 31, 2009 Fragment No.2 DRK-Vorhelfer (on the left) and DRK-Helfer (on the right). Please note 5mm-width aluminium chevrons with red stripe on the low portion of their left sleeves - an indication that those DRK members served at least 5 years. DRK-Vorhelfer is noticeable by the 10-mm aluminium bar strap insignia on his shoulder boards.
Freiwillige Posted December 31, 2009 Author Posted December 31, 2009 Fragment No.3 Note a senior member next to the guy wearing Stahlhelm.
Freiwillige Posted December 31, 2009 Author Posted December 31, 2009 Fragment No.4 Note the Luftschutz Stahlhelm, armband and badge.
Freiwillige Posted December 31, 2009 Author Posted December 31, 2009 Fragment No.5 Unfortunately I'm not sure about the ranks of these two girls. The girl on the left may be a WLS-Truppfuehrerin (?)
Freiwillige Posted December 31, 2009 Author Posted December 31, 2009 The final fragment - Werkluftschutz girls with a stretcher.
Paul R Posted January 1, 2010 Posted January 1, 2010 WOW! Thank you for sharing these photos! I love them! They show the importance women had in the homefront emergency services! I can hardly wait to see more photos!!
Freiwillige Posted January 1, 2010 Author Posted January 1, 2010 Thanks a lot for kind words, Paul! Ok, I'll keep on posting photos. Here a couple of RLB members and then I'll show some SHD, LSW and Generalluftzeugmeister personnel No.13 A small photo of a RLB NCO (Truppmann...Obertruppmeister).
Freiwillige Posted January 1, 2010 Author Posted January 1, 2010 No.14 Very clear and sharp wedding photo of a RLB Luftschutz-Fuehrer (equivalent to a Wehrmacht Leutnant). Note the NSDAP 1st type round arm badge on the left sleeve (background was blue-gray in colour). This uniform was institutionalized in March 7, 1934. As the new regulations regarding uniform were announced on October 1938, this photo can be dated 1934-1938.
Martin W Posted January 1, 2010 Posted January 1, 2010 As a collector of photographs myself,i really enjoyed looking at this set.My focus is purely Kriegsmarine,but this is a great set of photo's from the Luftschutz. Thanks,Martin.
Gordon Craig Posted August 12, 2011 Posted August 12, 2011 Freiwillige, Super reference picture. Thanks a lot for posting them. Regards, Gordon
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now