BACKGROUND: Formed in late 1932 the Deutsches Luftschutzverband, (German Air Protection League), was a voluntary organization designed to provide civil air raid protection in large civilian centers. Shortly after Hitler ascension to power the Deutsches Luftschutzverband was restructured and placed under the supervision of the Reichsluftfahrtministerium, (National Air Ministry), under the control of Hermann Göring. On April 29TH 1933 the Deutsches Luftschutzverband was renamed RLB, Reichs Luftschutz Bund, (National Air Raid Protection League) and was given status as an official national organization tasked with all aspects of civil air raid defence. The RLB remained a voluntary organization with a small cadre of paid, full-time uniformed officials to oversee the organizations functions until June 1935 when obligatory service was introduced. RLB personnel wore a distinctive stylized eagle on the right forearm of the service uniform.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Machine embroidered, stylized, RLB pattern national eagle in silver/grey threads clutching a black, canted, swastika superimposed on a silver/grey sunburst pattern, in its talons. The eagle is mounted on a cut-out, blue/grey wool base.