BACKGROUND: The Civil Defence Decorations were instituted, by Adolf Hitler on January 30TH 1938, in two classes for award to German national personnel serving in the RLB, Reichs Luftschutz Bund, (National Air Raid Protection League) the SHD, Sicherheits und Hilfs Dienst, (Security and Assistance Service), the Werkschutz, (Factory Protection Police) and the Ordnungspolizei, (Order Police), who had participated in the civil air defence of German from January 1933. The first class award was bestowed for exceptional service while the second class award was issued for honorable, meritorious service. Regulations of May 4TH 1937 extended award of the decorations to non-German personnel if they met the required criteria.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Roughly, 38m diameter, early, die struck aluminum construction award. The circular award features an embossed oak-leaf wreath to the outside edge encompassing an embossed, canted, swastika on a subtly pebbled field encircled by the embossed, Latin script, "Für Verdienste im Luftschutz", (For Meritorious Service in Air Defence), to the obverse. The reverse also has the embossed, oak-leaf wreath to the outside edge encompassing the embossed, institution date, "1938", also on a subtly pebbled field. The medal loop and ribbon suspension ring are both intact and come complete with a piece of original ribbed rayon ribbon.