BACKGROUND: The DRKB, Deutscher Reichskriegerbund (Kyffhäuserbund), (German National Association of Veterans, Kyffhäuser Association), was formed during WWI, and was based on the DKB, Deutscher Kriegerbund (German Veterans Association), originally formed after the war of 1870-71. The addition of "Kyffhäuser" in the associations name referred to the Kyffhäuser mountain where a large war memorial had been erected. The goal of the association was to preserve the morale and comradeship of former soldiers and to financially assist its members if required. On March 29TH 1938 the DRKB was renamed NS-RKB, Nationalsozialistische-Reichskriegerbund, (National Socialist-State Soldiers League), by the NSDAP and amalgamated with most of the earlier veterans associations into one national organization. Uniform and headgear regulations of the DRKB/NS-RKB were introduced prior to 1933 and were modified again in 1936 and 1938.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: A 1938 pattern armband as worn on the lower right sleeve of the service tunic by NS-RKB enlisted ranks. Navy blue wool armband with machine woven NS-RKB insignia. Insignia consists of a white bordered, red shield with white bordered, black Iron Cross with white circular centerpiece featuring a black, canted swastika to center. Insignia is machine stitched to armband. Armband is in overall excellent condition. Nice example.