The Civil Defence Decoration () was a
German civil award created by
Adolf Hitler
Adolf Hitler (20 April 1889 – 30 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was the dictator of Nazi Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his suicide in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the lea ...
on 30 January 1938.
Description
It was awarded for meritorious service in German air raid protection. It was open both to members of the
Reichsluftschutzbund
The Reichsluftschutzbund (RLB; "Reich Air Protection League") was a civil defense organization in Nazi Germany in charge of air raid precautions in residential areas and among smaller businesses.
Purpose
The RLB was organized by Hermann Göring ...
, the principal German
air raid precautions
Air Raid Precautions (ARP) refers to a number of organisations and guidelines in the United Kingdom dedicated to the protection of civilians from the danger of air raids. Government consideration for air raid precautions increased in the 1920s a ...
organisation, and others involved in this work, including police, fire and emergency services. It was usually necessary to have at least four years service before an award could be made.
It was bestowed in two classes:
*1st class: a gilt cross with curved arms. It had a swastika in the centre within a ring bearing the inscription: ''Für Verdienst im Luftschutz'' (For merit in Air Defence). It was awarded for outstanding contributions to air defence in Germany.
*2nd class: a circular medal in grey metal, framed by an oak wreath. In the centre is a swastika surrounded by the inscription: ''Für Verdienst im Luftschutz'' (For merit in Air Defence). It was awarded to those who had made special contributions to air defence.
The reverse of both classes bore the date ''1938'', the year the decoration was instituted. Both classes were worn on the left chest on a light purple ribbon with black-white-red borders.
About 200 1st class crosses were awarded. The second class was more common.
Post war
The wearing of Nazi era decorations was banned after Germany's defeat in 1945. The Civil Defence Decoration was among those re-authorised for wear by the
Federal Republic of Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen constituent states have a total population of over 84 ...
in 1957, re-designed to remove the swastika symbol.
References
Sources
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*{{cite book , last= German Federal regulation , title= Dienstvorschriften Nr. 14/97. Bezug: Anzugordnung für die Soldaten der Bundeswehr. ZDv 37/10, language=de , url= http://doczz.com.br/doc/1075689/zdv-37-10, year= 1996
Orders, decorations, and medals of Nazi Germany
Awards established in 1938
1938 establishments in Germany