Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice example of a German WWII Luftschutz Ehrenzeichen zweiter Stufe (Air Defense Honor Badge 2nd Grade), complete with its original ribbon. It even comes complete in its original original LDO case box, embossed in silver on the lid with LDO. This is the first that that we have had one of these rare cases for a Luftschutz honor medal! The rear of the case is marked indicating the type of award it is:

Luftschutzehrenzeichen
II. Stufe

At the bottom rear there is also LDO number L/16, which represents Steinhauer & Lück of Lüdenscheid, a city with a large garment accessories industry. The LDO, (Leistungs Gemeinschaft der Deutscher Ordenshersteller - Administration of German orders Manufacturers), was a self-governing organization formed in 1941 which regulated the manufacturing of all German awards. The firm Steinhauer & Lück was fully licensed in the organization, entry number 16.

Unlike most we see, the medal inside the chase example has some lovely light period wear, and wasn't found unissued in a depot. The 2nd grade Luftschutz medal was awarded for those who gave meritorious service to the civil air defense of Germany from January 1933 onward. It is constructed out of a die struck zinc-alloy base that has been silver washed. The obverse features a centrally placed mobile swas in a pebbled field, which is surrounded by FÜR VERDIENSTE IM LUFTSCHUTZ (For Merit in Air Defense). The reverse is marked 1938, also in a pebbled field.

Both sides are surrounded by an oak leaf wreath that is tied together at the bottom. To the top is an integral loop and an aluminum ring, though we cannot see a legible maker mark. It comes with the original lavender, white, red and black rayon ribbon, which shows some staining, and still shows the folds from being threaded through the loop.

The badge and ribbon both show wear from service, with minor oxidation and loss of silvering on the medal, and light staining, fraying, and wear on the ribbon.

A great cased award from the Air Defense in WWII Germany, ready to display!

History of the RLB
The RLB was organized by Hermann Göring in 1933 as a voluntary association. Existing volunteer air raid precaution associations were forced to merge with RLB. In 1939 the RLB became a Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts (quasi-autonomous non-governmental organization), while in 1944 it became an affiliated organization of the NSDAP Party. It was in charge of educating and training ordinary German men and women in civil defense procedures necessary for the basic level of local self-help of the civil population against air raids. The local level was formed around air raid wardens and operated in small first intervention squads. The training include fire fighting, protection against chemical weapons, communication procedures and preparation of houses and apartments against air raids.