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The Air Protection
Police (Luftschutzpolizei-LSP) was an organization activated on 1 June
1942 whose purpose it was to organize and control air defense related
activities throughout Germany. The Air Defense Police came about as a
result of heavy Allied bombing attacks that eventually overwhelmed its
predecessor organization, the Security and Assistance Service (Sicherheits
und Hilfdienst-SHD).
The Luftschutzpolizei fell within the full
authority of the German Order Police (Ordnungspolizei), but by most
accounts it is best regarded as Germany’s central air defense
organization. Air defense conscripts were trained by the local chief
of the Ordnungspolizie and fell under his overall jurisdiction.
Most members were volunteers although many were likely former police
officers now called upon for additional service time. Many
period photographs clearly illustrate that the men who served in the
Air Protection Police were middle-aged.
Members of the
Luftschutzpolizei worked closely with other organizations such as the
Technical Emergency Corps (Technische Nothilfe-Teno), the Fire
Protection Police (Feuerschutzpolizei), and the Air Protection Warning
Service (Luftschutzwarndienst-LSW). Coordination between
organizations was vital to the overall work of all units involved in
air raid defense.
Units were authorized to control
the civilian population during air attacks, assist and provide medical
and evacuation services with the German Red Cross (Deutsches Rote
Kreuz), organize repair services for buildings, utilities, and
transportation centers, decontaminate areas and conduct gas detection,
care for wounded animals and livestock, assist with fire-fighting
duties, and to provide rescue and ambulance services to victims of
Allied bombing.
Essentially, the Air
Protection Police organization was Germany’s answer to a comprehensive
need for a single air defense organization. Due to the nature of
the work involved, members were required to have better head
protection than what was generally provided by the standard Luftschutz
gladiator helmets. Unit members typically wore dark blue M1935,
M1940, and M1942 “beaded” combat helmets with standard police or
Luftschutz insignia.
The increased need for
control during air raid attacks was one of the many factors which lead
to the transfer of the organization to the Order Police (Ordnungspolizei-ORPO)
umbrella. Of interesting note is that the transfer of authority
was in part largely due to Heinrich Himmler's long standing goal of
gaining total control over all of Germany's infrastructure through the
administration of any group or organization that could be deemed as
vital to national security.
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