WWII NAZI GERMAN RLB WALL BANNER FLAG

First pattern (Circa Circa 1933-1938/39) 46 x 29 inches single piece dual sided wool construction flag features a blue base field with a forty-eight point white star burst pattern with the stylized initials, "RLB" to the center, positioned above a small, canted, swastika. Scattered moth holes throughout. Very Good. Formed in late 1932 the Deutscher Luftschutzverband (German Air Protection League), was a voluntary organization designed to provide civil air raid protection in large civilian centers. Shortly after Hitler’s ascension to power the Deutscher Luftschutzverband was restructured and placed under the supervision of the Reichsluftfahrtministerium, (National Ministry of Aviation), under the control of Hermann Göring. On April 29TH 1933 the Deutscher Luftschutzverband was renamed RLB, Reichs Luftschutz Bund, (National Air Raid Protection League), and was given status as an official national organization tasked with all aspects of civil air raid defense. The RLB remained a voluntary organization with a small cadre of paid, full-time uniformed officials to oversee the organizations functions until June 1935 when obligatory service was introduced. The RLB worked in close cooperation with the Feuerschutzpolizei, (Fire Protection Police), and other civil other air defense organizations such as the SHD, Sicherheits und Hilfs Dienst, (Security and Assistance Service), and the LSW, Luftschutzwarndienst, (Air Raid Warning Service). With a deep understanding of pageantry and symbolism, and its propaganda and psychological effectiveness, the NSDAP went to great lengths to reinforce their political party to the general populace of Germany, with repetitive slogans and the omnipresent use of the swastika. Swastikas adorned flags, banners and pennants and were utilized at every possible opportunity. Although not specifically an NSDAP organization the RLB also utilized flags that incorporated the RLB emblem with a swastika. The first pattern RLB emblem, (Circa 1933-1938/39), consisted of a forty-eight point white star burst pattern with the stylized initials, "RLB" to the center, positioned above a small, canted, swastika. In late 1938 or early 1939 the RLB emblem was redesigned and replaced the RLB letters with a large swastika. This second pattern RLB emblem was utilized for the duration of the war. The first flags utilized by the RLB, (Circa 1934-1936), incorporated the first pattern RLB insignia on a red disk with a blue base field until a second pattern eliminating the red disk was introduced which was utilized until a third and final pattern was introduced in October 1938 that used the second pattern RLB emblem on a red base field.