Luftschutzpolizei
Agency overview
Formed1942
Dissolved1945
TypeCivil defense
JurisdictionLocal
HeadquartersBerlin
Employees165,000
Minister responsible
Parent agencyHauptamt Ordnungspolizei
* Inspektion für die Luftschutzpolizei und den Luftschutzeinsatz

Luftschutzpolizei (LSP) (Air Raid Protection Police) was the local civil defense organization in Nazi Germany.

Formation

LSP was the civil protection service in charge of rescuing victims of bombings in connection with the Technische Nothilfe (Technical Emergency Service) and the Feuerschutzpolizei (professional fire departments). Created as the Security and Assistance Service (Sicherheits und Hilfsdienst (SHD)) in 1935, it was renamed "Luftschutzpolizei" in April 1942, when transferred from the aegis of Ministry of Aviation to the Ordnungspolizei. The transfer took place as part of the reorganization of the German civil defense caused by the heavy casualties suffered from Allied bombings of civilian targets. The local SHD was transferred to the Ordnungspolizei as Luftschutzpolizei. The mobile reserve columns were transferred to the Luftwaffe, as motorized rescue battalions, and greatly expanded.[1][2][3]

Organization

The LSP belonged to the Technical Auxiliary Police together with the Technical Emergency Service and the volunteer fire departments.[4] It was subordinate to the local civil defense commander (the local state or municipal police commissioner), and under the direct leadership of the local protection police commander (Kommandeuer der Schutzpolizei), who exercised tactical command during air raid protection operations.[5] In Hauptamt Ordnungspolizei, civil defense matters were handled by the Inspectorate of Air Raid Protection and Air Raid Protection Police.[6]

The LSP contained the following services:[7]

  • Fire-fighting and decontamination service (FE)
  • Repair, demolition and rescue services (I)
  • Medical and first aid service (S)
  • Veterinary first aid service (V)
  • Specialized technical squads (H)

The LSP was organized in Abteilungen (battalions), Bereitschaften (companies), Züge (platoons), Gruppen (squads), and Trupps (teams).[8]

The LSP in Hamburg, had in 1943 9,300 members, organized as follows:[9]

  • 30 F-companies
  • 18 F-platoons (water)
  • 8 Decontamination parks
  • 18 I-companies
  • 13 I-parks
  • 13 S-companies
  • 72 Medical air raid centers
  • 3 Medical supply depots
  • 7 Veterinary air raid centers
  • 5 H-companies.

Materiel

A fire engine LF-8 of a volunteer fire department in the war time gray-blue livery. The vehicles of the LSP was in the same color, later in dull dark gray.[10]

A Fire-fighting company was, according to the table of equipment, outfitted with the following vehicles. In reality, this standard could not always be maintained.[11]

  • 2 Fire engines LF-25 with a capacity of 2,500 liters water per minute.
  • 2 Fire engines LF-15 with a capacity of 1,500 liters water per minute.
  • 2 Fire engines LF-8 with a capacity of 800 liters water per minute.
  • 1 Hose vehicle
  • 1 Ladder truck, large

Personnel

The personnel was made up of men over conscription age, drafted into full-time civil defense service. Allied intelligence sources believed the mean age was 45 years old.[12] The manpower needs of the Wehrmacht, the industry, and the economy had priority over the LSP. As a result, only 70% of the billets in the table of organization could be filled. Many of the men were of questionable physical stamina.[13] As members of the LSP they were also members of the reserve police. Officers of the LSP were trained at the Police Academy for Air Raid Protection Tactics, at Berlin-Schöneberg.[7] While in uniform or performing an official duty, they were subject to the special SS and police jurisdiction.[12]

Ranks

Former ranks in the SHD[14] Ranks in the Luftschutzpolizei
1942[14]		 Ranks in the Luftschutzpolizei 1943[14][15] Comparative ranks British Army[16]
SHD-Mann LS-Mann Anwärter d. LS-Pol Private
Unterwachtmeister d. LS-Pol Senior Private
SHD-Truppführer LS-Truppführer Rottwachtmeister d. LS-Pol Lance Corporal
SHD-Gruppenführer LS-Gruppenführer Wachtmeister d. LS-Pol Corporal
Oberwachtmeister d. LS-Pol Sergeant
SHD-Hauptgruppenführer LS-Hauptgruppenführer Zugwachtmeister d. LS-Pol Staff Sergeant
SHD-Stabsgruppenführer LS-Stabsgruppenführer Hauptwachtmeister d. LS-Pol Sergeant Major
–
–
 Meister d. LS-Pol
SHD-Zugführer LS-Zugführer Zugführer d. LS-Pol Second Lieutenant
SHD-Oberzugführer LS-Oberzugführer Oberzugführer d. LS-Pol First Lieutenant
SHD-Bereitschaftsführer LS-Bereitschaftsführer Bereitschaftsführer d. LS-Pol Captain
SHD-Abteilungsführer LS-Abteilungsführer Abteilungsführer d. LS-Pol Major
SHD-Abteilungsführer mit besonderem Auftrag LS-Abteilungsleiter Oberabteilungsführer d. LS-Pol Lieutenant colonel

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Linhardt 2002, p. 171.
  2. ↑ Williamsson 2006, pp. 31–34.
  3. ↑ McNab 2014, pp. 377–378.
  4. ↑ SHAFE 1945, pp. 18, 30.
  5. ↑ Hampe 1963, p. 322.
  6. ↑ SHAFE 1945, p. 16.
  7. 1 2 SHAFE 1945, p. 32.
  8. ↑ Hampe 1963, p. 327.
  9. ↑ Brunswig 1981, pp. 166–167.
  10. ↑ Rodehau 2016, p. 62.
  11. ↑ Hampe 1963, p. 328.
  12. 1 2 SHAFE 1945, p. 100.
  13. ↑ Hampe 1963, p. 325.
  14. 1 2 3 Deuster 2009, pp. 339–340.
  15. ↑ "Luftschutz uniform" (in German). Retrieved 12 July 2019.
  16. ↑ CIA 1999, p. 24.

Cited literature

  • Brunswig, Hans (1981). Feuersturm über Hamburg (in German). Motorbuch Verlag.
  • CIA (24 August 1999). "Records Integration Title Book" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on January 23, 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
  • Deuster, Dieter (2009). Deutsche Polizei-Uniformen 1936-1945 (in German). Motorbuch Verlag.
  • Hampe, Erich (1963). Der Zivile Luftschutz im Zweiten Weltkrieg (in German).
  • Linhardt, Andreas (2002). Feuerwehr im Luftschutz 1926-1945 (in German). Braunschweig.
  • McNab, Chris (2014). Hitler's Eagles: The Luftwaffe 1933–45. London.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Rodehau, Erwin (2016). "Das Kraftfahrwesen des Feuerlöschdienstes im Deutschen Reich 1933–1945". Feuerwehrchronik (in German). 13 (3): 56–76.
  • SHAFE (1945). The German Police. London.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Williamsson, Gordon (2006). World War II German Police Units. London.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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