 The Polizeiadler (Police Eagle) was used by the LSP | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1942 |
| Dissolved | 1945 |
| Type | Civil defense |
| Jurisdiction | Local |
| Headquarters | Berlin |
| Employees | 165,000 |
| Minister responsible | |
| Parent agency | Hauptamt Ordnungspolizei * Inspektion für die Luftschutzpolizei und den Luftschutzeinsatz |
TheLuftschutzpolizei (LSP,lit. 'Air Protection Police') was the localcivil defense organization inNazi Germany.
LSP was thecivil protection service in charge of rescuing victims of bombings in connection with theTechnische Nothilfe (Technical Emergency Service) and theFeuerschutzpolizei (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 ofMinistry of Aviation to theOrdnungspolizei.The transfer took place as part of the reorganization of the German civil defense caused by the heavycasualties suffered from Allied bombings of civilian targets. The local SHD was transferred to the Ordnungspolizei as Luftschutzpolizei. The mobile reserve columns were transferred to theLuftwaffe, as motorized rescue battalions, and greatly expanded.[1][2][3]
The LSP belonged to theTechnical Auxiliary Police together with the Technical Emergency Service and the volunteer fire departments.[4] It was subordinate to the local civil defense commander (the localstate ormunicipal 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] InHauptamt 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]
The LSP was organized inAbteilungen (battalions),Bereitschaften (companies),Züge (platoons),Gruppen (squads), andTrupps (teams).[8]
The LSP inHamburg, had in 1943 9,300 members, organized as follows:[9]
A Fire-fighting company was, according to thetable of equipment, outfitted with the following vehicles. In reality, this standard could not always be maintained.[11]
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 theWehrmacht, 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, atBerlin-Schöneberg.[7] While in uniform or performing an official duty, they were subject to thespecial SS and police jurisdiction.[12]
| 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 | |
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