Armband Partial Answer
Andy,
Of course this is a 1930's/1940's original Luftschutz armband that signified a special rank, but I unfortunately do not know what rank (there is a period German book that lists them all that a German collector once showed me, but I have never seen this book since). It is a lower rank as the series starts out with a plain blue armband, then plain blue with upper and lower white stripes, then blue with a circle, then blue with a circle and upper and lower white stripes, then a 4-pointed star, 16-pointed star, and 20-pointed star (both plain and with upper and lower white stripes for all).
Also, don't believe everything you read/see in the Angolia books. Although his books are great reference material and provide good historical background on many German organizations (I own almost all of his books), there are some very questionable pieces that he claims are original, especially when it comes to armbands, that are pure fantasy pieces.
Again, the armband that you depict is 100% genuine and not a fantasy piece as someone alluded to. Fantasy pieces are rarely ever sewn/woven rather they are mostly printed and what would be the market for a blue armband with a white circle and stripes? The producer might sell one a year and he/she is going to go through the trouble of making a quality piece like the one depicted? It does not pass the common sense test. By the way, don't spend more than $40 on this as that's about all it is worth.
Let me know if you are interested in German armbands. It is my specialty and I have traders/items for sale on occassion. Good luck to you. Regards, Chris
Andy,
Of course this is a 1930's/1940's original Luftschutz armband that signified a special rank, but I unfortunately do not know what rank (there is a period German book that lists them all that a German collector once showed me, but I have never seen this book since). It is a lower rank as the series starts out with a plain blue armband, then plain blue with upper and lower white stripes, then blue with a circle, then blue with a circle and upper and lower white stripes, then a 4-pointed star, 16-pointed star, and 20-pointed star (both plain and with upper and lower white stripes for all).
Also, don't believe everything you read/see in the Angolia books. Although his books are great reference material and provide good historical background on many German organizations (I own almost all of his books), there are some very questionable pieces that he claims are original, especially when it comes to armbands, that are pure fantasy pieces.
Again, the armband that you depict is 100% genuine and not a fantasy piece as someone alluded to. Fantasy pieces are rarely ever sewn/woven rather they are mostly printed and what would be the market for a blue armband with a white circle and stripes? The producer might sell one a year and he/she is going to go through the trouble of making a quality piece like the one depicted? It does not pass the common sense test. By the way, don't spend more than $40 on this as that's about all it is worth.
Let me know if you are interested in German armbands. It is my specialty and I have traders/items for sale on occassion. Good luck to you. Regards, Chris
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