Freie stad Danzig - Danziger Luftschutzbund Mitgliedsabzeichen

In an excellent condition a very rare Gdansk Air Raid Protection Association memberships badge There is some confusion about this badge, the history is as follows. The Free citry of Danzig was protected by the League of Nations between 1919-1939. This was to insure Poland could use the port to import and export goods. It was from 1920 till 1939 in a customs union with Poland. That having said By 1936, the city's senate had a majority of local NSDAP party members, and agitation to rejoin Germany was stepped up. In 1938, the Free City's population of 410,000 was 98% German, 1% Polish and 1% other. The city was lead by the police commisioner and they created a military style police force, called the Schutzpolizei. So many Danziger medals like this one is mirrored with the German ones. Frontside: Danziger Luftschutzbund with underneath the coat of arms of the Free citry of Danzig. In the middle the letter DLB, in the same setup as in the 3rd Reich was used. Backside: Safety pin. Marked Ges. Gesch.