Panther Ausf D with dozer blade

 

The Civil Air Defence Units in WW2:

Source: http://alinhardt.bei.t-online.de/ls-chronik.html

In 1938 the "Gesetz über das Feuerlöschwesen" (Law concerning fire protection) was created which incorporated all professional fire brigades as part of the "Fire Protection Police" of the Police Forces under Himmler. The volunteer fire brigades were dissolved, as were technical auxiliary police forces and all still existing fire-brigade federations. The technical component, in particular the vehicles, was however always a point at issue between the Police Department and the Reich Air Ministry - Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM).

Priority measures were to the establishment of air raid shelters of which more than 6000 were built by the end of the war under the "Führer Emergency Program."

In 1942 the reorganization of the security and emergency services took place merging them into the "Luftschutzpolizei" (Civil Air Defence Police) which was subordinate to the "Feuerschutzpolizei" (Fire Protection Police) yet also required the technical help of the SS and the "Polizeigerichtsbarkeit" (Police Jurisdiction Department). The volunteer fire brigades followed suit in the same year.

As a result of the massive allied air raids towards the end of the war the forces were extremely overwhelmed with work. Therefore the employment of this particular type of Panther in the service of the Luftschutztruppe could have been necessary.
To be continued...

See also the following book tip for more information about the Civil Air Defence:
"Feuerwehr im Luftschutz 1926-1945", A. Linhardt (ISBN 3-8311-3738-2, Price: 25,- Euro)
 

Panther Ausf D with dozer blade, 1944-194?

© 2003 Schachinger

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