WWII German Blackout Instruction Folder “Achtung im Straßenverkehr bei Verdunklung”
Original WWII German small-format instruction folder titled “Achtung im Straßenverkehr bei Verdunklung” (“Attention in Road Traffic During Blackout”), issued under the authority of the Reichsführer-SS und Chef der Deutschen Polizei within the Reichsministerium des Innern.
Compact, approximately postcard-sized format, intended for practical everyday use during blackout (Verdunklung) conditions. Such folders were distributed to inform civilians and road users about safety measures and regulations during nighttime restrictions imposed due to air raid threats.
Complete example in good overall condition, showing light, age-related wear consistent with wartime paper items.
An original period-produced piece of WWII civil defense material, of interest to collectors of German militaria, police-related items, and home front propaganda/ephemera.
€35,00
In stock
In stock
Details
| Country | Germany (Third Reich) |
|---|---|
| Conflict | World War II |
Statement
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Historical Description
The folder “Achtung im Straßenverkehr bei Verdunklung” (“Attention in Road Traffic During Blackout”) originates from the wartime civil defense measures implemented in Germany during the Second World War. Following the intensification of Allied bombing campaigns, particularly after 1940, strict blackout regulations were enforced across the German Reich to reduce visibility for enemy aircraft.
Issued under the authority of the Reichsführer-SS und Chef der Deutschen Polizei within the Reichsministerium des Innern, such printed materials were distributed to educate civilians on how to behave during blackout conditions. These included guidance for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists navigating streets with minimal or no lighting, where accidents became a significant risk.
The blackout (Verdunklung) was a key component of German air raid precautions, introduced broadly after the Battle of Britain and continuing throughout the war. Regulations required the dimming or covering of lights in homes, vehicles, and public spaces, fundamentally altering daily life in urban areas.
Small folders like this one—often produced in a compact, portable format—served as practical instructional aids. They combined official directives with visual diagrams or simplified rules to ensure compliance and public safety under wartime conditions.
