Luftschutz Löschsandzak – Firefighting sandbag of the German Air Defense
 During World War II, an extensive civil defense network was established in Germany under the name Luftschutz (Air Protection). This organization was responsible for protecting the civilian population from air raids, particularly bombing raids on urban areas. One of the simplest yet effective means of countering incendiary bombs was the Löschsandzak – a fire-fighting sandbag.
 What is a Löschsandzak?
 The Löschsandzak was literally a sand-filled bag, intended to extinguish incendiary bombs dropped by Allied aircraft. Phosphorus and thermite bombs , in particular, which could cause intense fires, were often used in cities. Water was often ineffective or even dangerous against these types of incendiary bombs, making sand a safer and more effective extinguishing agent.