noun
civil defense unit; voluntary guards
Historical term for a civil defense organization in Japan that existed from 1939 to 1947, often composed of volunteer guards.
戦時中、警防団は地域の防空活動に従事した。
During the war, the civil defense unit engaged in local air-raid defense activities.
消防団 is a modern volunteer fire corps, while 警防団 was a wartime civil defense unit with broader duties including firefighting and air-raid precautions.
Compound of 警 (けい, 'warn; guard against') + 防 (ぼう, 'defend; protect') + 団 (だん, 'group; corps'). The term was used officially during the late 1930s and 1940s.