German Police Service Dress
Service Dress: This form of dress was worn for street service (Strassendienst), major inspection service (Grosser Aufsichtsdienst), guard service (Wachtdienst) and reporting dress (Meldeanzug),
Shako (Tschako): Prior to the introduction of the 1936 pattern uniform, and the shako in particular, personnel of the Ord- nungspolizei wore the distinctive shako carried over from the Landespolizei. The body was black vulcan fiber (Vulkanfiber) with a black lacquered flat top, and front and back visor with pressed rim. The base of the shako body was with a 18/19mm wide black trim. A 16mm black leather chin strap (enlisted) with matte-white aluminum metal fittings or aluminum metal "scales" (officers) rested on the front visor. Positioned at the front was a large aluminum police national emblem with open wreath at the top. It was affixed to the shako by means of two screw posts, which passed through responding openings with black metal reinforcement in the shako body. The shako shield had a 155mm wingspan, and was cumd to conform to the bend in the body. Centered above the shield was an oval tri-color cockade slotted in a groove, and held in place by an aluminum wire. The cockade measured approximately 62mm high and 36mm wide, and took the form of concentric ovals of rope, five aluminum at the base, one black on top of this, and one aluminum at the very top. The center opening was painted red. The reverse plate was commonly stamped with the manufacturer's code and date of manufacture. Personnel in the rank of Obermeister and above were authorized to wear this cockade made in the same color pattern, but of aluminum wire. The interior top of the shako was usually marked with the manufacturer's logo and size.
A new shako was introduced with the 1936 pattern uniform. It retained the same style and characteristics, but had a police-green uniform cloth covering over the head body. The officer's shield could now be more three-dimensional and highly polished.
Shakos of general officers will be discussed in volume 2.
During the war years, wear of the steel helmet was permitted, especially near the front line, and the shako was worn less.
Tunic (Waffenrock): The Waffenrock was of police-green wool fabric, and dark brown badge cloth collar and cuffs. The collar, top of the cuff, down the left front of the closure, and about the tail panels were piped in light green. The front was secured by eight pebbled aluminum-colored 18mm diameter buttons. The collar was secured by two or three black hooks-and-eyes. Mirror image collar patches, with the background indicating the service branch (light green for Schutzpolizei), were positioned with the leading edge 3mm back from the front collar edge. The two angled pleated patch breast pockets and two hip unpleated straight patch pockets were with scalloped flaps buttoned by 18mm diameter pebbled aluminum-colored buttons. The rear tail panels were with two 18mm diameter pebbled aluminum-colored buttons, the top two serving as belt ramps. The shoulder boards were of the sew-in or slip-on variety, and were secured by 16mm diameter buttons. In the event the shoulder boards were of the slip-on type, there was a strip of tunic fabric sewn horizontal to the sleeve headseam. The police national emblem was worn on the upper left sleeve, while anyone specialty insigne was worn on the lower left. Two parallel aluminum rings, each 10 mm wide, worn above the top of the cuffs, indicated NCOs appointed to the position of company first sergeant (nicknamed "der Spiess"). For details of other insignia, see the respective chapter. The cuffs were normally sewn closed at the rear seam, but tailor preference allowed for an open seam secured by the cuff buttons. With secured cuffs two 18mm pebbled aluminum-colored buttons were positioned at the rear of the front cuff panel. However, when the rear seam was open, the rear of the front panel was with two buttonholes, and the buttons were sewn to the rear of the rear panel. There was a concealed interior pocket on the left breast, and a concealed pocket at each tail panel. Size markings and possible tailor or control marks were commonly found stamped on either the right or left front interior lining.
Wartime tunics could have the side straps fitted with metal hooks passing through the side-seam opening to serve as belt ramps. A light-weight Waffenrock was also authorized for wear.
Neck tie (Halsbinde): Black worn with white collar.
Breeches (Stiefelhose): Standard pattern police green breeches. Riding breeches with reinforced leather seat (Reithose) for mounted personnel.
Gloves (Handschuhe): Grey-green.
Boots (Schaftstiefel): Black leather. Riding boots for mounted personnel.
Spurs (Sporen): Worn by officers only in the rank of Hauptmann and above, and by all mounted officers.
Greatcoat (Mantel): The same pattern greatcoat was worn by all ranks. Rank shoulder boards were of the sew-in variety. No collar patches or police national sleeve insigne were worn. It was of the police-green uniform cloth with brown collar piped in light green. The double-breasted coat was with two vertical rows of six pebbled aluminum-colored (gold for general officers) buttons. The concealed hip pockets were angled-slashed and had rounded unbuttoned flaps. At the left side is a slash for the sword hanger. The sleeve cuffs were indicated by a stitched seam only on privately tailored coats, and by turned-up (un-piped) cuff on issue coats. The collar was closed by a single hook-and-eye, normally backed by a piece of protective cloth. Under the left collar is a cloth tab with buttonhole, and held in place by a single green button. On the right collar was a single green button for securing the opposite tab when the collar was worn closed. At the back was a two-part cloth belt with two pebbled aluminum buttons on the horizontal. A seam ran down the center back, and with a slash from the bottom of the cloth belt down. The slash opening was secured by four evenly spaced buttons. The interior'of the coat was with a concealed slash breast pocket on the left side. A large green button was sewn to the left side to secure the right side of the coat. It was quite common to find size markings and even tailor data stamped inside on the left lining fabric.
Persons authorized to wear a neck decoration were permitted to wear the greatcoat with the top two buttons unbuttoned, and the lapels folded back in order to display the decoration.
Raincoats could be worn in place of greatcoats in wet weather.
Belt (Leibriemen): Black leather with double open-claw silvercolored pebble buckle and shoulder strap for officers. Black leather with aluminum-colored box buckle and rifle three-compartment ammunition pouch on the left side, and black pistol holster on the right side. Mounted personnel were authorized to wear the mounted bandoleer. For details, see coverage of belt buckles in a later volume in this series.
Sidearm: Sword with portepee (for details, see chapter dealing with blade sidearms in a future volume in this series). Pistol with holster (all ranks) worn on the right side.
Medal Bar/Ribbon Bar (Grosse und Kleine Ordensschnalle):
Neck orders and breast stars were also authorized for wear.
Adjutant's Cord (Adjutantenabzeichen): The grey-aluminum cord was authorized for wear by adjutants only. The pattern was identical to that of the police officer's shoulder cord (in turn, identical to the army adjutant's cord), but without the two top cords and with two aluminum cords measuring 15 and 18cm, and with silver-colored metal ferrules at each end. It was worn on the right shoulder of the tunic or greatcoat with the ferrules hanging down at the sleeve seam.
Whistle (Signalpfeife): Worn by all ranks
Handcuffs (Handfessel): Carried only by EM/NCOs
John R. Angolia and Hugh Page Taylor: "Uniforms, Organization & History of the German Police", Volume 1, R. James Bender Pulishing, 2004
Shako (Tschako): Prior to the introduction of the 1936 pattern uniform, and the shako in particular, personnel of the Ord- nungspolizei wore the distinctive shako carried over from the Landespolizei. The body was black vulcan fiber (Vulkanfiber) with a black lacquered flat top, and front and back visor with pressed rim. The base of the shako body was with a 18/19mm wide black trim. A 16mm black leather chin strap (enlisted) with matte-white aluminum metal fittings or aluminum metal "scales" (officers) rested on the front visor. Positioned at the front was a large aluminum police national emblem with open wreath at the top. It was affixed to the shako by means of two screw posts, which passed through responding openings with black metal reinforcement in the shako body. The shako shield had a 155mm wingspan, and was cumd to conform to the bend in the body. Centered above the shield was an oval tri-color cockade slotted in a groove, and held in place by an aluminum wire. The cockade measured approximately 62mm high and 36mm wide, and took the form of concentric ovals of rope, five aluminum at the base, one black on top of this, and one aluminum at the very top. The center opening was painted red. The reverse plate was commonly stamped with the manufacturer's code and date of manufacture. Personnel in the rank of Obermeister and above were authorized to wear this cockade made in the same color pattern, but of aluminum wire. The interior top of the shako was usually marked with the manufacturer's logo and size.
A new shako was introduced with the 1936 pattern uniform. It retained the same style and characteristics, but had a police-green uniform cloth covering over the head body. The officer's shield could now be more three-dimensional and highly polished.
Shakos of general officers will be discussed in volume 2.
During the war years, wear of the steel helmet was permitted, especially near the front line, and the shako was worn less.
Tunic (Waffenrock): The Waffenrock was of police-green wool fabric, and dark brown badge cloth collar and cuffs. The collar, top of the cuff, down the left front of the closure, and about the tail panels were piped in light green. The front was secured by eight pebbled aluminum-colored 18mm diameter buttons. The collar was secured by two or three black hooks-and-eyes. Mirror image collar patches, with the background indicating the service branch (light green for Schutzpolizei), were positioned with the leading edge 3mm back from the front collar edge. The two angled pleated patch breast pockets and two hip unpleated straight patch pockets were with scalloped flaps buttoned by 18mm diameter pebbled aluminum-colored buttons. The rear tail panels were with two 18mm diameter pebbled aluminum-colored buttons, the top two serving as belt ramps. The shoulder boards were of the sew-in or slip-on variety, and were secured by 16mm diameter buttons. In the event the shoulder boards were of the slip-on type, there was a strip of tunic fabric sewn horizontal to the sleeve headseam. The police national emblem was worn on the upper left sleeve, while anyone specialty insigne was worn on the lower left. Two parallel aluminum rings, each 10 mm wide, worn above the top of the cuffs, indicated NCOs appointed to the position of company first sergeant (nicknamed "der Spiess"). For details of other insignia, see the respective chapter. The cuffs were normally sewn closed at the rear seam, but tailor preference allowed for an open seam secured by the cuff buttons. With secured cuffs two 18mm pebbled aluminum-colored buttons were positioned at the rear of the front cuff panel. However, when the rear seam was open, the rear of the front panel was with two buttonholes, and the buttons were sewn to the rear of the rear panel. There was a concealed interior pocket on the left breast, and a concealed pocket at each tail panel. Size markings and possible tailor or control marks were commonly found stamped on either the right or left front interior lining.
Wartime tunics could have the side straps fitted with metal hooks passing through the side-seam opening to serve as belt ramps. A light-weight Waffenrock was also authorized for wear.
Neck tie (Halsbinde): Black worn with white collar.
Breeches (Stiefelhose): Standard pattern police green breeches. Riding breeches with reinforced leather seat (Reithose) for mounted personnel.
Gloves (Handschuhe): Grey-green.
Boots (Schaftstiefel): Black leather. Riding boots for mounted personnel.
Spurs (Sporen): Worn by officers only in the rank of Hauptmann and above, and by all mounted officers.
Greatcoat (Mantel): The same pattern greatcoat was worn by all ranks. Rank shoulder boards were of the sew-in variety. No collar patches or police national sleeve insigne were worn. It was of the police-green uniform cloth with brown collar piped in light green. The double-breasted coat was with two vertical rows of six pebbled aluminum-colored (gold for general officers) buttons. The concealed hip pockets were angled-slashed and had rounded unbuttoned flaps. At the left side is a slash for the sword hanger. The sleeve cuffs were indicated by a stitched seam only on privately tailored coats, and by turned-up (un-piped) cuff on issue coats. The collar was closed by a single hook-and-eye, normally backed by a piece of protective cloth. Under the left collar is a cloth tab with buttonhole, and held in place by a single green button. On the right collar was a single green button for securing the opposite tab when the collar was worn closed. At the back was a two-part cloth belt with two pebbled aluminum buttons on the horizontal. A seam ran down the center back, and with a slash from the bottom of the cloth belt down. The slash opening was secured by four evenly spaced buttons. The interior'of the coat was with a concealed slash breast pocket on the left side. A large green button was sewn to the left side to secure the right side of the coat. It was quite common to find size markings and even tailor data stamped inside on the left lining fabric.
Persons authorized to wear a neck decoration were permitted to wear the greatcoat with the top two buttons unbuttoned, and the lapels folded back in order to display the decoration.
Raincoats could be worn in place of greatcoats in wet weather.
Belt (Leibriemen): Black leather with double open-claw silvercolored pebble buckle and shoulder strap for officers. Black leather with aluminum-colored box buckle and rifle three-compartment ammunition pouch on the left side, and black pistol holster on the right side. Mounted personnel were authorized to wear the mounted bandoleer. For details, see coverage of belt buckles in a later volume in this series.
Sidearm: Sword with portepee (for details, see chapter dealing with blade sidearms in a future volume in this series). Pistol with holster (all ranks) worn on the right side.
Medal Bar/Ribbon Bar (Grosse und Kleine Ordensschnalle):
Neck orders and breast stars were also authorized for wear.
Adjutant's Cord (Adjutantenabzeichen): The grey-aluminum cord was authorized for wear by adjutants only. The pattern was identical to that of the police officer's shoulder cord (in turn, identical to the army adjutant's cord), but without the two top cords and with two aluminum cords measuring 15 and 18cm, and with silver-colored metal ferrules at each end. It was worn on the right shoulder of the tunic or greatcoat with the ferrules hanging down at the sleeve seam.
Whistle (Signalpfeife): Worn by all ranks
Handcuffs (Handfessel): Carried only by EM/NCOs
John R. Angolia and Hugh Page Taylor: "Uniforms, Organization & History of the German Police", Volume 1, R. James Bender Pulishing, 2004
www.bender-publishing.com
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