Uniforms of the Reich Order Police

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 any specialty insignia was worn on the lower left. Two parallel aluminum rings, each 1omm wide, worn above the top of the cuffs, indicated NCOs appointed to the position of company first sergeant (nicknamed "del' 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.

John R. Angolia and Hugh Page Taylor, "Uniforms, Organization & History of the Geman Police - Volume 1", 2004, R. James Bender Publishing

Bender-Publishing.com

The Admiral's Rare Badge

On July 20, 1944 Vice Admiral Karl Jesko v. Puttkamer was wounded in the bomb blast at Wolfsschanze, Hitler's headquarters near Rastenburg. He was Hitler's adjutant to the Kriegsmarine and was sitting seven places to the right of Hitler when the bomb exploded.

As John Toland describes it in his book "Adolf Hitler", 1976, Doubleday & Co. Inc., "At exactly 12:45 PM flames shot up and a hail of glass splinters, timber and plaster rained down. Smoke erupted in the room. Admiral von Puttkamer had felt a strange jerk a split second before the explosion... He followed Hitler and Keitel down the long corridor. Outside a knee gave and he collapsed on the ground..."

This badge was purchased directly from Admiral Puttkamer in 1959 by S.W. Bumball, who was an early collector-dealer of Third Reich relics. His list of 1961 shows an Infantry Standarte at $12.50; General's shoulder boards from the uniform of General Friedrich v. Paulus for $17.; a 20 July 1944 Wound Badge and cased Award Citation for Admiral Hans Erich Voss, $300.; (I also note that Bumball was the first person in the U.S.A. to have the Voss badge, case, documents, and all!); Original watercolor, postcard size, done by and signed on the front by Adolf Hitler in full. The card was sent by an officer in Hitler's World War One Division and still has the original stamp and World War One postmark. This item was $500.

Mr. Bumball later stated in a letter that he sold Admiral Puttkamer's 20 July 1944 Wound Badge to Norm Fladerman for $50. Times sure have changed in thirty years.

Shown here is the Admiral's badge, its in silver with great luster. It has the usual wide pin back and is deeply struck with "800" and "L/12" marks. The badge is cased exactly like the Voss 20 July 1944 Badge pictured on page 270 of "For Fuhrer & Fatherland" vol. 1. Only five of this rare badge can be attributed as awarded. Here is one of them. A great badge for the Admiral!

Charles Snyder, "The Admiral's Rare Badge", Der Gauleiter, 1996

Note: The photo in DG of the badge was quite poor, so I have included a photo of another 20 July wound badge for those who are not aquainted with what they look like. I doubt the one in the photo is original, but it serves as an example. Bob

The Iron Cross

Arguably the best-known military decoration in the world, the Iron Cross, more commonly termed the 'EK' (Eisernes Kreuz), was instituted by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia in 1813 to recognise bravery during the War of Liberation. It was reinstituted with minor design changes in 1870 for the FrancoPrussian War and in 1914 for World War 1 and, as such, was the only major decoration awarded by the Nazis which had existed prior to the advent of the Third Reich in 1933. Its early history, however, falls outside the scope of this book.

On 1 September 1939 Hitler again reinstituted the EK, anticipating a major conflict as a result of his invasion of Poland. For the first time it became a German rather than a purely Prussian decoration and, initially at least, was referred to as an 'Order'. During the next six years it was awarded to Germans and their allies not only for personal bravery but also for outstanding military achievements and for successful war planning. Officers frequently received higher grades of the cross in recognition of the bravery of the men under their command. The EK was open to all branches of the Wehrmacht and members of the noncombatant civil uniformed organisations such as the police, fire service and railway service were also eligible. This should be borne in mind when considering the large numbers of the EK which were distributed. Contrary to wartime Allied propaganda, it was certainly not 'dished out with the rations': it was much-prized, and rightly so.

The EK of 1939 initially comprised four grades or classes, but these had increased in number to eight by 1945. It was necessary that a recipient hold the lesser grade(s) before a higher class could be rendered. All grades awarded were worn simultaneously.

The lowest grade was the Iron Cross Second Class, or EK2. It measured about 44mm in diameter and was suspended from a ribbon bearing the colours of the Third Reich - black, white and red. The cross itself was made of three parts; a core, an obverse rim and a reverse rim. In construction both rims were soldered together, 'sandwiching' the core between them. The core obverse displayed a mobile swastika rotated to stand on one leg, (thus giving the impression of an advancing movement) on its centre and the date 1939 on its lower arm. The reverse was plain save for the date 1813 on the lower arm. The core was normally of solid iron, either painted or chemically treated to give a matt or semi-matt black finish. Some crosses were produced with blackened brass or copper cores and these were popular with naval personnel whose iron-cored crosses tended to rust after weeks at sea. The rim of the EK2 was polished and lacquered 'German silver' (an alloy of copper, zinc and nickel) with a frosted beading. A few late-war issues had unplated zinc frames, with a greyish finish, but their quality of manufacture and crispness of detail remained consistently high. Most EK2 suspension rings were stamped with a manufacturer's code number. Like all Nazi awards, the EK2 was issued unnamed.

When presented, the EK2 was hung from the second buttonhole of the tunic in the traditional German fashion. Thereafter, the recipient usually wore the ribbon alone, either from the buttonhole or on a ribbon bar above the left breast pocket. The cross itself was worn only during parades or at other ceremonial occasions. An estimated 2,300,000 awards of the EK2 were made during World War 2. The youngest recipient was 12-year-old Hitler Youth Alfred Zeck of Goldenau who rendered first aid to 12 wounded German soldiers pinned down by enemy fire in his home town in March, 1945. A total of 27 females, mainly front-line nurses, received the cross.

The Iron Cross First Class, or EKI was the next higher grade. It had the same dimensions and obverse design as the EK2 but had a plain reverse as it was worn on the left breast pocket at all times. The EKI was normally attached to the pocket by means of a wide, tapering bar on the reverse but the recipient could, if he desired, purchase an official copy with a screw-back device. This latter type had a retaining head protruding from the rear of the cross which was pushed through a hole in the tunic pocket and was then fixed in place by a round plate and threaded pin screwed on from behind the pocket. Screw-back crosses were less likely to become detached in action and were frequently bent to a slightly convex shape to improve fit. A small hook on the reverse upper arm prevented the screw-back cross from swivelling around on the tunic pocket. A few recipients had cloth versions of the EKI made for combat wear, but these were strictly unofficial and usually very crude. Most holders preferred to buy official copies for everyday use, enabling them to keep their presentation crosses safe at home or in their barracks. Such copies were always of excellent quality and indeed some had a better finish than the issued pieces.

Construction of the EKI was much the same as that of the EK2, except that some EKls featured hollow alloy cores making them lighter to wear and easier to bend into a convex shape if desired. Again, the manufacturerer's 'L' number often appeared on the EKl, either stamped on the securing bar or on the lower reverse arm. Reproductions of the EKI tend to be made from a soft lead-based alloy which can readily be twisted out of shape by mere finger pressure. They are normally of one-piece construction (ie without a separate core) are roughly painted and feature a thinner pin bar on the reverse.

About 300,000 awards of the EKI were made between 1939 and 1945 and a few examples follow to give an idea of the wide criteria for award. U-boat commanders were usually nominated for the EKI on sinking 50,000 tons of enemy shipping, while Luftwaffe pilots might expect to receive it on downing four or five aircraft. The army or Waffen-SS soldier could be recommended for the EKI on performing three or four brave acts over and above that which gained him the EK2, or for one act of exceptional courage or daring. Indeed, on a very few rare occasions, the EKI and EK2 were conferred simultaneously, as in the case of SS-Oberfuhrer Eduard Diesenhofer who received both classes on 26 June 1940 for actions on the western front with the SS Totenkopf Division. Kapitan Reinen of the German merchant navy won the EKI for defusing bombs in the hold of a ship in Tripoli harbour and SS-Brigadefiihrer Jurgen Stroop received it for supervising the quelling of the 1943 Warsaw ghetto uprising, when 57,000 rebels were captured at a cost of only 16 German dead and 85 wounded. A mere two females were awarded the EKI - test pilot Hanna Reitsch and Red Cross Sister Else Grossmann - both for personal bravery.

Immediately above the EKI was the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross - 'das Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes' usually known as the RK. It was instituted on 1 September 1939 as an entirely new grade of the Iron Cross and was intended to fill the gap which had been left by the abolition after 1918 of the old military Order 'Pour le Merite', the famous 'Blue Max'. The Knight's Cross was therefore the highest gallantry award which Germany could bestow at the outbreak of World War 2 and as such it is always much sought after by collectors.

The RK retained the same basic design as the EK2 but was larger, measuring 48mm across. It was worn around the neck on all occasions. The frame was made of real silver, which could vary in purity from 80% to 93.5% and it was stamped accordingly on the reverse upper rim with the continental silver hallmark, ranging from 800 to 935. The suspension loop was similarly hallmarked. Makers' code numbers, if any, were normally featured on the reverse upper rim alongside the frame hallmark.

In construction, the RK followed the same general process as the EK2. The presentation piece was always of superb quality, with a high swastika and dates having sharp, well-defined edges. The obverse and reverse rims were finely soldered together so as to leave only a hairline trace of the join, with no spaces, and the core fitted perfectly between them.

Robin Limsden: :A Collector's Guide to Third Reich Militaria, 1987, Hippocrene Inc.

The German Eagle

EMBLEMS: THE GERMAN EAGLE

The origin of the German eagle, the national emblem of Germany can be traced back to the ninth century and Charlemagne. Crowned emperor in Rome on Christmas Day in the year AD 800 Charlemagne claimed to be the successor of the Roman emperors.Because it was the emblem, the 'standard' carried by the Legions, he adopted the Roman eagle as his ensign and had it placed conspicuously on his palace at Aachen.

The German spread-eagle can be traced back to about AD 1100, the period of Hohenstaufen. The spread-eagle of the Holy Roman Empire was borne by successive German emperors in the attitude known as 'displayed', that is with the eagle's body upright, the wings on either side raised to the level of the head and the legs extended beneath them. An example of this type of displayed eagle is to be found enamelled on the hil t of the ceremonial sword which once belonged to Charlemagne and is now preserved in the Imperial Treasury in the Burg at Vienna. A distinction was later made between the spread-eagle with one head, and the double-headed eagle, the latter symbolizing both royal and imperial dignity.

The revolutionaries of 1848, the German II Reich of 1871 and the Weimar Republic dating from 1919 all adopted the earlier singleheaded spread-eagle symbol.

In the years between 1933 and 1945 the eagle was featured clutching in its talons a garland of oak leaves containing the swastika (Hakenkreuz), the emblem of the National Socialist Workers Party of Germany. This combination of eagle and swastika constituted the official emblem of the Third Reich.

A distinction was made between the form of the German eagle used by the armed forces (Army and Navy) and the Party with its multitude of political formations. Because it was the youngest of the three fighting services the new German Air Force, brought into being under the National Socialist regime, and from the outset strongly influenced and controlled in its development by Hermann Goring, chose a style of eagle that was in a sense a compromise between the traditional military forces and the new political movement. The German eagle with outstretched wings in an attitude of flight was featured on the new regimental flags of the Luftwaffe.

The Army and Navy used the displayed style of eagle known as the 'Wehrmachtalder, the armed forces eagle. This too was featured as part of the design used on their flags and standards. On the standard for the Fuhrer Escort Battalion the armed forces eagle and the political form of the eagle were used in combination.

In one form or another the German eagle was used on almost every military flag during the period of the Third Reich.

Brian Leigh Davis: "Flags & Standards of the Third Reich - Army,Navy & Air Force" Arco Publishing, 1975

Duane Pfister

SS Totenkopf Honor Ring

To be awarded the deathshead honor ring was the highest honor the could be bestowed upon any SS officer.

Of all the symbols used and incorporated to signify membership in the SS, nothing was more important or cherished by members than the SS- Totenkopf Honor Ring or the SS-Deathshead Honor Ring.

There were, in fact, many officers who were not eligible to receive the honor ring. Often, these officers would have private jewelers make them Totenkopf rings. These rings came in many forms; however, the jewelers were not allowed to use the runic symbols that were on the original Honor Rings, nor were they allowed to use the inscription inside the ring.

The Totenkopf Honor Ring was designed in 1933 by Karl Maria Wiligut Weistor who was infroduced to Himmler by SS Officer Richard Andres. SS-Oberfuhrer Weisthof was made Head of the Department For Pre and Early History within the Race and Settlement Main Office, and he was Himmler's personal mystic on SS-Ideologies, pagan festivals, and holidays. Otto and Karolina Gahr, Munchen/Mariannenstrasse, NR.3, were the exclusive makers of the Honor Ring.

The ring was instituted by Himmler as an object of honor for future generations of Germans to see and pay homage to. No ring was to ever be destroyed and instead was sent back to Himmler's main office for storage and preservation at Wewelsburg Castle, which Himmler owned. Even in the event of death or retirement of an officer, the ring was sent back to the main office.

SS Officer Richard Hildebrandt, who was, an Oberfuhrer, was the first recipient of the SS-Totenkopf Honor ring. He was given the ring as a gift by Himmler in December of 1933. The second ring was also issued in December of 1933 to SS Reinhard Heydrich. From 1933 until September 13, 1936, the honor rings were Himmler's personal awards with no rules or regulations about who was entitled to receive them. On September 13, 1936, the ring became an official state award sanctioned and authorized by Adolf Hitler with rules and regulations about who could receive the award, along with reasons the award and award document could be taken from an officer.

On the first page of the original orders, Item six was left open by Himmler allowing him to deem anyone a special case; therefore, allowing them the privilege of receiving the Honor Ring. This meant that any branch of the service or any person could receive the ring on Himmler's approval, but the majority of the honor rings were issued to SS-officers.

The top of the ring has a skull and crossedbones surrounded in oakleaves and runic symbols. There is a sigrune in a triangle, swastika in a diamond, dual sigrunes and tryrune in a circle, and a hagall rune in a hexagon. The inside of the ring is engraved with the officer's last name, date of issue, a copy of H. Himmler's signature, and "S.lb.". The S.lb. stands for "Seiner Leibe" which, translated, means respect and honor.

What to Look For

Honor rings never bore a silver content or jeweler's mark other than the original inscription. For every good Honor Ring, there are hundreds of copies that you should be aware of.

The rings were issued on four specific dates according to the original orders of 1936. These dates were: April 20 (Hitler's birthday), June 21 (Summers - Solstice Festival), November 9 (anniversary of the Munich Putsch), and December 21 (SS Winter Solstice Festival). You will find more original honor rings with the last date, as it was their biggest and most honored festival in Himmler's eyes.

The aforementioned dates were in writing in the original orders, however, Himmler could put any special date he wanted on the inside of a ring. Consequently, there are many original rings with various dates that do not conform to the original orders. Prior to those orders, the rings were issued on different dates including June 30, the Knight of the Long Knives, or January 30, when Hitler was elected Chancellor.

Honor Rings were issued with an award document either signed by Himmler or with a stamped signature of Himmler. When the document is translated it states what the ring and the runic symbols stand for.

Also, Honor Rings were issued in a presentation ring box that was circular with dual lightning bolts on the top, surrounded by two silver circles. The box is black on the outside, made of compressed cardboard, and has a velvet base inside. A black metal field presentation box was also made, void of any symbols and padded on the top, bottom, and sides. This metal box is also circular in design.

SS-Totenkopf H. Himmler Honor Rings were so important to the SS that special orders were given to commanding officers to retrieve the rings from officers who died in battle or died in hospitals from their wounds. All Honor Rings were to be worn only on the ring finger of the left hand and were to never be used for propaganda purposes. There is however one exception I have come across. In a 1942 period photo of SS-Reinhard Heydrich, he is wearing his Honor Ring on the ring finger of his right hand. I do not think Himmler would have questioned him about the change because of Heydrich's rank and power. If the ring became unsightly or worn, it was to be turned in for a new one with the old one being sent back to Himmler's office for storage and preservation for future generations.

Don Boyle:SS-Totenkopf H. Himmler Honor Ring 1933-1945, Military Trader, 1995