Banners of the German Police

A little over a year after being placed under the control of the SS, the German Police was finally considered ideologically pure enough to fully participate in the Reichsparteitag (Reichs Party Day) 1937. Only a year before, a small contingent of police marched in the parade at Nurnberg and even those men were only Blood Order and Golden Party Badge recipients. But at the Reichs Party Day 1937 festivities, the German Police were honored with a special ceremony during the Tag der Politischen Leiters on Friday, September 10, 1937 at which they received new Party-style flags for their troops, with a Deutschland Erwache Standarte to be consecrated and presented to them the following Sunday.

During the Friday event, speeches by Himmler and Hitler noted that the awarding of flags and the Standarte symbolized the philosophical union, a living connection, of the national police with the NSDAP, which had occurred since the merger of the police into the SS in June 1936. After the speeches, twenty-three Fahnen (flags) for Police garrisons across Germany were presented after consecration with the Blood Flag. To receive these flags, all the Inspectors of the Ordnungspolizei (senior SS/Police commanders within the Wehrkreis) were present at the ceremony. These flags were called Standartfahen and described as being identical to the Allegemeine-SS Sturmbannfahnen (General SS battalion flags) with the exception of the police insignia on the corner black square instead of the SS identification. Each flag was finished with a spike-type finial as used by the SS. In the months following the Reichs Party Day, these twenty-three flags were distributed to police garrisons across Germany in elaborate ceremonies for use in future parades and events such as the swearing-in of police recruits.

The Polizei Deutschland Erwache Standarte was discussed in Ulric of England's superlative work "Deutschland Elwache." The Polizei Standarte was consecrated and presented to the Police on Sunday, September 12 1937 along with Standarten for other Party formations. The construction was identical to those Standarten of the Allgemeine-SS, except for the placement of the police insignia and swastikas on the black front panel of the Standarte box. The rear was identical: the letters NSDAP in silver color, contrasting the black.The German Police were an integral part of the Reichs Party Day in 1938, though they were not honored with a special ceremony. The Ordnungspolizei received an additional thirty-eight more flags consecrated with the Blood Flag by Hitler on September 11, 1938. The September 20, 1938 edition of the magazine "Die Deutsche Polizei" described the ceremony and enumerated the flags as "...35 neue Standortfahnen und drei Stander der Motorisierte Gendarmerie..." (35 new garrison flags and three Stander of the motorized Rural Police). The term Stander is an unusual term and translates literally as a pennant. As used in the "Organizationsbuch d. NSDAP," the NSKK Sturm-Stander was a pennant flag awarded to NSKK companies. The pictures with the article in the police magazine were nothing other than the garrison flags.

The presentation of these three banners was recognized in an article on the Police Standarte and flags in a 1970 dated collector's magazine "Militaria," which noted that "Units of the NSKK and Motorized Police had a like banner (SA-Standarte) but with a different pole and hanging arrangement." The authors evidently had both written and photographic references but confused the design of the Stander with that of the Standarten of mounted and motorized units. Brian Davis in his book "Flags of the Third Reich: Party & Police Flags," notes that besides the DE Standarte, the police were presented fifty-eight different colors and three cavalry standards for the Motorized Gendarmerie. Davis evidently used only textual references in his book, as his description of the police banners evidences a mistranslation of the German text. He has no pictorial references to substantiate the description of "cavalry standards." In "Deutschland Erwache," Ulric describes an "Intermediate-Standard" of the police which was presented at the 1938 Reichsparteitag. A photo of this standard during presentation and a photo of one known in a private collection were included in the book.

From additional information found in issues of the police magazine, "Die Deutsche Polizei" and from private photographs of the Reichsparteitag parade of the police DE and flags and a Munich celebration, an explanation of this Police Stander can be made. Shown in the accompanying photo of the 1938 Reichsparteitag parade are three horizontally affixed flags leading the block of Police flag-bearers, but behind at some distance from the Police DE Standard. These must be the three Stander (Pennants) of the Motorized Gendarmerie mentioned in the article. They were equivalent to the Standortfahnen as they are paraded in the same group. While the configuration is similar to the standards of the motorized/cavalry SS, SA and NSKK units, the pennants can in no way be considered standards, Intermediate or otherwise as written by other authors. The Police Stander do not contain the magic words "Deutschland Erwache" as do the standards of motorized/cavalry units of the SS, SA and NSKK. The Stander was not surmounted with the Party eagle and was not paraded with the same seniority of the Police DE standard.

In the months following the Reichsparteitag 1938, the police magazine reported the consecration and transfer of two of these Standers to the Motorized Gendarmerie commands in Austria and Potsdam. On November 9, 1938, the Inspector of the Order Police for the Province of Brandenburg officiated the transfer ceremony of one of the Standers of the Reichsparteitag 1938 to the Motorized Gendarmerie Detachment Potsdam. A photo included in the article shows the Stander being carried in one of the unit's cars. In a February 1939 issue of "Die Deutsche Polizei," a photo and summary described the transfer of another of the Stander from the 1938 Reichsparteitag to the Motorized Gendarmerie of Ostmark. The Stander was received by the detachment in Purkersdorf. From an album in a private collection, the following photo of Freiherr v. Eberstein, Police President of Munich was taken in Munich in late 1938 and shows the presentation ceremony of the third 1938 Reichsparteitag Police Stander to the Motorized Gendarmerie detachment in Munich. The Standers were transferred to Motorized Gendarmerie garrisons responsible for the counties surrounding three major population centers: Berlin, Vienna and Munich. It is not known if any more of the Standers were created for other Motorized Gendarmerie units. No evidence has been found in subsequent issues of "Die Deutsche Polizei."

But according to Ulric's book, a similar Stander was made and presented in 1935, three years before the police version. Ulric also describes this flag as an Intermediate-Standard for the Signals Battalion of the SS- VT. Andrew Mollo published a drawing of the flag in his Vol. III of the "Uniforms of the SS" series some thirty years ago. The pictured flag was described as a standard of the SS Signals Sturmbann (Battalion) of the SS- Velfiigungstruppe. Now it is obvious that the construction of the Police Stander is identical to the earlier SS "Intermediate-Standard." Numerous collectors refer to it as the SS-Signals Standarte. But like the later Polizei Stander, it does not have the magic words "Deutschland Erwache". Nor is it surmounted with the Party eagle. Even the NSFK Standartes that were awarded in 1938, but lacked the words "Deutschland Erwache," were surmounted by the Party eagle. So why consider either the Police Stander or the identical SS flag the equivalent of a Deutschland Erwache Standarte?

From what we know of the Signals detachment of the SS- Verfiigungstruppe, it was established on March I, 1935 from SS trainees who had completed a two-month course in communication skills. In addition, the trainees learned military equestrian techniques in February 1935 at an old Police barracks in Berlin as was required at that time by signals troops. The battalion established in 1935 contained two companies of both motorized and horse-drawn platoons. The SS signals unit was intended to be mobile, as were military communications troops at the time. Thus, the banner given to the Signals Battalion would have been appropriate for mounted units and the Stander was created for that unit, suitable for carry on horse or in a vehicle. The cloth was fixed to a horizontal pole to prevent excessive movement and the entire arrangment was smaller in size than the normal Sturmbann Fahne to facilitate handling on horse or in a vehicle. Thus, a Stander instead of a Polizei Standortfahne was presented to a motorized Police unit of battalion size, like the Mot. Gendarmerie Abteilung.

Joseph Wotka, "Flags and Banners of the German Police 1933-1945 (The Banner of the SS-Signals Batallion of the SS-VT)", The Military Advisor, 2003

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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

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Gestapo Disc Number 8455

The U.S. National Archives is home to one of the few known surviving copies of S.H.A.E.F.manual E.D.S./G/l0, printed in late 1944. Titled "The German Police", and once marked "SECRET", it contains a photograph )f GESTAPO warrant disc number 8455.
This manual was prepared jointly by Military Intelligence Research Section (London Branch) and Evaluation and Dissemination Section, in consultation with the War Office.

Due to its extreme rarity, it is little known to most collectors of World War Two militaria, Even those who specialize in the German Police. It contains a wealth of information unvailable from any other source.

This manual shows what is probably the only "period" photograph of the Geheime Staatspolizei (GESTAPO) warrant disc. The disc was almost never photographed in Nazi Germany because of fear of counterfeiting.

GESTAPO disc number 8455 fell into the hands of British Intelligence (circumstances unknown) sometime before the publication of the manual in late 1944. It was photographed from both sides, shown with the carrying chain attached. Also pictured in the manual is both sides of a DIENSTAUSWEIS (I.D. Card), that always accompanied the disc.

Many years later, the same disc appeared in Jack Pia's book "SS Regalia", published by Ballantine in June, 1974. The photograph used in Pia's book was made some thirty years later than that used in the S.H.AE.F. manual, and shows considerable "wear and tear" to the disc, when compared to the earlier photo.

Circumstantial evidence points to the fact that disc number 8455 was "autopsied" by British Intelligence in order to produce "fake" disc number 8486, which was used to extricate Hans Bernd Gisevius from Germany after the plot to kill Hitler went awry in July, 1944.(See the book by Nigel West, "MI 6", and Hans Bernd Gisevius' book "To the Bitter End", for the full story.
Disc number 8455, now in the Author's collection, shows file cut marks in three locations, as well as discoloration from fire and/or acid. Most likely this was done in trying to ascertain the correct metallic composition for making the planchet blank for the false disc.

While the purpose of the duplication was commendable, (it almost certainly saved the life of Gisevius) it is still difficult for al collector to have charitable thoughts toward the unknown British "spook" who found it necessary to file cut this once pristine disc in "three" different places!

The disc remained in England until recently, when acquired by the Author, after much negotiation. It has been in two different British collections for the past thirty years.Before that time it was owned by an unnamed British veteran, who very well may have been the gentlemen who performed the "autopsy" in 1944.

This disc is very unique in the fact that it is the only known GESTAPO disc to be photographed by Allied Intelligence during the war.

Don Bible, "GESTAPO Disc Number 8455", DER GAULEITER, 1993

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

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