213
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.AN MILITARY POLICE UNITS
1939-45
(iORDO:\, \\11 J .L\\ISO:\'
RO:\l \ULST\D
EDITOPc MARTIN WINDROW (;lliliJD HllITA,RY
i\IE~-AT-ARl\IS SERIES
213
GERMAN MILITARY POLICE UNITS
1939-45 Text by GORDON WILLIAMSON Colour plates by RONVOLSTAD
Fir~l plLhli~ll('cl in
Acknowledgements
O~prcr
I have been fOl'tLlltall' ill Ill} rc:.earch to make contact wilh lWO Winans urthe Fcldgendarmnic of lhe famed 'Hcrmallll Coring' Fal1schi~mpanzcr korIb, who. provided :.cvcral rare phOlograph:., indudillg :')1101:. the Luftwaffe·paltern Fcldgcndanncric gorget being worn. To these gentle.:men, Herren Ht'r1X'rt E. Kail and Wolfgang [)ing
Cf Charita lor photographi(' conJributions. Rcaden, intere~tcd in fun her ~tudy of 1 Ill' hi:.lOl')' of Ih," German :\Iilitary Police through till' ages are f('fcrn-d 10 the C;>.CC]lCIlI \\ork by Karl-Heinz Iklckk, Fridgrndarmfll. Fridjiigtr .\Iifitiirpoli-zisll'1l. puhlished by ~Jotorbtlch \'erlal;".
Gn'al Ikilaill ill IgRg h} Publi...hillg. Elms COllr!. Chapel Way. Bodq. Oxford OX:: 9L1~ Uililed Kingdom. I':Inail: illlo(!./ osprl'),publi:>hillg.wlIl fllgH9 hing I.ld. Reprinted 199~. 1991 (twice), 1995, 19~)i, 1998 , 1999- :lOOI .\11 right\ fC''>Crwd.. \p..lrt /i·\,rn ;1Il} bir dealiul.: lor Ihl' purpose.' of prj.. 'Ite.· ~lud\, l"l"ie.·..m:h. (rilil i~1ll or rl'\·il'\\. a" permitted \ll\ckr tll(' Copyrig-htlll".,il.,'lis ,md P,Ul'nll> ,\n. 1988. no 1).111 ofllli~ pubIH:'ltiun llMy bl' rqmM.!uu-d. ,1I..II'l"(1 ill ,I n:tne.'\ ,II ~y'H'IlI. "1' lI~lIhmilll"(1 in allY form or by .IIIY me.IIl', l,ktlnJllk·. dn Irk ,II. dlelllKal. nwdl,lIlie.'''1. opt it ,II. phullx'upyinl!, r'"('(Inling: or otlwr.\ i:-l', witlUJIII 1111' priOI'llt'f111I,-,iOfl llf Ih.. ('()I)yri~llI m\ n('r. r:'lfluirl("' ~h"\lld IX' 'ldch1·<;,.,,;>(IIO Ill(" Puhli,lwn.. Brllull Libwry (;aI(lIQ.~IIII1~ 11/ PublirnlilJll /Jalo
\\'illiallbon_ (;orc.!Oll Gennan milil;!!)' polin' unih. 193f} al-.lnn~ . ./1 I : I, Gf'rnl;llIY. 1I11'r. 1933 19.J.5 I. Til],- II. ~:)('ri\'S
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Artist's Note Re'ldel"S may ('<11"(' 10 nou' thal Ihe origillal pailHings lrolll "hidl th(" ('n]nul' plalcs in this book w"n' prepared ,1ft. a\ ailabie lor pri, ale s;lk, ,\11 rqm,duclioll cop)riJ.:ht whaISOt'\'\'1' j~ r'('lairlt'd by Ihc
Publishers, All ellquirics should be addressed to: Filmsl'l ill l;l'l'at Hripi1\ Pril1tcc.J ill CliinOllhroug:h World I'rillll.ld. FOR" e,\'I',\1 OI;(H' OF ,\I.J I\O()"'~ 1·I'I\I.J~IH:1l In" O~I'RI.Y ~'1111 1',\1{\
The
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i\1;n'kelill~ 1\lallagcr,
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LSi\ The Publishers reb'Tet tklt they call enter into (10 correspolldellct' upOn this mailer.
German Military Police Units 1939-45 ~c
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policeman must Ix' one of the least rt"Cialcd (certainly by his fdlow soldiers) yel I illdisp(~nsahk miliwry figures in Jnodnn Of). In the mobile warfarT ofthc 20th century army coule! keep its vital supply convoys on the ·c alld its supply roules open without the ulry policclnan. Ifhis lcllow soldiers' opinion of is llsually expressed in expletives, then those ill er command with a good overall view, inl)' valued his ser\'ict.-~witllcSS some of the 1; cxpl'cS!>Cd through the
lou ((IImol hlll't fl good armv withollt II pofiu force . :\apoloon Bonapartel. Tltt Fitld ,\larshall Commlllld";1/ Chiif t\pu.ms his ljturion ldth II" work iif Iht .1Ii/ita')' Poliu. ... Tht lRW whirh IIIlS pUl'Oiltd bl'llind till' front is dirrct[)· ulrd 10 IIt"ir dJicil'1uy alld dl'mtioll' I'l'he Adjutant ral. British Expeditionary Force. 1918). Thl' Baul, oj. Yomwndy and subsequl'1I1 hault'S It'Ould hm't b((1/ It'D" but for III, ll'Ork a//(/ cO-
1915).
Tit, F,ldjiig('/' //(l1'( fulfilled liItir PSJ'chological pur/)O:Jf'. r aclioll.\' 1/(11'1' ra/Jid/..y gamed them (I!'r!Jlltalioll ... tilei!' ond JU/J/IOI'! wnf milch sought (ifler' (General del' er Speidel, [W8), The Britis.h Corps of Royal l\.Iilil
Tht" FcldjiLg-crkorp~ scn'cd with di~tin('liOll during the Napoleonic Wars, and the Franco·Prus.~ian War of TR70, Alongside the Feldjagnkorps. thc Gendarmerir or ci\'i11X)lice \\as 10 dew lop a miliTary bram:h of FrldWlJda/"mrrie, which grew 10 on-rtake the Fd(ljiil\crkorps as Germany's principal provosT arm. On the outbreak or war in 1914 Ihe German armies had al lheir disposal 33 Fcldgendarmeric Troops. cach of around 60 NCOs and men. Like its British cQulltcrparl al lhal lime. the Fcldgendar· mcrit· was officcred h) personnel on a temporary attachmcnt Irom otllt'r anns, mosll) Ca\·alry. The stamlan:1 Fcldgcndarmerie palrol consisted of a scrgeant Ohergmdaml) and two junior NCOs :Unluoffi;;.ine or GrfreiJtl. In ;uldition. tcmporary Ficld Police or Ililjsgmdarmm wcrc employed. By Aa Anny fddse darn...riej .....or NCO 0... rraJlic dull' 0 .. the Ea.tera fro"l '!Mil. NOle o"'ce the _terproor coal, S0"'Kel and l....nic __ d.. The Horch field .,... ill ll'pi.,.1 or the type or lishl ~hide ....... by FeLd&eadarmerie pcl'Scu.... d. h i .. fur..j5hed .... ta... <:cI1o.. r with 1"'__'" .lId n!ddi..h-bro_ m0111ed camo,,8ase. U, a.arita)
.p'"
thc end of the Greal War a tOlal of 115 Fddgendanncric units had beell formed, and addit ionally a Fcldgcllda rtllt'riekorps of live caval r~ squadrons for special missiollS, which llltimatel~ rcached regimental stn>lIgth before Ihe war's end. The cOllclu~ioll of Ihe Greal \Var saw tilt' dishi.llldmcnt of the Feldj:igcrkorps and thl' Fddgendarmcrie, During the period from 19191<' 1939. no military !x>!ice lonnations exisled in thl German army. Ihough army Slrcct patrols policed garrison are'ls. Iflhc overlap offllllCliol1~ Ix-Iween the FeJdjagcr· korps and Fddgt'mlarm(Tit> in Ihe Great \\'arseem~ confusing. lhe multiplicil) of police formalions used by the German war machine during Ihe Second World War S4X'ms astonishing, .\mong lhe man~ existing police lInits \\"('re Ihe Fcldgendannen(·. Fcldjiigerkorps. Gt·lU'ime Feld PoJizei. Heercsstrcifendicnsl, Zugwache, Bahnhofswache. t\larinckustcn-Polil.t'i, and numerous Polizl"i SChUl7.en Rl'brimcntt'r, ·J·hi~ is \\ ilhout including tIll' numerous slate SCClllilY organs. such as tilt'
••
4
ich('rhcitsdienst which \\TIT also to be found in mbat areas. \luch hated by their fellow soldiers, the German military policemen were known by more sinister DJCknallles Ihan their British coulltCrpal'1s, the 'Redcaps': 'Chained Dab'S' and 'Headhunters' were - I two of the epithets cOlllmonly used, ,\1 the end oflhe Second World \\'ar, the skills of me German \Iilitary Police were quickl~ appreciated by Ihe British and Alllerican~, who used It\'{'ral entire companies ofrutly armed Fcldgendar,men and Fcldjager as auxiliaries to assist their own "'l.rd-prcsscd police formations. In the chaotic conditions of the immediate post-war pcriCK:! the cxpt'riclleed manpower provided by these troops wa... or great help 10 til(' occupying authoritil's. When the German Army was rc-Iorrncd in t955 ~e or the firslunits 10 be C'Stablished was a t'olilitary Police Company, In 1956tlil'sc Jlililii, Po{j:;.ri WtTC Illed the use of the traditional tide Tddjager·. The- l3undeswchr today fields Feldjager units ill each mililary district (Wth,be,~ic!I) which in till' case mohilisation would be strcllgtbened by n.'SCrvists. There are no Air Force or Kaval PI'()VOSI units, thl' Frldjiiger having authority over all three services. TIll' tr
In Ihi. unu.ual "a>ne an Oberfeldwebel of Ann)' Feldgeneta..merie Ullellan NSU Kettenkrad half-t.racked motorcycle 10 pOIll a lighlt ..uck Lbrough the mire ofa Runian road;n the Ipring Lbaw. 11>e Oberfeldwcbel we. lhe M.!r.JS panern Fetdmil""', The Kenern.rad wa.. DOl ..1 nI i55"e to Fetdge.........me.... "nili.. U. Charila)
longer IISl'tl as idenlif}'ing sYlllbols. Instead, morc in keeping with ollieI'. ATO coullIries, a diSlinCli\'e while lx-It and pistol holster are worn; :t whjle annbaml bearing Ihe legend Frhljii,f.!,l'r is also used on duty. The traditional \Iililary Police brallch-ol: service colour of orange-red has been retained as piping to lhe shoulder strap~ and undcrlay lor the collar patches. Thc ben;t used lor c\'Cryday duties is in til\' same red colour as that used by till: British R:'vl P; the badge worn thereon bears the traditional t'luhlcm of the Fddjiigcr, the Guards Star and mOHO 'Suum Cuiqw', reinforcing the traditional links with the FcI(ijager of Imperial times, .\!though countlt'S-~ hooks ha\'e bccn wrillen on the subject of the anned forces of the Third Reich, little has appeared on Ihe subject of lhe :\lilit~lry Police forces. This is despile the fact thaI there i~ a greal demand for original examples or t-.lilitary Police memorabilia among collectors. It is hoped that this book will go some way towards filling that gap.
5
FeI((~l!l/tI(l/IlIerie ties Hems The Fddgcndal'rllcric \\"s fonncd 011 the mobilisation of the German Ann)' ill 1939. I IS members were. in the Ill;lin, experienced former cidl policemen lI'om the ci,'il Gendarmerie (particularly the \lotorisierte Gcndnl'mnic) and serving Army )leos. The command structure orlhe Fddgcndarmeric began at the Oberkommalldo dl.."S Heeres or Of.\.H (High Command of the Army) where the senior ranking onicef of tht' Fddgcndarmcrie would be aHachtel. He \\as under the direct control Orllle Quartermaster-General oCthe German Armies and was reslxmsiblc for all mailers relating to the Fddgendarmcric including jX'rsonnd administration, postings, elc. I-Ie \\;l!; alw n:
regulations, alld slandal'dising FeJdgcndarmerie training prOCt·dllr('~. The next level or command lay with each Arrnee Oberkommando, to \\ hich \\as attached a Fcldgendarmeric Slarr ollicer responsible for Fcldgendarmeric matters within the area of that army. The stafrolliccl"controllcd all the FeJdgendarmerie units attacht..-d to that Army and was responsible for maintaining order and discipline, and especially for traffic control and route maintenance during largescale troop movements. Each Field Army of the \\'ehrmaeht had under its command a Feldgendarmerie BataiJlon and each Di\'ision a Fe.ldgendarmerietrupp. A typical Fcldgcndarmerie Bataillon of the Second World War \\ould have the following Structure: Command Group: onc officer, one warralll officer, two :'JCOs. three Othcr Ranks. I 'tlrid~: onc field car. one small bus. .\/ T Sal/On: olle NCO, three Other Rank'>. '-thiellS: one motorC) c1e. onc field car. PlatOOnJ (x 3): onc officer. three ACO dri\·ers. 17 l\COs, ten Olher Ranks. '''hulu: three mOlorcyles, IWO motorcycle combinations, eight Kubelwagcns. SII/Jporl Groll/): otle each :'\'CO clerk, ~I T :'JCO, armourcr NCO, cook NCO, cook OR, armoul"er OR. clerk OR, cobbler; and four drivcr ORs. l'ehiells: IWO x 2-tOll \'chick'S, two x 3-ton vchicks. A typical Fddgendarmerietrupp in an Army Division (in this cast' Armoured) would bc as follows: onc officcr commanding, IWO oniccr platOOll c01llmandel'"S, three NCO motorcycle drivers, threc OR mOlOrcydc drivers, cight NCO drivers, four OR drivers, 13 OR drivers and 30 NCOs. Vchidc :tllocation to a typical Feldgendarrnerietrupp itl :tn Al'rnotrr"ed or Motoriscd Division would comprise: ~ix solo motorcycles; four motorcycle combinations (~idl'car wilh an MG34 or MG42 macbine gun); I 7light field cars (usually the VW 'Kuhclwagcn'); two x 2-ton vchicles (gencrally a heavy field car ~lIch as a 4 x 'I Horch or Haupt:manA ...... Hau.er a. Chef der r",ldsendarmerietrupp 498 durinll aa i.n~P"'Clion lrip in Sicily 19411. Not", tbat on th", tropical field dress wo..... On this oc:ea~ion oll1y tloe ~bouldu strap WalT_farbe indicates bis r.,ldll"'.da .,ri'" Slat...... DO aleev., '""Ill., Or c:ulI'band are wo..... fro photogr.tphic ",vid_ce il would appear tbat tbe ..,.. of f..n r",ldll",ndann",ri", sleeve insipia .... Ih", tropical dress was ""'I')' rare. Ha.."",r later won the Kaillht'. Cronon Ii May '94S wben Rrvift«: in SSl'taze....cre...dk... R~men' .. 'Der fUh",r' with the 'Das R.,icll' Divi.ion. (Ua... Hauser)
6
Stcyr; :mel two x 3-ton vehicles (usuaJI} an Opel Blitz or similar light truck). Personal armament of lhe Feldgcndannerie was initially restricted to light weapons. A wide range of automatic pistols was used, KCOs and men normally carrying a Walther P38 or a Luger P08, \\ hereas offic<.....s oftell favourL'd the more compact Walther PP or Pill\.. :\Iost ~COs carried the .\lP38/40 machine piSIOI, and while the :\lauser Kar98k rifle can be S('ell in wartime photos of Feldgendarrnerie personnel. it \\ as 110t widely used. The 1>uperb ~IG3.1- or ~IG4-J bc1t+fcd machine guns \\ere also llsed by Fcldgcndarmerie units as a n-hicle weapon or for defending road blocks. As the war drew towards its end. many Fcldgcndarmcrie pc."rsunnel found themselvcs thro\\ n into from-line combat. and the deadly Panznf,-:lust anti-tank projectile saw frC
Former policemen drafled into the Fcldgendarmerie \\ere allocated milit:lIT ranks in keeping with their fonner police status :L~ follo\\'s: \\aclllmd.u~r
O~rwachtmcister
Ikzirksw.u:htmciJtcr ~Iaupl\\'aclllnwi.tcr
\lriswriObrrllll'islcr Insp,ck\or
c"/"Offi::Jn dn 1-cfdgaldamurit 1-ddll tlu! dn 1-cfdf,",darm"ir ObnjddllYbd d" Ftldt,mda,mr,i, 5/(lbJjddlftW! d" FddgmJ(I,mm, I.(tIIII(ln/ d" Ftldgrnd(l,mmr Obn!rulf/Ilnl drr "c!dgtndaT1f/rrir
The Fcldgclldanneric, ill military terms, had similar responsibilities 10 till' OrdflllllllJ/;o!it.ei in civilian lift:. Amongst the llIallY and varied tasks of the Fcldgclldarmt'fie wne tile li)l1owing (by no means a complete list): Tr;dnc control; mailltaining military order and di~ciplin('; colicctiull and escuning of prisoners of war; collt-ction and r(·direCtiun or stragglcn: prevelltion of looting; supervision and control of civilian populace in occupied areas: disarming cl\'ilians; checking captured enemy soldiers ror documents, maps or other useful information; checking papers of soldit'rs in transit or on leave; collcnion of fallen enelllY propaganda lea nets and prevenllon or distribution of such material; searching Ii)!" shot-down enemy fliers; providing Rr<.Tt patrols in occupied areas; prevention of sabotage; CQtltrol ofevacuttS during retreats; duties ofa security nawn' in co-operation with the Gthnnu Frldpoli:;t'; (i.e. counter-espionage, monitoring
or....
A II'tandard model19JO FeldbhlH Army Feldg...ndartlleri... OlHrC... ldw... bel. All lbe insignia ar'" machi.ue-stilc:hed 10 lbe lunic with Ih......xceplion oC th... "hould... r "I.raps which ar... r ...mo ..abl....
politically suspect IX"'SOIIS, <.'tl'); apprehending deserters; border control; anti-partisan duties. After the occupation of Czechoslov;tkia alld Poland, Fcldgendarmerie ll'
7
(
A c:105e-up of the Felcl!_darm~ \t0rcel aad s l _ tapp; DOle the w"lki.. taiJ~ "UU,loia5 of the laner. Many oripmol er.ampl" of the feldJ...d.a...... ~e lors:el .. till hav," th.. Iwnia
According to Herr Heuer, in tllese laiC days of the war Fcldgelldarl1lerie personnel caught by the Soviets (QuId expect shon shrift; indeed. rumours abounded ofa 'bounty' oflered tor the head of any Feldgendarmc taken. Ccnainly these rumours were taken seriously by the Germans: each Fcldgendarme was issued with a second Sofdbuck (l D or 'pay book') falsely showing the holder as an 'ordinary' soldier whose capture would be uninteresting to the SO\·iets. \\'hell capture was imminent the Fcldgendarme would merely throw awa) his duty gorget and real Soidbuck and on caplUre present his fake Soidbuck in the hope of avoiding execution. This makc:5 the laic of Heuer's actions in the last few days of the war. and his c"cllIua) capture even more . . Impre5SI\'e,
Leutnaot der Feldgeodannerie Heinz Heuer Heinz Heuer was born in Berlin on '2 August 1918. He began his military service at the age of 18, (B. L 0.";,,,) joining 5/Flak Regiment 1'2 in Doberitz and camral and security of supply rout<.'s to the front subs{:quently lo/Flak Regiment 32 in Berlin. On I line. In this respect the Fcldgendarmc was no Noycmber 1938 hejoincd the Police and allended dinercnt to the ~I P of any other nation; no army sc\"Cral Policc Training Schools before joining the can function without secured supply rQuleS and Tt.:chnical Police School in Berlin to complete his instruction. Assigned to the Ordnungspolizei HQ, efficient traffic control. Towards the ('ncl oCthe war, mallY Fcldgcndar- he was sulX>tXlllemly altached 'z.b.V.' (for special Incn found themselvcs used as front Iinc combat duties) to lht' ),'oreign Office and to the troops in despcl':llc defensive or counter-attack OKW/Abwchr foreign department. During the movements, panicularly on the Eastern Front. war Heucr scrv(.xl on all fronts and saw action with Several Fc1dgendarmcll were decorated for gal- the ElIllOUS 'Uranclcnbllrgers', 1945 saw Heller as a highly experienced lantry during these hectic days. The foJlowin,l{ soldiers were awarded the German Cross in Gold: Oberfeldwcbel del' Fcldgendarmerie leading a Maj. \Vcrncr Weber (Fcldgcndarmcrie Abteilung small Kampfgruppc inlhe defence of Berlin. Heuer 682): Leu\nan\ del' Re~erve Peter Scholz (Feldgen- and his group were called before Gen. Krebs on I G darmcrictrllpp 1544): Obergcfn.:iter HansSchlottel' April 1945 and given a special task. A sllspeCied (Bahnhotswacheabtcilung 2); and Oberleutnanl Russian command POSI in a certain area was to be del' Re~ervc Johannc~ Kalldziora (zjFeldgendar- 'cleared out', and Heller, with a small band of around 28 men, was to do the job. \Vhen searching merie Ab(. 53t). for the cnemy post, Heuer and his men encountered The most highly decorated of all serving Feldgendarmen was Leutnant del' Feldgendar- an enemy tank unit around 40 strong, On the night merie Heinz Heuer, decorated for his heroism or '2 I April. Heuer and his men surprised and during the baltic for Berlin in 1945; Heinz Heuer O\'ercame the guards on the Russian command post and captured many maps and important docuW;L'l Ihe only Feldgendarmc to be decorated with Ihe co"eted Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. mellls. On his return Heuer and his men came upon (Former Feldgendanncrie officer Hans Hauser was others from their group in action against the enemy also awarded the Knight's Cross, but at the time of tanks spoiled earlier. Theyjoined the action; and of the award was serving as an SS-Sturmbannftihrer the 27 enemy tanks dCSlTO)'ed, Heuer's personal score came to an amazing 13, achieved using the with a Wancll-5S I)anzer Grenadier Regiment.)
8
·Panzcrf:lUsl' hand-held anti-tank projcctile. On hi!; rcturn Heuer reponed to Gen. Krebs and inlormcd him of his unit's achievemcnts. Krebs was delighted with Ihc captured Sovict material and Heuer's destruction of so many enemy tanks; and in tilt" prcscnceofGens. Krebs, Burgdorfand Fegclein, Heuer \\as dccorated \\~th the Knight's Cross. He W;lS al:.o gi\'cn a field promotion to Lculnant del' Fcldgendarmerie. Following the success of his mission, Heuer was gi\Tn a funhcr special task: 10 take a Ix:rsonal ~ucccssflli
HauJKfeldw.. M.1 H ..u.z H ..u ..r, th.. _I.. lierVU.t: r ..tdg.. oda... meri.. r ..cipie..e ofth.. K ..iy.eli Cross of th .. lro., C ......... I.. thi,. pbOl..grllpb ••k .... prior 10 his aw.rd.wi....;..g .ctions, H ..u ..r w.... n eM "e• .,d.rd MI9:J6 pauern " .....y F..ldblull"j not.. th.t al t"i" lac.. se.g.. of eb.. w.r, no arm ..asl.. or cuf'lba..d .r" worn, on.ly t.... OrllnS" pipin!!: indicating H .. uer'. .e.eu" a" a r ..tdS darm ... Noe.. th ......bisde lanyard on the r;8ht should..r, and I Dri"er'. Badge io gotd on th .. l..fl Slo'il"'" (Hfl.oZ H ..u ..r)
message li'om Hitler to 5S-Gen. Felix Steiner. Heuer sel all' by motorcycle, but was captured by Soviet troops. In the slyle of the best spy stories, Heuer managed to chew up and swallow the message before the SovieLS could stop him. The Soviets Wt're in no mood to take prisoncrs and Heuer, together with some other captured Germans, was given a spade and IOld to dig himself a shallow gra\·e. Execution was to Ix: inHllt"tliate. Ha\'ing completed this most macabre of ta.~ks. the dooml."(1 Germans wcre allowed a last cigarette. In the next lew minutes an anillery barragc came crashing in, forcing the Soviet guards to take cover. and Heuer and his comrades made good their escape. Ilowever. as the war ended shortly ancrwards, Heuer soon found himself in Soviet captivity again. He was held first in Tschcljabinsk in Siberia, and then al a punishment camp in Oms. \Vilh Ihl' help ofa Russiall wOlnan doctor, Heuer was able to arrange repatriation 10 Berlin; once there. however. he was denounced to the GI"JL" and arrested once again. Sevcrdy debilitated aner his capti\·ity. Heuer now weighed a mere six stonc (abolll 8Slb). Luckily, with the connivancc of a sympathetic Russian officer. Heuer managed to t:scapeonce again and made his way to tht' Wt"Stcrn Zone. Heuer's military decoration:, included the 1ron Cross 2nd and 1st Class, Wound Badge ill Silvcr. East Front Campaign :\IOOal, War t\lerit CI'Oss2nd Class with Swords, Driver's Badge ill Gold, two Gold and three Silver Tank Destruction Awards and lhe Knight's Cross. Aftcr thc war Heuer returned to a police career. He was still alive at the time of wriling. Uniforms and Insignia The special ickntil}'ing insignia worn by the Fcldgcndarmcric were as follows: lfeadgtfl/": Orange-red WflffinJarbe was worn by Fcldgendarnwrie troops as piping 10 the crown and cap band of the Schirmmiitze or peaked cap and as an innnt"(1 che\ ron of braid O\'cr the cockade on the side cap and soft peaked lropical Einheitsfcldllliitze. Unifoml: The orange-red \\'affenfarbc was also used as piping 10 the celHrc of the collar patch bars. to the shoulder straps for XCOS and other mnks, and ;L~ underlay to officers' shoulder straps. In addition to the WaOcnfarbc, the
9
A peaked ca~c:hirtntniit:r.e--ofan Army Feldgendartnerie officer. Piping to the crown and cap band i.. in oraoge-red WaffenfarM. NCO..' versions were ideDlical but for the uSe of • bla",k pale'>Ile.lloer chinJ,;trap retau.ed by two black h .. ttons pia.,., of d.e offi",er'. silver c.hi" '"Ord~
'II
Fcldgendarmc \\ as id~lIlifi~d by the Polizci-pallcnl upper lell slcc\c cagle. This consist('"(j of a machineembroidered spread cagle and swastika within a \Heath ofoaklean:s. The swastika was executed ill black thread, the rest ol"lIw imignia in orange-red for other ranks and ill ~il\'('r thread lor oOicers. On the lowCl" left sJce\C was wom a cuflh:lIld bearingtill.' legend 'Ftftlgnuiamltrit' ill Cothic script. The
Above The Itandard Army_pallern 'F",ldgeDdarmerie' cuff_ band, rnac:hine-woven in Iloe -called '8evo' Ityle in hroWD artificial .. ilk willo srey edges s.nd lettering, The ren...... ohhe cuffba"d is a 01.."" of !rey thread", rather Iloa.n Iloe 'chequerbosrd' effect normally fo....... "0 01.0"1 5S-cype Bevo cu£Iba.ad".
'0
band was wu\(:n in brown artificial silk with gn·\ \\o\'en edging and leHering, Variants exisl in gre~ machine embroidel")' on brow'n felt, with no ('dgin~ (this type is commonly reproduced, bUI with braid edging!; and a rar(' slX'cimell is known on a field grey backing". Troops Hum other brancht:s of service on temporary all;:tchment to the Fddgt'ndarmcrie wore a special armhand in green cloth with the legend 'Feld!CI'ndarmeric' in t\\O line:; of orange script. 80lh \\0\'('11 and embroidered wrsions are known. Probably Ill(' best kno\\ n of all idclllifying featuresof"tlw Fddgendarll1c was Ihe duty gorget or Nillgkmgfll. This was a h,df-moon shapt'd thin sheet metal slam ping with a raised edge fill' strength. It wa~ finished in a silver-grey colour and 1('alUrcd at each tip a slandard stippled-finish button painted in luminous }<:Ilow-green. I n the centre was a large lopread eagle and ~was(iki:J, also in luminous finish, 0\'(,'1' a dark grey JiCroll bearing the- legend '/';idgl'lularml'r;i ill luminous Latin :.cript kllers. Thc reverse or til/" gorget was usually co\'c)"{'d with field grey cloth or caIT!. and had a nat 'tongue' in the centre which was slipped into the tunic buttonhole 10 prevent the gorg-cl Ii-orn ~winging abollt. The gorget was suspended by a Ill'ck ('hain of plain flat links,
8<1/ow Rarer, tho..gh Ie.... "o"llht after by colleC'lors, i" thi"
m.a",mn_rnb...,id.,..ed pattent. The Ilrey th.....d tetten are emhroidered on a hrnwn fell haad. Thi" type i. ",onunnnly reprnd.. ced, but ......... Iy with sitver hraid ed!i~.
•
...-
-I• •'~':' -;
•
• _Army feldgencbnne walk. throlll!:h the ...... u~ Itr",u .......HI.... May '9044' Allh...!!:.. rather faded, the oripaal ......,. ..bows 1M Arm ugl.. aad 'FeldteBdarmn-ie' c".crb....d
be"'g wOrll. n.e lack o(NCO TretllleOJ> the t .....c collu- ....pIies thai mill is .. private .... Imu. He i • • nn~ naly with . . a.uomatic pilitol. U. Charic.a) II
Thc Polizci-slyle slecvc cagle and woven Fcldgendarmerie eunband wcre wilhdrawn from wear in 1944. This may have been for economy, but it .seems likely to have been for security reasons. As prcviously mcmioned, Feldgcndarmen were issued with tWO Soldbuchs to help disguise their idemity when captured. Whereas the true Soldbuch could be easily discarded, maehine·slilchcd insignia could not be so easily removed in a hurry. As il seems that only Fcldgendarmerie troops were specifically instructed to remove lhe special identifying insignia, secunty would appear to have been a prime factor.
Feltljagerkorps By 1943 Germany's fortunes werc on the turn. :vlililary reverses were common on all froms; and, nalurally enough, the morale of lhe Cerman soldier, for SO long used 10 easy victories, began to drop. Many able-bodied men made every effort possible to avoid service at the frolll line, especially in Russia. All measures taken to arrest Ihe decline in moralc fell well short of target. Strong measures were calk-d for; and in November 1943 an entirely new force was crcaled-the Feldjagerkorps. Although il carried Ihe lraditional lille of the Feldjager of the Imperial Army, its functions and authority were far removed from those of ils Imperial forebears. These men were to be no ordinary military policemen. All men taken into the Feldjiiger had at least three years' front line combat service and had won a1 least the Iron Cross 2nd Class. Their ranking officers were also required to have had considerable experience at senior command levels. These men would know how the common soldier 'at the sharp end' feh; and would Ihus have lhe moral Slalure for lheir difficuh work. These were mililary men, hardened by experience, who would brook no political interference wl1h their duties. The Feldjagerkorps consisted of three Ftldjilg"kommontJ()$: Feldjagerkommando I, formed in Konigsberg, was commanded by Gen. der Flieger Ernsl Muller. Feldjagerkommando II, formed in Breslau, was commanded by Gen. der Panzertruppe Kempf, Cen. dcr Infantene von Oven
and Gen. ~loscr. Fcldjagerkomrnando Ill, lormed in Vienna, was commanded by Gen. del" Infalllerie von Scheele, Gen. der Infantcrie Crase, and ultimately by Cen. der Heger Speidel. The basic Fcldjager unit was Ihe palrol or ·Strtift' comprising an officer and three experienced :-JCOS. Each "'tldJiig"abt~ilung had approximately 50 such patrols, formt.-d into three companies. Five such Feldjagerableilungen comprised a FrldJiig"Rtgimml; and each Feldjagerkommando had one such Regiment under its control. The Feldjagerkorps was answerable only to lhe Oberkomm:indo der Wehrmacht, and thus its authority was great. The commanding officer ofa Feldjagcrkommando had equal status to an Army Commander, with the authority to execute punishment on all \\"ehnnacht and WafTen-SS~ personnel. Although his disciplinary authority was great the Fcldjagercould not interfere with military decisions. In case of dispute the Fcldjager were fully entilled 10 sellie any arguments al gunpoint. Bolh Feldjagerkommando I and II saw out lhe war on the Eastern Front, so records of their activities are extremely sparse. Fcldjagerkommando II I ended the war in the \Vest, howevcr, and its commander, Cen. der Flieger Speidel, survived. The Feldjager operated approximalely 12 miles behind, and parallel to, the front line. Their function was to preservc order and disciplinc, prevent panic retrcats, and aCl as a 'safcly net'. Patrols on all routes leading back from thc front (including rivers etc) collected stragglers and other superfluous manpower and sent them back to stiffen the front line. ScatLered elements of units which had taken a hammering at the front, and individual stragglers, were often assembled at collection points into 'ad hoc' unils. At the same time deserters were apprehended and dealt with, and escaped enemy POWs rounded up. With their immense powers, Fcldjager would lhink nothing of rounding up the hated party funClionaries or 'Colden Pheasants' and sending Ihem to the front. Working in close co-operation wilh local Army Commanders, the duties oflhe Feldjager could also include: trafficconlrol, including reconnoitring and marking of harbour areas; arranging removal of bomb debris, elC, to keep roules open; assembling quick-reaction units (ipcluding commandeering civil vehicles where necessary) in the case of enemy
parachute landing~: checking soidiers'leave papers in the search for deserters; and supporting local lolksrlunn units. Elements of Fcldjiigerkommando III were the lasl Cerman troops to lay down Iheir arms after the Sc<-ond World War. When Iroops in the south of Gennany surrendered to Ihe Americans, the US forc(.'S realised that with huge numbers of German IX'riiOllnel surrendered or altempting to surrender, the Fcldjager could be of greal use in mailllaining order. The Ob~rbrfihLrhab~r Sud, Generalfcldmarschall K('''lsdring, agreed 10 pUl his Fddjilger 011 lhe disposal orlhc US Army: and for s(,\'cl'al \\ccks after Ihe cease-fire the Fddjager-fully armed and equipped remained 011 dUly, Their lasks included overseeing- German adherence 10 the cease-fire; maintaining order among Gcnnan troops; maintaining order in occupied areas; controlling traffic; and rollecling individual slragglers. FcJdjagerkommando [I J finally laid down ill; arms as late as 23 June 1946, The Fddgendarmerie and Felc~ager were Ihe principal pro\'oslunilS of the German Army in the St'cond \,"orld \\'ar. A number of olher lesser unilS also provided pro\'ost SUpp0l"l, and Ihese are brieRy r11~ribed in the following sections, The nU:"ptioaaJly n1re warnuU disc or r..he Geheime Feld Polhei. Note r..he circub.r rar..h~r r..hlUl 0 ............ p"•• Dd r..he IlSe or Army n1r..h~r thaD Stat.... patteru d!le • .IUI awaatilul 0 .. r..he ob~rH, (Pet.... Gnt<:h)
Uniforms and Insignia No speciallunic insignia in Ihe form of dislinctivf' Waffenfarbc, sleeve eagles. cunhands, t:te, were illlrodllc(.'d. The Fcldj
Gel/eime Feltlpolizei The Gcheime Fcldpoliz'ei-GeFePo or GFP- wcrc Germany's 'plain clothes' mililary police, somewhat similar 10 lhe British Special Invcsligation Branch lSIB; of the ~Iililary Iloliee, It was formed in 21 Jul} 1939 by order of the chief of lhe
OIXTkommando del' \\'ehrmachl, Ccneralobcrst official \,as entitled to pass through military \\·ill.e1m Keitel. \Icmbers of tl.e CFP wcre classed roadblocks; enter military buildin.w-: utililje militar} :as II-thrmarhlsbtamttn or 'military onidals'. si~llals and communications equipment; com· The Gchcimc Fcldpolizci was commanded by a mandt.>t·r mililary n'hidcs; procure military sup" lIuTtspoli?t;(hif or Chief of Army I'olice. who was plies and accommodation \\ hCre\Tr nCCCS~"lr} in tlw auached directly to Ihe Obcrkommando des execution of his clut); and usc public transport Heel'es; initially this post held a rank equivalent to s}stt'ms free. Some of the general tasks allocated 10 the military rank of major. Subordinate 10 the .lhe GFP official could include: pcrsollal escort to Hccresfddpolizeic.:hef but also carrying a status varium military VIPs; assistance 10 ~tatc securily equal to major wa~ the Feldj)O!v:;fidirt'klor. This PC'!"SOllllcl in COlllllt'!"-espioll
r t:Idpolizciobe.rsekrcl arjil15pekwr
G"mnalmafir equivatctll
... OMsl OfHr5lJ,ulnanl
Jlajo, _.II"upl'"",lIt 0""1,..111"111
Fddpolizeisckrcmr
Ltulnanl
FddpoJizeiass.i~lalll
AII ="COs
The funclions or the Gehcime Feldpolizei were many, and included counter-espionage, counler· sabotage, detection of lrCiisonable aClivily and coulller·propaganda. The Geheimc Fcldpolizci also assisted the Anny leg-al system in investigations for courts martial. Officials of the Ceheimc Fcldpolizei, largely recruited from the Criminal Police, had similar authority to those of the Polizei and Sicherheits· dicnst. I n carrying out their duties they could wear whatever civilian clothes or uniform was considered appropriate. Each member had, in addition to his 10 disc and Soldbudl, a pass in grecn card showing his photo in eivil and military dress, and a police warralll disc. By virtue of his spccial idclllity papers, the crp
'4
alicn~ ll~illg
German ID/uniforms, etc.; securing of telegram and mail faciJiLies on entering enemy territory: securing of railway terminals; searching out cncm}' radio equipment and signaJ detection; rounding-up innammalOry and libellous materials: precautionary measures against rail sabotage: detcction of encmy agents dropped by parachute; assistance at CU!\loms posls against smuggling; watch on rivn Iraffic; pn'wlltion of unauthorised travel: checking tra\"el papers: watch on neutral personnel i.e. diplomatic and military attaches, Cle.) and 011 forl·ign newsp;qxr corrc~rKll'l(knts.ClC. Thc o'"crlap helwcclI SOlIlt, of the dutil'S of the Fddgcmlarmcrie and Geheime Feldpolizei is clear but by 110 llwallS ullique, as wmc ovcrlap between Ihe work 01" <\11 security agrl1cit'~ is inevitable.
Uniform and Insignia Tell· ofliciaJ llllilOl"ll1 of the Gchcimc FcJd pol izei was the field grey of thl" Army admillistrativl: olJicials I HlTr<'~bealntt'll) with the following distinctions: Collar ImldlfJ: dark green, bearing 110rmal LiI;:l'rI, with (,'raltblml (grey-bluej arm ofservice piping (also used by Army Justiec officials) on three edges (not forward todge). Shoulder StralH: standard Heeresbeamlell straps. with Graublau piping and the monogram 'GFP' in slamped whitc mctal kltl'rs. Thi~ monogram was also used on standard Army straps h} auxiliaries on temporal) attachment to the GFr. Cu.flballd: a black wown cufil)and exists .j,cm \\ ide. bearing the legend 'Gfhfi/1/f Feldpoli::.n- in \1 m'cn aluminium thread Gothic script. I ntcndcd for W('aron the lower left sleeve, it is unccl'tOlin if this pit'et' of insignia c\"Cr saw general issue, I I "antill/ disc: a serics of warrant discs was introduced f(l]' German Police personnel. Two such types, those for the KriPo (Criminal Police Statl/!iche Krillwwl Pofi;zeij and GcSta Po (Gehetme 8/(/(//s I'oli;:.ri-Sccrci State Policej arc f."lirly well known 10 collectors. The GFP disc. however, is much rarer and ofa differt.·nt ~tyl('. Round rather than oval, it carries on the face till" Arm) rather than the Slate nation... l emblem" TIlt: l'e"CI"Se carries the legend ·Ob"kommolldo des lI"f($' in block Latin scriPI around the upper edge and ·Cehl'imejhldpoli:;:.n- in two lines ill till' centrc. &:10\\ this is the bearer·s number. The disc is struck in ~ikcr·coloured metaL .\!though little is recorded aboullhe ...ctivities of Ih(' CfP. at least two of ilS personnel served with
sufficient distinction to be awardt'd the Gcrman Cross in Silvcr ;awarded for m<:ritoriou~ conduct rathcr than comb:1l gallantry;: Ohcrfcldpolizeidirektor Dr. Roman l..oo~, whme appointmellt was Ln·lnlder F"dIJOI, Dircklor, Obl'rbifehlrltaber Siidoj/: and HeercsfcJdpolizeimc:istcr Karl Ziegkr.
OthfrdnllJl Polire Servires Headquarter Guards Personnel a~iglll"d to guard duties at h('adquarter buildings wen' issued with an identifyillg gorget from 1937 ollwards. II was ofidclltieal construction to the Bahllholswaehe gorget (descrilH:d below), beilring tl\l' ullit number in the cenlre; in this case, however, lht· scroll bore the legelld '/lolI/mfmdrlll/It" in Cothic ~cripl. Thnl' Ht';Hlquarter Guards had considerable authority withill their own areas. ant' li·i('lld of the author, it l(lfIuer SS-Umcrscharfiihrer in the 'I.l·ih~tandarte Adolf Hitler', recalled being anTSted by a young I~ltfllanl of Kommillldillltura troops accompanied by a junior NCO. H:l\'in~ produced his papa'S 011 re'qucst he was told that the)" were not happy with them. and was C'i(·OI·ll·d to the Berlin KOllllllalldantura. wherc he was hdd in the cells for over 13 houN. Only by causing such a commotion as to Ixcome it r('ailluisance was he able to I~rsuade his captorl) 10 contact the 'Lcibstitlldartc's' Lichterfdde barrack~. where the duty l\"CO lIas. able to vouch for him and arrange his rt:lca~c, but wilholl\ any apology lix his unwarranted arrt'St. The arrest of;1 member ofllle \Vam:,n-SS in lhe hOll1e town of Feldgcnd....n.erie llo.cde..1 vehide m ....kingll. The st.. ndard insigni.. "lied was a ..eetanguh... box mounted On two 'wheets' indio:adng the motori"ed n ..ture of 'hen I..OOps. In Ihe 6 ..st Iype wall a eron and lette.. '0' ..bove, fo .. O ..dnungll ..uppt:. The mon common Iype fearun:d in Ihe ee"tre a Itylind t...llie wand. The..., i".il"i.a would be painted in blaelt on lighl_ eoloun:d vehiet.,. aDd in white _ darlt-painled vehicles, usually painted 00 the lefl wioS. The Feldgeodarmerie of the ,"e..Dla... GOrinif' fo ..malioos aw:cl a while disc bearing Ibe lcue... 'F,' ;0 blue.
';
HiLlcr'selilc' Lcibstandartc·. and his ralher cavalier Ireatment. show~ Ihal these KommandanlUra guards were by no means shy of lIsing their authority in any case where the) felt justified in doing so. Heeresstreifendienst The Army Palrol Service was tasked willI maintaining order ilnd discipline in garrison areas (including ocensional tra!lie control dUlies;. No special insignia Wl:r(' introduced for these troops, but a duty lanyard was WOI'II ;llld spt'cial I D was carried. PalJ'OI~ had aulilOrity over all Army persOIlnd (including: adminjstrativc ollicials) in their areas, with lile exception of officers of general rank, Any oflellders could be rcponed b) the patrol to the military authority responsible for the soldier or, if this was 100 distant, the patrol could specif) pUllishment and ha\'e it carried out by the nearesl compelcill authority. Any soldier found withOlH proper identification ('Quid be arrested by the patrol and escOI'lL'd to his unit for punishment. Soldiers in the area could be calkd upan to assiSl lhe Ii cefl:s..~tn:ifendielIStin the CXCCtit ion ori ts d u lics
and failure to as.'.ist was a punishable allcll(T. Patrols were armed wilh machjne-pistols and could use these to maintain Rood order and discipline il the situation was rCRarded as 5c:'rious, Like all militar) policemen. the lieerCSSlrcifcndicllst wen' expected to t:arry OUI their lasks wilh lact bUI firmness, and show a good example to mher troops. The Luft\\allc and Kric,I,rsmarine also had street patrols, but all were combined in 1911 10 become the \'Vehrm
AS;J badge oroffice, Bahnhofswache lrOOps wore a liglll metal gorget similar to I.ha.t worn by the Fddgt.'ndarrnerie, being a hair-moon shaped sheet Orstamped metal with a rolled edge. In the centre ,,'as a Roman numeral indicating the H'thrkria or t>.lililary District number above an Arabic numeral indicaliu,l{ the unit llurnlx:r, BOlh these numerals, in luminous lin ish, wcrc siled abovc a d
Zugwache 'rhe Zug\\ache WtTt.' Army troops assignee! fe,r duty 10 police military traim and rail ccntn'~ Ihrough whidl largc bodies or Imops passed, Their duties included till' lllain(t.'nance or order and discipline, t."i('oning trains used by High Command Stall: and guarding trains passing through enemy tt'rritor). i\~ the "'
•
•
The gorget ofthe RO)"lllhUlgaria .. (;o,ndannerie. Obvio,,~lyof German manufaClu~,it;5 stamped from aluminium ...d has illl feal~s riven""" raLber Lban anached by prongs, II bas no luminous finish, Se., Plate 03,
standard army llllili,rm with a distinctive large hluc·grcen realhcr on tilt" cap, and a dUly gorget. The Gendarml'fie carried nUL S{'{"urily and alllipartis.an dutie:., gaining a fearsomc reputalion. By Iale 19-11 Ihe Royal Hungarian Gcndarmerie fielded fivc rull di\'isions in Ihe derencc orUudapest. The Hungarian Gendarmerie gorg-('l was or ickntic;ll sh;lJw to that of the Fcldgclldarrnnic but was struck in alulliinium. I n place or the 'cortler' bUHons were twO small rivets 10 each sid('. In Ihe centrc was tht' Ro)al Hungarian coal Orarl1l~ o\'cr a s<:roll with the legend 'Tiilmri Bi~/o".m~' {Ficld Security} or 'Csn/do, tGendarnw •. On the rc\"{'rse was an issue number. The gorW'1 was suspended aroulld the neck by a plain link chain identical to lilat of Ihe Fcldgend'lrnll'rit.',
fM!tell-SS Fe/((~f!lIf!(lI7llfrif
•
Hungarian Gendarmerie TIIt'SC troops wt:n' TlOt, or COUl1iC, German personnel, but arc mentioned hcre Ix'Causc they limght alonb~id(' their German allies on the Eastern Front and WOI"(' a German-made gorget similar 10 Ihat of thc Fddgt'ndarmcrie, The H 1Illgari;m Gendarmerie was originally f(lrmed in 1881, and during the Second WOI'"ld War lought wilh the Royal Hungarian Arm~, "earing
The Fddgendal'llll'rit., orthe \\'aflen-SS was a much srnalkr organisalion ,han its Army (·oullIel'part. bUI rulfilled identical runctions, I.ikt.' the Army :\lililary IlolicclIlan, tile \Vancn-55 Fddgend
,7
darle Adolf Hider' received its Fcldg-endarmerietrupp in 1940 when it was expanded to Brigade stalu~, 'The Fcldgcndal'Olerietrupp consisted of one ollieer. four NCOs and 36 lI1en. Vehicle status was one Volkswagen 'Kubclwagell' jeep and II motorcycle combinations. ,,'hen the .Leibstandarte' was expanded to di"isional strength in 1942 its Feldgelldarmcrie unit was enlarged to a hompallit: this consisted of three platoons (..(ugt) each of approximalely thc same strength as the previous Fe1dgcndarmcrictrupp, Phutographic records of \Vancn-55 Feldgelldarmerie are relativc!} rare. II is probable that Ihey \\cre used primarily to maintain order and discipline within their 0\\ n unit lines, and their ,Ireas of responsibility were thus more rcstnctl..'d Ihan those ,of the Arm~ Feldgendarmenc. One Waffen-55 ,"ctcran, SS-UllIerscharliihrcr Erwin Banmalln of the 'Lcibstandarte', recalled that (k-spitl' saving with lhe 'J.AH' throughout the SS-Fetdgeod.rmerie on Ihe Ea.te.... F.......t. Th~ 01_ are r.....m "SS-PIlAZer-GrflU,dier-Division 'Totnlkopf', The S!.abnc.....ruJIrer belding doe fi"ld Ieleph....e handset ...·n.n the dUly g0ll:"" and Army-pauer. 'F,.ldg,.lIdartn,.ri,.' culT_ band. (Munin Verlag)
,R
whole waf, he nevcr caine aen)~~ a ~illglc \VaITen-55 Fcldgcndarllle, only tho~(' fi'om the Army, As the Fddgcndarrneric were di";siollal troops, it is quite possiblc that a combal :\leo ill an infantry secdon might never meet up "ith such personnel, but would encounter their Army COllllterparts on man~ ocnlSlons,
Uniforms and Insignia L: lItil thl' introduction of a special SS pattern eunband in t9+2, SS-Fddgt'lldarmen \\01'(' the swndard wo\'cn pattern Ann} ('umland prC\'iously descrilx.'d. Thc S5 p:lltern band \\a~ WO\"l'1I in black rayon with a \\o\'en metallic sih-cr thread edging, Thl' legend 'SS-Fddg(l/(larmuit' was WO\'CIl inlD the band in grey artificial silk L..'ltin l>Cript. This was not a su.. .c alled 'Ikvo' cuflband, but similar to an RZ\I is:.uc type.' with \\ o\"Cn script. The 55 paHcrn cunhand was \\ithdrah'n in 19+-1. From 19.12 until 1911 tht 55 panern sleeve cagle \\ as to haw Ix:ell replaced with the type used by the Arm~. This rarely seems to ha"e been adhered 10, hm\ ever. as most photographic material shows the 55 sleeve eagle 10 have been worn throughout the
Abovr. A Stabs"cbanlih...,r of 'Tot~nkopf' Divi"ion SSF~ldg~ndarm~ri~ inl~rruple8 a susp~ct wid. hi" platoon commander, an SS-Unt~rslurmni.brrr,walching th~ prGCef'din~". Th~ NCO wrars the Schirmmut",e without chinstrap, the omc~r apparently tb~ 'old "lyl~ oflicn-'. firld ClIp'. (Munl..
BlJiOlVl An SS-Unl.. r"..harrUhrrr and SS-Rou~nruhrer of 'Totrnkopf' Division Frldgendarm..ri .. cb..ck a motorcyclist's papers. Note th.. whistle la..yard on the U"lerscharfiihrer'" tunic pockrt. Both w ..ar lhr duty gorgrl. The motorcycle liidecar bt:.... tb.. emblem Oflb~ division. (Mu..i. Verlag)
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UJIJOU,
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.
ff ~ FeId'fenddrmerie ..-.-
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S5-Pan...... Fddg..adarrn.. rie c:vIIba..d, of ...... sta.ndaTd RZ.M Iyp.- pattern btU wi.... m.adUn... wo".... l..u .. riDp; ........ u I-haJr, "rnbroidu""",. Use of !.hi.. cuffba..d seem" to
ha"., bfl,a
lim.'""", ... mo.., phot~ .... ph.... how th.. Army pane... bei.ag !_ Davi..)
..,0..... (B.
I1
.
throughout the whole "ar and included scvcr.1I highly decorau~d !>Oldiers in its ranks. Ahhough not t\Lilitaf) Police in the Pro\·ost sensc, Ihese men wcre Police I!"OOpS and did fight al the front as combal soldiers. and SO were certainly 1\lililary I-'olicc in Ihe strict seilSI' of the lefln.
war. On the shoulder strnps and as piping on headgear, the SS-Feldgendanne worc the same orange-red Waffenfarbe as his Army counterpart. From October 1944 onwards, {(wmer members of 4·SS-Polizei-Panzer-Grenadier-Division Ihe Ordml/lgsjJOlizei serving with tlw \Vaflcn~SS (and This division Ivas raised in October [939 from many oflhese would be in the SS-Feldgendarmcrie) lorOlel' Ol'dnun&rspolizei-tivilian policemell and could weal' as a special distinction a small diamond- Allgerneine·SS rescrvists. Commanded initially by shaped parch on Ihe lower left sleeve depicting Ihe Gellemlleutnant Karl Plcllcr- \ \'ildenbruch, the Polizei-stylc eagle and swastika in silver grey Oi,·ision was slill working up when Poland wa.s invaded. hUI it did see ~me occupalion elulics in Ihread. The \\'aflcn-SS had no Geheime Feldpolizei Poland before Ihe opening of the \\'t."Slcrn units, though Ihese would hardl) ha\·e been campaign. After Ihe 1:.,11 of France il remained in Ihe nC<:CS1>ary 10 Ihe 55, which encompassed such \\'CSt untillhe allack on the Soviet Union in 19.p. organisation.... as Ihc Sicherhcit.-.e:licnsr and Gesrapo The division was alloc.,lcd 10 Ar",tt Gn/PIN.'·o,d and under ils conlrol. look part in the ad\-ance on l.eningrad. Rather Although the Fcldgendarmene oflhe \\"affen-SS poorly trained and equipp..:d, its performancc was "as a ralher small organir.alion, the \\'arrcn-S5 did uneven. II '\ as im·olYed in heav) combal around boasl IWO aClual combat divisions of Police Iroops. \\'olchow and Lake Ladoga, "here it acquitted Although the second division. fonnt'd laIc in the itself \\ ell but surren::d hea\")' losses. war, barel~ rcached rcgimental slrenglh, Ihe firsl From spring until summer 19.13, the division was used fol' allli ..partisan duties in the prorecloraLC of \\a.~ a rull~ equipped combat division which fought Bohemia-Moravia (Czechoslovakia) and in Jugo.. slavia, where it look pan ill the ferocious struggl(: The final patt..rn '8",,0' SS-PoHae;·Divi..ion cu£Jband i.Dtr.... duc..d in 1943> wo"en i.D black artificial link with ..ih....r-grey againsl "lito's partisan forces, lillle quarter being """,gn and lettuipg. Th.. 'cb.-querboard' efT..." on th.. re"en.. is givcn on either side. In Mart,;h [~H4 the divisioll typical or 81:,,0 wo"..n SS cuflband...
==========================--~~-Polizei-Division
20
mOW'd inlO Greece, where once again it was u~("d I()I" security dUlics; divisional personnel committed :llrocities in the l.arissa area. Late 19.H found the Polizei Di, ision in Hung
M~n
of th~ SS Polini Division watch Mth satisfaction th~ railiing orthe G~rn>an flag o ... ~r an occup;~d Soviet tow... '91" Note th~ Poli:zei.paucrn collar patches beiog WOrn in conjunction Mth th~ SS lilee"e eagJ~. Pol;';";-typoe 6~ld caps an being worn, togelh~r with SS issue camouflage c1othin\l.
prommed to Oberieulllant dt'r Schutzpolizei" "'ilh the n'cce ~CJuadron he took pan in Ill(: allack on Russia, and s.,\\ aclion at \\-olcho\\ and Leningrad. In January 19.102 he \\as awarded the Iron Cross lSI Class and promoled 10 SSJ-1auplslllrmrtihrcr and Hauptmann der SChUIZpOli7-ci. Durin~ !\llgust 1944 he look command of 4 Polizei Panzer Allndarllng~ Ablcilung and ~crvt:d in this capacil)' during the divi~ion's aClions in H ungar)" and Czcchoslovakia from September '9+-1 lOjanUar) 19-13· On 6.Janllary '9+5 he was awardl.-d lhe German Cro:,s in Gold. \\"hen im"oh cd in lhe ddeuce of Danzig a Soviet bl'cakthrough lragmenu'd the di,"ision ami some 1Il1il~ foulld lhelllS('h"es being used as a 'fire brigade' Linder Von ,\Ianteufld\ ;) Panzerarmce. jurgens, wilh his rcccc batlalion ,ll1d various attached clements. totalling around ~,ooo men, was in dcfcn
..
1936, he volunteered lor the SS-Vcrfiigungstrllppc. Aller attending the SS"junkerschule at Bad Tiilz. he was commissioned as a LClltnanl del' Schutzpolizci and postcd to the Berl;n police_joining the SS-Polizci Division on lhl' outbreak of war, Traupe served with the division throughout thc opening stag:es of Operation 'Barharossa', winning the' Gennall Cross in Gold in Septembcr 1942_ In January 1944 the Soviet counter-attacks on lhe Leningrad front broke through the German lines and sevcral e1emellts of _8.Armec were in dangcr ofbeing encircle:d. Trallpe and his battalion held the rctreat route open for sc\-eral days 01 intensc combat against Q\-crwhdming odds, thus allowing many German units to a\-oid encirclemelli, Traupc was a\\ardcd Iht' Kn;ght's Cross 01 ~ber,"urmbaa.nf"'ub""r "&liS Traupe, ........er of th~ Polini-Divisio..'. Kn.i,bl'. Cros. win.aU'L Ab.o a Close CoDlbal C1up wi...."r, Traupe 00'0" th" K..ni~bl'l Woss iu F"braary '944; b" " ..dltd d." W1lr with the 10. SS-P..."".... Divis;o.. 'Fl"Ulld~bers', (H&II. Traupe)
SS-H• .,pt.hormf"Uhrer Hein~ Ju"ll".... eoDlmand"r of SSPolini.P...n A. ..fkli.ru..g••bleil....! .. W1lS decoraled Wilb Ib" Knigb,'. C 8 l'>hy '!M5- By lhis Sl.g" SS-PoliniDivillioo pe.-.on",,1 w"r" w".ri ..! r..11 Waff".. -ss uniforms.nd in..ignia. (H"i.. ~ Jii"ll"nl)
ing (KIds. SU'oug So";et force~ wilil hca\)' anillery and announ·d support threw L1wlllsd"es at the German po~it;ol1s, jurgcm' I'I"l"CC unit taking lhl' brunt or thl' all,u;k: despite cvcrything the So,,;els could tbrow al them the German positions held. jurgcm WiJ~ highly comtl1endeu for his actions, and the COlnlll;lnder.in-Chie('o["XXXII Annee Korps praised lhe hrawry and leadcrship ~howll during these li.:rociolls hattles in an Anny Order of the Day. On 8 May 1945 I kinzj[irgens was decorated with the Knight's Cros~ of the I ron Cross. jiirgclls' fmal rank was SS-ilallptstunnfiibrer and l\fajor del' Schlltzpolizci. lie was still ali\'e at lhe lime of writing. SS-Hauptsturm.f'Uhrer Hans Traupe Hans Traupe \\as horn on 4 l\lay '9'3 in Kuncrn, the ~on of an agricuilural official. His career began ill 1934 when hi' joincd the Army's Infanterie Regiment 71. Iii:. militar) service completed in 22
the Iron Cros,,, on '23 October 19-1+ nt to the Panzertruppenschule of the Army in Fallingbostel for training as it regimental commander, Traupc \\as subse
course at Bad T61z; and in OClObcrofthat year was commissiollt.:d as an 55-ClllersLUnnfUhrer. Posted as a platoon commandcr 10 Ihe recce platoon of I, Kompanie. SS·AufklarullWi Abteilung '2 'Das Reich', Scherg \\ent iIllo action 011 the central sector of the Easlern Front durin~ Operation 'Bal'baro~a'. After gaining valuable combat experience Seherg eventually took command of2.Kompanit, of the Abtcilung; in :-.Iovembcr 19--1-3 he was decorated with the German Cross in Gold and promotcd 10 ObcrsturmrLihrer. InJ uly '9# Schcrg \,as posted 10 command I.Kompanie. I>anzer Aufklarungs Abtcilung 4- in the SS-Polizei Division. During the division's participation in the dcfellsiw anions against the Soviets in laIc 19+4, contact with 5cherg and his company was losl. Despile orders 10 retreat in the face of heavy Soviet armoured forces, Scherg waited, holding hack the Soviets and gi\'ing the units on his flanks time to withdraw to safety, 5cherg then made his own breakolll and reached safely with all his men, including the "oundcrL On 23 Octobcr 19+4 Schcrg wasdccOI'ated with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his achie\·clncms. On 30 jalluar} 19.IS he was promoted to I-Iauptsturmfiihrer. Al the conclusion of the war Schcrg was captured by British troops at L:lumberg on the Elbc Oil 14 ,\llay 19_1.:;' He was eventually taken into French captivity, whITe he remained umil 1951. 3S·SS-Polizei-Grenadier-Division One ofa numh<.T of\\'affen·SS 'di\·isions' formed in the closing stages of thc war. many of which never reached morc: than regimental strength, this unit I\'as raised in February 1945 from the stalf or the Dresden Polizeischulc and some personnel fi'Om lhe SS·junkcrschult> (OflinT 'I'raining Academy) Hraunschweig, It 'KT\Td on the :"liesse C"OIlt in regimental strength in tht: dosing slagt.."S of the war, and surrendercr! to Ihe $ovielS at Halbe, east of Pragul' in ~Ia} t915. ,\Iany ad\'ersc commenlS han: been made about the quality of Ihe 5S Pol icc troops. \Vhilsl it is Irue they ncver reaclwd the level oflhe dite 55 Divi5ions Slll,;h as the 'Leibstalldanc' or 'Das Reich', i:1ncllhat they were oltcn equipped to a poor standard, the 4.SS·Polizei-Divisioll, at least, acquitted ilSelf on ocea~ion \\ ilh somt' Ineril. and Ilumbered allcast 15 Kniglu's Cross \\inners alllong its personnel.
Uniforms and Insignia \ lembcr" orthe SS-Polizei-Divi~iollinitially \\ ore a combination of SS and Police uniforms and ill~igllia" Standard Army or \\'afl("n·SS field dress \\as \Iorn Ilith the standard SS sll'I'\"l' ,'agk on the left ~lt~\('. Shoulder straps 11('1"(' pip,:d in 'Police gre('n" \\'afft:"llfarbc; and Ann) or !'olic(' !Hyk collar palche~ wen' worn. also Ilith Polin' grt"('"l1 \\'al1;'ufarlx..', In February '9+2 the formation was Illily ab'>()rbed into the \\'aflen·SS, and thl'rcaflcr full 55 insig-nia and rank badges Ilere worn" Headg-car, initially of I)olizci pattern, \\a:. also chang"cd lilr normal 5S isslle, t\lembel's of the SS Polite Division wore a divisional cunband. II Ii tially 1h i~ ('om priscd a black r;lyOll band with silver wir!' wcavc cdges and a WOVCll l'epn.:scntation or the Policl.: p;lllern wreathed l'agJe alld swa~tika. III Dc(cmbCl" t9.P a new panel'll wa:. introduced ill Ih(' ~ame style of manufacture bearing tile Iq.~elld 'SS-PQfll:"; Diz-isiou" in ~il\ Cl' wire \\ ea\"e or hand ernbroickry for olTicers" and silver-grey machine-embroidered thread for (ItIH:r ranks, In 19.-1-3 an all-llIad.im·-woven pattern was introduced for all ranks II ith th('lq.:-l"nd in silver grc) \ITan', \Ian} phOiograph:.li'lun \"arious stages of tht, di\isiol1's de\'dopmcnt sho\\ troop~ wearing IlO cunhand. howe\·er. Pn'-t'niistlllelli lllembers orlhe SS 'iI·I....ing in the Police wore ~ihTr-embroidered 55 runes 011 a l1eld grq hacking- 011 the left breast pocket of the tunic Dul"ing- till' I."arly stages of the division":. hiMor)", \1 hell IlH' I)olin'·stylc insignia \\ ere being- worn. ,hi:. runic insig-nia was commonl)' seell.
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Italian SS-Feldgendarmerie Thl'n:: i.~ littk reliable information aV;lilablc all the unilorm~ ami insignia or the Il,dian SS llllits, and C\ CII less on t lwir Fcldgendannerit', PllOlllg-raphs of personnel from '.!9.\\"ancn-Grcnadicr·Di\·i~ioll der 5S slum a mixfUrc of Italian uniforms ami Italian and ~S in:.ignia Ixing \IOrn, Initillll) tilt' Italiall 5S in~ignia \\a>; t'mbroidncd on a red hacking, Inll in June 19H Ill(' backing was changed to black. At least Otll' l'x
Line drawing ha ....... on an origin..l e..... mple of Ihe special gorgel pallern for Feldgendarmerie of the halian WafTen_SS Iroops, Although it closely resembles the German gorgel Ihis pattern fealures lhe SS.slyle eagle bearing Ihe f.see.. in its talon.., and the legend 'Gendarrneria' r ..ther Ihan Feldgendar_ merie,
Llljiw;rtjft Polite Luftwaffe F eldgendarrnerie Of the three Fcldgendamlcrie organis.:\tion:., that of tht, Luftwaffe was lhe smallcst" Only the ground combat units of the Luft\\ anc had Feldgcndarmeric CotlllxlIlcnLS, These included the LuftwaAcn Feld LJh isionl'n, Fallschirmjager Dh·i:.iotlcn, and the Falbchirmpanzcrkorps "Hennalill Goring', Each divi~ioll would have an attached Feldgcndarmcrietrupp, The I:trgcst of the Lurtwafli::: gHltlnd formations was tIl(' 'Hermilnn Goring' Divi~ioll (latn, Korps) and thus within this formation was 10 be round the Lullw;:dli·\ largest Fcldgendanncric eknH'nt. \Vithill IltC 'Hermann Goring' Korps, tltert' (xisted three Fcldgclldarmerie units: FcldgcndarmcricIrupp Fallsl'hirmpanzerkorps '1lennanl1 Goring': FeldgNldanneri<.·trupp Fallschjnnpall/.er Di"ision "Ilennann Goring I": Feldgcndanllt'lil'trupp Fall· schinnpanzer Di\"ision "Hermann Goring 2". Each Trupp \\ould typical!) haw had the following components: IIQ. r!nllellf: Lnit commander ILcutnant or Ilauptmanni. deputy commander 1.l'lltnant or "'arrant Officer). three fh"c Untl'rollil.itTe (in· tcrprctcrs), three 11"e men (dri\'('r~ and onkrlies).
I: NCO, Feldgendarmerie. 1939 2: Officer. Geheime Feldpolizei. 1939 3: SS·Oberscharrahrer. 4.S8-I:toliz.ei-Div.• 1940
Umleitung 3
I
A
I: Hauptreldwebel, Feldge.ndarmerie, 1940 2: SS.UDterscharfiihrer, Feldge.ndarmerie, 194O-41 3: OberW8.chtmeister. Polizei·Schutzen·Regt.. 1941
B
I; Warrant officer. Marine Kilstenpolizei. 1939 2: Feldpolm:iinspektor. Luftwaffe erp, 1943 S: Warrant orf"lcer. Marine KUstenpoli:wi. 1943
c
1: Hallptmmann, Feldgendarmerie, 1941 2: Gefreitcr, Signals, 1941 3: Sergeant, Royal Hungarian Gendarmerie, 1944
D
I: Leutnanl, Feldgendarmerie: N. Africa, 1941 2.: Obt'-rfe1d"'''ebeI. Feldgendarmerie; N. Africa. 1942 3: 8S-Feldgendarme. 29.W-Gren.·Div. derSS. 1944
3
2
I
lo;C'
.
Or
-I
--...,
,
,-
!
.• •
E
I: Hauptmann, ~Idgendarmerie,'Hermann Goring' Korp8,1944415 2: NCO, Fcldgendarmerie, Fallschirmtruppcn; Normandy. 1944 3: Oberge(reiter, Feldgendarmerie, 'Hermann G<>ring' Div., 1944
F
I: ss.UluenlUrlllfilhrer, Feldgemdarmerie, 2.SS·PzGren.·Oiv., 1943 2: Unterrddq~ Feldgendarmerie, 1944 3: Feld""ebel, Feldcendarmerie, 194445
G
I: SS-Scharfiihrer, Feldgendarmerie. 1945 2: Hauptreld",~bel, Feldjager, 1945 3: FeldwebeJ, Feldgcndarmcrie, summer 1945
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, , , \4
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•
;::;- r-- -
i1 ~-~
;:f
j
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3
... I
H
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2
3
/'/aloo/lS: Platoon commander (\Varrant Ollicer). three Obcrfcldwcbcl (patrol commanders;, 12 Untcroffizicrc five men (drivers and orderlies) . SU/J/JOfl Group: one each Warrant Officer (Sergeant .\Iajor), Chid Clerk Oberfcldwebcl, Armourer Obcrfeldwebcl, .\1T Oherli:ldwdX'1. Supplies Oberfcldwebd, Quartcnnaster Ollcrfcldwebel Clothing, thrCt-"-li"e Unterollizier (admin. and ~upply clerks), fi\"(' ten lll('n as mechanics, drivers, nwdics and orderlies. Each Trupp would have a total strength of around 100 officers, KeOs and men. Offic.ers and warranl officers were mainly c.."lreer ...oldiers who had comc from the Prussian L"lndespolil.ci :"ia 'Landespolizcigruppe z.Il.V. "'ede', and Regimelll 'General Goring') and the lotorisicnen Gendarmerie. ~COs aud men were': mosth career -oldiers and conscripts. The r>.ll.Isik.korps "-Iermann Goring' was abrorbed into the Fcldgendarmerie in x
'9-14·
The Fcldgemlanneri(' of tile Luftwallc field units
was under the clircct cOlltrol of the divisional command. The duties ofthc 1.1I/twalli.· Fcldgendarmerie wcre similar to those of thdr Army and Warren-55 counterpans. Panic·ularly importaIll was the securing and patrolling of the division's supply wutes, prcvclilion of sabotage and antipartisan patrols. Fcldgcndarnll'ri,' were fully mOl.orised but with oilly light unarmoured vehicles and light weapons (though Pall:tcrfaust anti-tank projectiles were issued illtl\(' lallcr pan of the war). Feldgendarmerie OftCII fQUlld themsc... h·cs in direct contact with enemy forces. l.uftW;:lnC Fcldgcndarmerie were of COUfS(' rc.:sponsiblc for lhe maintenance of order and discipline \\ ilhin their divisions, and for t he assistance of the military justice system . I For the laltlT, onl) those with former civil police experience were UM-'(I.; The maintenance of order and sc<:urily in n'arward <;('ctiOlts of the divisional A ~s"ot ofa LunwafTe field Co"rt Martial;. Sicily ... 1943; the plao:ard on the Opel Blilz truc:i1 ~a.b 'Feld!erid>t der Luftwaffe'. Noce dUll Ihe wehide i. weD CIImOUOa!M apiruit
....emy air auacl<. (He..bert KailJ
33
an:':il~
was carried oul hy the Fddgelldannerie platoons u~ing traffic posl.~ 011 all important road junctions, to regulate traffic f10\\ and protl'Ct il from parti:.
Troops of \\ hich the Fcldgendarrllerk W,L,> comidered a p..'\rl. In 19.J.3. hO\\CH'r. this wa.,> changed to conform wilh the orange·red of the Arm) and \\'affen-S5 Feldgendarmerie. Thi.~ \\'altt:ltlarbe \\35 \\orn a" piping or un(krlay 011 shoulder siraps and ;L~ piping on NCOs' and men's collar patcll(~ of the 'Hermann Goring' unils up 10 April 19.J-3. Strictly spcaking, the \,'aOCllfarlx: was tilt' only identifying ill~ignia of (he I.uftwatli.. Fddgcndarme if (he duty gorget was nOl being wOl"n. I( has been eonfit'1lwd, however, by velnam of the 'Hermann Goring' Division Ihal former ci\·ilian policemen ,')l'ITing ill the di\'ision's Fddgcndarmericll"upp \\01"(' Ihl' Ann~ -paltern '/:'ldgelldormtrit' eullhand on lhe left ~l(",\·e. Thi" is supported b) photographic c\'idcllcc rcproduced here. ,\ sp('cial Lufl\\ am, ver~ion of Ihe Fddgc.:mlarmerit, gorget has \x'('11 kllo\\ n for some time from a few ~llrviving original examples ill privalc collectiom. This dill(:red from the slandard FddgClldanncrie gorgel in that it lealured a Luliwallepatlern '(lying' eaglt-, However, mo,')( surviving' pholo~raphs of 1,11f't1l'!1f]i: Fcldgendat'1lwril' show
t.
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. _'I
34
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'Herma.... Goring' Divi"ioD Feld~eDd.armen,Sicily. '9t3. The 'Hermann GOring' cuRband Can just be secn on the riKbT .Ieeve of UaTeroffizier Kail, lefl. Only the shoulder strap piping ihoWIi the branch of ~rvice On this particular form of dress. Of special intere51 are tbe so-called 'He Meyer'lropica.l field cap!! being ...0..... and Lb.. Iropica.l l)·le collar Tr_ _ 0 .. Kail'. twe. (Herbert KaiI)
Ihat the Ann)' paHtTll gorg:ct
wa~
almost alway,;
worn. C:onhnn;uion lt1 both tt'stimony and photographic C\·i{!t-nce from the same n:teram IIOW ,how~ that at least within the 'Hermann Goring' Korps, 'he special LultwaOi' \Tn.ioll \\":lS certainly \l"Ot"ll. The smalillumbcr used, alld the fact that the bulk or lhe 'I-knnanll Ci.irillg' units weill into S(\\'iCl cil\)Ji\"ity, probably ('xpl:lins the rarilY of tlw",e gorgCIS. It is probably lrue that at kast some other Luftwalle ground unit", used thi:,> gorget, IUJ\\c\'cr, as :It leaSI 011(> example ill a pl"i\"atc collection was ·libcralt.'C!' ill France in 19+1-. It ;s al'iO kJl()\\ n that 'iOme Luftwaffe units \\ ore fidd grey uniforms, :IS opposed to the nOl"l11al field
blue from late 19-1-1
ollw:lrd~.
U"leroffirier Herberl Kail (rom Feldgendarmeriet.rupp Fan. Khirmpanzerkorps ·Herm..... GOri.. g' 0" hor....back, Ust Pruuia, '944' The use of horRS was because of Lbe CO..pIH sIal'" o( Ih", roads, making Ihe UII'ual K"belwagen tnmsport ..... ther difficult. NOle that the Lul"t....rre-pauera lorael is being worn. (H"'rb"'rt Kail)
35
Luftwaffe Gehe.ime Feldpolizei The Lufiwaflc rormcd ilS own Gchcirnc Fddpolizci ill 1943. Its tasks \\cre idcmicallO those of its Army counterparts, but or course were ('onccnJed with LuH\\alle matters. I.uftwaffe Gehcime Fcldpolizei wore normal Llirtwaflc !>en'ice drl~~ with the ffJllowing special insignia. Collar Patches: Standard Llirtwalli:: patches, in dark grcell cloth bearing th(' j()llowing designs: FtMpoli::.meAreliir gl'(:cn/~ihTr twi~t edging; threepoint embroidercd sih'cr star on:r sih-er oaklear cluster. FtM/HJli;.e;obtrstkrtlih gl"{:cll,isilver twist edging: twO thrl,(:-plJint l'mhroiderlxl sih'er stars O\er sih'er oak1c.. r clll~tt·r. FeJdIKJli:::.n Insptklof siher t\,ist edging; two Ihl"l'(··poilll silver embroidcrnl stal'S 0\ cr siln:r oakle'at"chISler. Feldpoli.:ei "'-ofl/",isar sil\"Cr t\\ist edging, Tim'" three-point sih er embroidered stan. over ~il\"l'r oaklear c1w,ter. Ftldpoli::.ri DirtklOI gilt twi~t lodging: olle Ihrcepoint star \\ ithin oakleaf wn·alh. Ob,rj,ldpoli.:,i Di,.,klor b-rilt twist ('dging: 1\\0 lhree-poilll stars \\ ithin oakkaf wreath. Slwl/leI" slraps: Standard Luli \\ allc-Bttl1lll", :.houlder straps \\ ilh the followinJ.:" distinctions: Fddj)()li::.,is,J.rftiir dark gn'('11 base. \\ lIle red \ \·affenfarbc. flat ~il\"( ... braid \\ ith gilt letters 'C FP'. Fflelj)()!i::.riQb,fSrk,.('tiir as ahon' hut Wilh one gilt rank pip, F,Id/)()li::.,i I"sprklor-a~ ahow. F,ldpoli.(eI Il-ommisar as abo\"<' hili with two gilt rank pips. Frldj)()!i.(ri Dirtkfor clark g-n'\'ll hase, wine red \\'affenf;lrbc, lwi~tcd "ilve!' braid with gilt lel1ers 'GI·Y. OlmfiofdjJoli::.ri {)ir,k!or-a~ abow plus one gilt rank pip, No special cutlhand was inlroduced (i)]' lhe LullwafJ'e Cchcime Fddpolizl.:i.
Mftrille KtI.\lellpolizei
Dc"palch ride.. Wolfs.as Din~e.. f.-ont FeldSeada.....eriet....pp F.U$Chi panzenlivi.;oo I 'He GOriaS" The special L.ftwaff pauen:l S0"let i. beiaS wo Aln ofioue.-est ;"'Wt the ..aifo ;s in A..... y FeldJll"" .ad 1 the Feldhla.. of the L.. rtwllffe. (Wolfgaog Diose..)
The Krieg:.marillc I)()sS('~~cd no Fddgendarmerie of its own as such. but in commOlI with mo~t other navies it did have a Provost organisation similar 10 the shore palrols ofth(' British alld L"S I\a\-ies. This was thl' l\lolrine Kibtcllpolil.ei, whose duties illdudcd guarding coastal defences and mailllaining ord\'r ami discipline ill coastal IOWIIS \\ here Il~l\"al IX'NOIlIIt'I were loc
gold-yellow base wen.' WOI"ll, ;\.<; was a Police pallern ann cagle in yellow lhread (gold wire lor oflicef's) 011 a blue base on the left sleeve. A narrow dark blue cuflband with yellow braid c.:dge~ was worn 011 tht: lower left sleeve. bearing lhe kg-end ·.Ilanlle Kfi.slmjJOIi::.tI- in yellow Cothie '><.'I'ipl IeWTS.
Second Pattern Uniform (introduced in 1940 )
Peakid rap: t\ Siandard issue Kriq.~marine peakcd cap. with a national ('mblcm or till' eagle and swastika on the crown. and a nalional cockade The Marine Kiisleapolixej go'll". WlU,.u.a..I ia Lh.at i, does .oc \\ ilhin a "realh ofoaklca,"e~on Ihe capband. Thesc (ealure !he eagle a.d .-_.-LiIta eonJ»ern.; Ibe letlerialll and b ..ttoo. are in Ituni.ou. finisb "'bil", Lbe plate itsel( is silve.... insignia were generally in yellow thrt'ad for l'\COs lIlrc:y· and gill \\ ire for officers. Additionally. officers showed their rank grading hy gih wire t'mbroidery on a clolh base to thc !>e;lk edge. in tilt, S;:llllt' sIyk as regular na\'al officers, Tunic A standard naval i=>sue doubll'-breasted jacket. Rank was shown b) shouldn straps for NCO~ and shoulder ~traps or ~let'\"(' T1n&'S for ollicers. 1'\0 ~lce\'C e:lglc wa<; worn. bUl til(: standard yellow Ihread or gold wire ll;wa] brea~I cagle was applied. For some reaSOll the ~Iarinc Kiistcnpolizci ba~cd in i\orway contillued 10 \\l:ar Ihe earl}-pancrn uniform throughout thc war. A uniquc pauern of gorgt'I was produced lor The rever...,o(,b", Marine Kij.lenpolize; g0'lleL., u.ique.moDg Lb", onililary gorgeu in th., il doe. Dol have. neck "h.in, Ihe Ihese l\aval Polin' troops. III tht·typical haU:moon loog hing.d pin p....d Ihrouflh Lh.read luop" on the j.cket lapels. shape of the Fddgclldanncric gorget, it was lIluch smntler, and de\'oid of any Il:ltiollal emblclIl. The buttons featllred 011 this gorgel wen' ofthe sialldard nwmhers of the ~Iarillt" Kuslenpolizei wC!"e ·rouled anchor' naval type. III lhe ('Clltrt" was the {{t'llt.:rally fortnC!" members of the civil Police, and Iegcnd .\-!arillf-I,-ii.I'fI'll/I'o!l;;:el in lWO lines of Latin this is rcl1ccled in lhe 1;\('( lhal the fil"st paoC!"n snipl slampt'd inlO lhe melal, nnd not a separately .\ [arinc Klistcli polizci U II i1(!I'm was ,II mOSI idt,lItiUll fixed fe,ll \.lIT a~ wil h lno~t gorge-IS, Also lInu~\.lal was 10 that oj" lhe \V:l~~crschutzpoliz('i. the Iackol"a IH.:rkehaillj Ihi~g()rgel was held ill place by a large hinged pill Oil the reverSt· which passed First pattern Uniform lhrough lhread loops stitched to the lapels of the P,ak,d ((I/J: A lradiliollal naval style cap with wide jacket. floppy nowll and fcalUring either a while or blue The t\Ltrine Kli~1t'npolizci \\a~ the smallest of all cover. Tht' cap band was black. and the cap had a the Mililary Polin' (Irg-aniS:llions, plain black katlwr chinslr;lp and plain black g-Ios.<; peak. Imig-nia C(lmi~lcd ora Poliz(:i sIy]e eagle and ~\\astika in gilt lUclal wilh a national cockade
1111/ir: A double-brcasted dark blue Ilaval slyle 'ret'ferjackel' Wilh gilt butlons and gill piping to Ihe (ufl~. WaitT Police p:Htern shoulder Slraps on a
Poli(e COII/bflt UI/its
The subjeci ortlle German I'olicc during the period of Ihe Third Reich is compkx in Ihe ("xlrcme. An 37
strength units of around .)00 men which wcre undcr the control of the Slarr of thc local Hohere SS und I'olizei Flihrung Higher SS and Police Leader~hipJ.
Ii. ratb~r eeld_looking O~rf~ld"-"'HI from Ib", SpuWib 'Blue Division' on Lbe Easl"'", Fronl in 19f2, ;d",n'w«t by hi" duty gorgre and tnffi", walld. Of additional ;OIU....1 is Lb", shield """.rillg Lb'" Spaai,,11 .,..10"... on Lb'" ri~1I1 .1"",,,,, He is armed with I.... W.ltbrr P,& pisiol U, Charila)
clUJrtnous rang(· of I>olice organi~ations ex.istedSChUIzpolizci, C('ndarmcric, Krirninalpolizci. \\'a~~(T~chLltzpoliz,>i. Vcrkebrspolizei, Ilochgebirgs (;t:IHbrmeric, Ft:lwr~chutzpolizci
Poli7..ei unilS of battalion and later regimental strength quickly followed Army combat unils into occupied territory. Thc Army could ill allord the manpowcr required to maintain order and prevcnt tcrl'ot'i~tll~especially during the invasion of the Soviet UlliOTI, where the initial welcome found hy German Army unilS in many ar('as soon dC\'l:lopcd i/llo hatrcd dlll'1O Hitler·s idiOlic racial policies. and Ihe general brutality visitcd upon the occllpi(~d populations. Due to the \ef) lluid nature of Ihe \\'ar on the E
39
securing lmflie roules, directing rerllgec_~, iln(Jpartisan dUlies, etc, lhey shared a g()(X1 deal orthc work of the Feldgendarmcrie. The Polizei combat units became notorious for the savagery with which they put down any parti:.an activities ill their areas. Although ollicially part orthe SS, these troops were not part 01' the Wallen-5S. These Polizei units were often greatl} li·agmcllted, with dillerellt battalions of the s..'lllle regimcnt being lnund 011 different sectors of the front, 01' c\'cn on dillcrent fronL';.
Uniforms and Insignia /-hadgtllr. Se\'eral distinct pattcrn:. of headgear wcre worn b} the Polizci combat units; thc well-known Polizei shako \\a:. not one of them, howc\·cr. The pcaked cap or Schirmllliitz(' worn hy SdlUtzpolizci was of :.imilar appearance 10 that of dIe ..\nny, bUl \\ ith the capband in bro\\ n instcad of dark green cloth. Piping was in 'Police green' Waffenfarbc. Insignia comprisl.'d a siker metal Polizei-patlern wreathed eagle and s\\'astika on the band, with a national cockade above. An ).t.j.3 EinheitslCldIllutze similar to the Army's \\ as also wom, sometimes with green piping to the crown. The insignia on this cap was a one-piece machine-wo\'en Polizei cagle and swastika in grey thread 011 field grey with a national cockade abo\'(.'. A Polizeipattern side<:ap was commonly used by Polizei combat troops. In field grey \\'ith green piping, L1lis bore a machine-woven grey silk Polizci-patlcrn eagle and swastika Oil black backing. (Oflicers· caps were piped in silver and had the insignia machine woven in ml'tnllic thread,) The steel helmet worll by Polizei troops featured a black escutcheon bearing a silver-grey Polizci cagle and swaslika on the right side just below lhe venl hole. Tunics: The traditional tUilic of lhe SChUlzpolizei was in a field grey cloth ora distinctly greener shade than normal. The collar and cullS were laced with brown c10Ih, and the culls each featured t\\'o silvered bUltOllS, Both collar and cults were piped in ;Polizei green' WaJfcnfal'be. Standard Polizeipattern shoulder straps and l:ollar patches were used, The sleeve e;lglc on st;lnd;lrd Schutzpolizei uniforms bore abo\'e its head the title of the town in whieh the unit was located; the fidd formations, howe\'eL wore the sleeve cagle without such a name, The eagle was in green machineembroidered thread with the s\\astika in black
4°
(machine-woven cxamples arc known). Officers' examples were in hand·embroidered sil\'er wire, but with the swastika still in black lhread. Thisstandard pattern of tunic was cerlainly worn b) field Inrmations: but as the war progressed, much less elaborate \"cr~ions were introduced, more in keeping with the style of tunic \\ om by Army and Wanen-SS troop:., This t) pe \\as in plain field grey cloth \\ith no coloured Ibeings. Lightweight greenish field grey denim tunics \\ere also used during summer months or in hot \\eatheL Camouflage clothing. \\ hen \\orn, \\as slandard Waflcn·SS issue, Arms and equipment issued to these I)olizei unit.<. wen.' usual!} or obsok'scent design, the newer t.'quipment going to front line units or the \\"ehrmacln and Waffen-SS. E\'en major units l>uch a:. the SS-I)olizci Di\·isions sometimes had to makt" do with obsoklc or (·aplllred cquipmenl.) In the latter stages of til(' war. the K:ascrniene Polizei e\ en had its own tank troops, The Police Armoured units wer(' ('(luiplX.'d with old or caplllrcd equipment. 'I'll(' crews wore standard Arm)·pattcrn black Panl-l'l" uniforms, but with green piping to the tunic collar and Polizei rank insignia, slee\'c eag-Ie, etc,
Ti,e Plales A I: JVL"O, Feldgmdarllli'/"ie, 1939 This ;'\ICO from one or the firsl Fcldgendarmcrie units wears the uniforlll of' the civil Gendarmerie bUl with Army lJ;ldges of rank and breast eagle added. The fidd grey dOlh used lor Polizei uniforms had a distinctly greenish shade. The collar, culls and tunic ll'Olll !c:alUfcd the orange piping of the Gendarmerie. As with the Schutzpolizei, Gendarmerie ul1ifl)J'lllS had brown f:u.:ings to the collar and twv-buttOn cuffs. Thc forage cap, also piped in orange features an Arrlly.pattern cagle and swastika. GJ't.:y-grecn long 1I'0users are worn, with standard marching boots, and the i'\CO is armed with a POB pistol. A2: Junior officrr, Gtlttinu FtJdpoJi<./i, 1939 As it Illemht.:r of the HecJ"(.'Sbcamten he wears the standard Army officer's field grey 1\136 FtJdblust
with dark green collar and officers'·pattl:rn siiYer \\ ire embroidered breast eagle. The ~houlder strap:> arc in mall grey braid on bluc·grey underlay with a dark green base, and bear the gilt monogram ·GFI)·. The olliccr-paltern collar Li/{r1l ill siln;r bullion arc also on a dark grecn hase and hav!' greyblue edge piping. The cutlband is speculative. Original examples survive bUI it is nOI known with any certainly whether lhese were actually issued. The field cap worn is the standard ivlSB pallern for olficers. wilh silver braid piping. The chevron o!" Watlcnl:lrbe over the cockade is the dark green of the I-Ieeresbeamten.
.13: SS·Obrrscl/Qrjiihm. -/.SS-Po!i{ri·Di6sion. 19/0 The division saw its first importam combat action during the im·asion of France. This Obcrscharfuhrer h·caf'S thc standard Army to.I36 Ftldblust for :\COs with sih·cr braid TWit to the collar edge. .\rmY-tYI>c collar palches arc used. wilh Police ~reen \\·ancnfarbc. The shoulder straps arc 55 pallcrn in black cloth wilh silver braid NCO Trts~
SoI"mn-1oo1W:ls SS-feldA;....ciarn>ft"i., pe~_1 from. tlo.., 'LeiMI.ncb"" SS AdollHiller' inlerrosate CIlpfYred Ru....ian ta1lk crew... e... The NCO wears tbe waterproof _ I and ball a ..is-J torch ulached hy a ,,-.aU 1...lher fob 10 Ih" .ecood hullO"-
and Policl' green piping (though lalcr, a whok range orWallcnlhrbe colours was lIsed). The s.ingle pip to the shouldcr strap indicates his rank. 1\ standard SS-patlcrn sleeve eagle is wort! 011 the leti. upper nnn, Althis point in the divi~iotl's hisl()[,y tbe cuflhand was not in general llse.
Bl: IltlllptftldlC;rbcl. FeLdgmdOlHlrrit'. Ig./{) In 19+0 the Arm)' introduced its special Feldgendarmerie insignia. This Hallptfeld'\l~bd in slandard :\ 136 combat dress has orangI' \\·allcnlarbc 10 hi;o, collar patches and ~houldcr slraps. A Gendarmerie-type eagle is worn on thc left slcc\·c, machinc-embroidered in orange tlwead, while 011 lilC left cuff is worn the· Fdd..f{nldarmaii cunhand in machinc-wovCIl artillcial silk. From the neck is worn the Fcldgl.·lldannene gorget or Ri"gkragtn, soon 10 I)(.~oml: thl: ·Irademark' of Ihe Fcldgcn-
4'
darmt::, Abu\'e the l:ockach: on the NCO"s :\133 cap is a \Vatlenfhrbc chcvron in orange. The Hauptfcldwebel wears the standard Army black leather belt carrying magazine pOllches for his :\ 1»38 mach incpislOl.
Arrny-pauern Feldmii/::.e retains the ArlllY form of national emblem, butthc eotkade has been covered by a metal 55 TOlmko/!linsi(!,llia. The blat·k leather bell suppol'ling his holslered P38 ha..~ an SS buckle plate..
82: SS-l""ttrJcltmjiiltrtr. SS-Frldgrndarmrrir, '!}Jfr4J
83: Obm"lIr"'lIIei~frr, Poli::.,i-,·idlUt~I!I/-R'gimm/,'91' . \hhough Poliet' Rifle Rcgiml"lIh c\Tlltu;llly used uniforms more close!) roembling lhose or the Arm}. carly uniforms rcwilll'd .he hrown Police collar and cull' Ihcill!r.>, TIlt" gn't'll piping of the SchulzpoliLci appt'al". The SehUlzlXllit.d arm eagh' i~ t'Iubrnickr('(i in grcrll, and lilt' l.il'::,"Olllh\· collar ll:l1eht'S art' worked on a grcrll ba~. Green I}i!)ing alw aplX'aN in the unique I'oliee arrangeml'llt. along tht' crown and <10\\ n Ihe li'olll on the PoliLci-pallern F,ldmiit::.r, \\ hich is of the '&hiffd"tI' i>hapc al>.o med by the Luft\\ailc. Na\} and \,'alli'n-SS, A I'oliz("i cagk
Like most of tht' I'l~t of the \\'ant'n-SS thc SSFddg('ndarmeric r('('('in'd .\rmy issuc clothing and, initially. pal'lial .\rmy in:,>igllia. This junior :'ol"CO weal':OO thl' t>.136 Frldhltm: it:'> dark grecn collar I)(:ar.-, black patdll's with, on the right, till' SS runes. and Oil the kft Ihe :-illg"l<' sil\'('r pip of this rank. Black shoukkr smlpll I)(..·ar urallg<.- \\'af1f>nfarlx: piping OUbidc :,>il\'C1' KeG Trrur, Tht, SS sll't'\'e eagle i:,> WOnl, Wilh :111 .\nny-pattt·nJ 'Frldgmdamu·rir· cuflhand; Ii\(.- gOI'f.{t'\ is alsu of .\nny paltcrn. The AD SS-F...kllltad.rm...ri... U.. t ....-..c.h.r£ii.lanr ..itla r~tla"rnl f ........d, East....... Fro.. t. Th.. Arm,..pau F..ldS.......nn..ri.. eufIbuM:I CUl be _ .. 0.. tla.. lo..... r I..ft ~I ~· ... N..t .. al... Ib" earty-Iype F..klmiitu Wilb TOI~Opr bunon. (Mullin Verbs)
iu:-.ignia. machi~ d on hlack, is M'\\ n to the front cl dr p..-\rm) -type trOll:-.en; and marching bor1cs an " Xll. As 'second line' troops Polizei soktit'" -.rn- "ften i~ued ohsokh: equipment, as ,"'th lim XCO's ?\IP28 Bl'r~lJIalln machine-pistol. (;1: lVamml OjJiur, Man. AItS/.t:IIPOli::.tt, 1935)
The.: fin;l pattcrn unifonn \loa.:. ba...al upon thai of the.: \\'asscrschutzpolizei. The double-breasted naval-style 'recrcr' jacket ~ cilt oonolU and also gold cuff-piping, A gilt ,,;~ nnbroidtted Polizeipattern :-.k'Cve eagle is worn "n lhr kft arm, and on the rOre.lrlll the ·,\tariM A~n'"cufiband, Thl' ,Iloulder straps arc of'\'~hulZpolizcipattern, a~ i~ the bell. Straight .Jac' :lIT \loom with black laced shoes. The naval·style peaked cap has a white ~lImH1t:r crown eover,lo which i.! fiXM lhe national c()('kadt" above a gilt Polizci ~~lc on Ihe band. (:2: Feldpoli~tii"s~kwr, lMftu..V#fft
D2: Grjrr;fer, Signals TroopJ aI/ached Fe/d,!!,i'tIdarma;t, 19.J1 Soldien; from other br.J.ndH:S ofsen;ce wuld also be ulte<:1 as temporary F,ldgnu/"nllnJ, Thi:. 1tuldier pressed inlO service on u-;:lflic dUly wears standard uniform and equipment, with the lemon-yellow \\"allcnrarlw of Signals, His tCTll!X}rary alltI1oril~' is marked by the duty gorget, and by Ill(' special armband bearing" 'FrMgclIf/orllll'lir' in orange-yellow on a grcen backg-round, D:J: Strgrant. Ro;'a/lluflgon'oll (;t'IIdilrmerit. 19/4 TIl(' rather e1ahorate uniform of the Royal Hungarian Ann) bears rank ill:.ignia on the collar a single :)Iar and strip of hI'aid and all the slt'l'\'c a si ngle baud ol"si lwr braid. This scrgean t, in ,\ :-'lTvice which carned itself a f(',IT'Somc reputation ill iI~ areas or responsi bili I}, \\'e,1 l'S ;1 Germa n ,\'1 +3 hclllH't, and a Gt'nnan-madc gorgcl hearing the Iegt'nd ·CSrl/dti'.
GdInmL Ftldpo/i::.ei,
1!H3 Personnel or this sen;tt w~ like the-ir ,\rmy coullh'rparts,or'Bcamlen' latus. This officer, ora ratlk equivalent 10 captain, wean; standard I.uftwalle officer's service dress differenced 0111y by till' green Bearntcll collar patches with theu' threepoint Sial'S instead or stylised wings; and the GFP ~bolllder straps, ill brighl sil\'er braid 011 Ihe dmraeteristie double underlay of armed st:l'viccs ollicials. here wine red over dark green, wilh gilt for ufliccrs) 'CFP' cyphers.
(.]: Want"'loffiur, ,\lari"t Kiislrnpoli::.ri, 1!H3 By thl' lauer pan orlhe war this sen'iee had adopted standard Kriegsm<.trinc uniform in all l"l'l'lpects. The small \Ilarine Kiistcnpolizei gorget is attached by a pin through lhread loops sewn 10 thc jackt:t lapels. /)1: lIauptlllOfIll, Fddg,t'IIdarnur;,. 1.9.Jl
This caplain commanding a Feldgendanncrit::truppon the Ealtlt'rn FrolH w{'ars the .\1360ffilTr·s pat tem Ftldhlll..,t, "'he orangc-rlxl braneh-of-St'ncice wlour fe.HurtS as 'lights' 011 the Lit~t1l orhis collar patches; as underlay to Iht' oxidised-siln~r hraid ,houldcr straps with their two gilt rank pips; alld as piping on the crown and balld or Lhe Sehimlfll/it:::,r. 'l'ltt' lefl slcnT eap;le is in fine silver \\ ire cmbroi(lt·ry. ,lit is the lettcl'ing on hi:- privately purchased (·unband.
£1: 11111""nl, Ftltlgrtldormme: ."-Qrth ·lfrim. I!NI This second lieutenant, ne\\ I) arriwd in Libya, \\ears lhestanrlard tropical Ft/db/llst. bnTchcs. and FeMmiil::.e in olive green colton. The grl')'·blue and brO\\'11 collar patche~ alld blu(' on hrown breast eagle were cornman Lo all ranks, Distillguishing illsignia are Iht' shouldlT sLrap:-. of rank Oil orang-cred underlay, and the cumland; thl' sk'C\'c cagle and gOl'get arc mis...ing I thl' latter rarely worn b) officers in any theall'C of 0lxTationsj. lh~ie all-I'anks cap insigniil WO\'en in silk are accompanie<:1 by a che\'rOIl of \\'affcllrarhe, and the sikcl' piping sho\\cing officer's rank. The officer's paneI'll cil'cular buckle is worn all the webbing bell. The lacc·up lea llwr alld canvas boots were normal wea r wit h the tropical breeches, H2: Obnjeldu'rbr/, Ftldgcndarmrrit: ~VfJrlh Ajl-i{(l, I.9P
III sharp {·ontr:lSI. this seasonl·d dcsc!"I veteran wt'arsshinslec\"e order. shorlS and ankle boots. with a Frldmiil:;:.t bkacht'd almost white by the sun and laundering, The shoulder stl'al>'> of rank \\oru b} n()n·COlllmis.'~ionL-d I'allks were oftropical pattern: or oli\·c cotton, witll rust-brown silk Tussf' \\herc appropriate, and tht' normal dull silver pips and \Vatkllfarbe pipillg. In this dn'ss order lhl' slcl've ('agl<: and cuflhand are obviotl~ly omitted, The web belt has the olin'-painted enlisted ranks' buckle. and sUPlxlI'IS web magazine pOl/ches for the ~I P38, 43
t:.:T SS-lil,lgmdm71lf'. :''Y.II"affm-Grtlwditr-DidJiOIl der SS.IY_N
The Italian !tJl"lnation and unilS of thc Watli'n-SS wore a confusing \"ariety of German and Italian unifonm ,md in:-ignia. This \1 P wears the Italian Slcd hdmct wilh S5 rune decal insignia. His Italian .\rmy lllllic hear'S the Italian 55 sleeve eagle, Wilh the fasces rcplacing the 1>waslika; and a standard 55 rune collar patch-though a pallc.'rn bearing the f.'SCl':'i \\ as also product.-cl. The gorget is similar to the German model but bears lhe Italian 55 cagle O\'cr the leg<'nd '(;f'1Idarmeri(['. He i1> armed \dth a Berella sub-machine gun.
P,: JJ(fl(pllllmlTl, Feldgendarm,.rir, L'i!IIJ'{!U" Fallschirm/HII/;:,erkllrJ!.1 'J-lrmUllflI Giiring". 1.944-.15 PhOlographs ol"llle Luflwafll: Feldgclldannerie arc 1';11,:, but do indicalt: that dre&> generally followed tha t of the Lllft walle field units. This ca pLai n of .\'1 Ps UJlle.... FrOlOl, 19+6' Hauplma.. Ba.... and men of Ihe reldgendarm.erielrupp FaJlsch;rmpaallCrkorps 'H.,nnann GOring', Of parl;cWar Lal.,...... i.D this pholo ia Ih., u... of Ih., Army r.,ldge..darm.,rie cuflband by Ihe dri~'er of the KubdWIIge.. and by Ih., Ohuf.,ldwebel al ""1"'0'" ri&bL {H.,..ben KailJ
in the 'I-Iermann Gi.:'ring' corps WI'at":. standard Luft\\aHc onker's Schirmlllutze and klllr-poekct tunic, \\ilh ficld-blue other ranks' troUstTS and ankle bOOlS. Collar patches or rank haw lhe white background or the 'Hermann G
F3: Obtrgdrtiter, Ftldgl'1ldarm"il'. 1_.4tll.'Olft FlllIschirm/Hm::.rrdil·isioll '//ermallll Goring'. 19#
By late 19+4, when lhis l:irgesl I.uflwafl<" field
formation was in the process of doubling (nominally) from di"isional to corps strength. mall}' ufits personnel \\ere wearing Army ficld-gn.oy uniform due to :.hortages of fidd-blue issue. This junior i\CD wcars a fidd-grey t\1.13 EiliJlt'itljrldmiif::.e with I.ufiwaffc insignia; lhe open-necked FrJdbJiisr has four plcatless patch pockets. and h"'ars the Lufiwallc br(>ast cagle. On th... right cuff is the 'J-J/'TTl/mln Goring' cuftband. on the J...oft the !\rmypaltlTll . FeJdgtndarm/'Tie' cullhand worn by former GlH'lT 1x>licclllen in the di,;sion's :\fp tnxlp. His ~orgt'l i:. of the special Lufiwaffe patt ...rn with lhe 'flying cagle' national embkm.
(;,: SS- UnlrrJ/llrllljiillltf, SS-Fdd;:tlldal"lII/'ri,'. :l.SSPwu:'/'I'-(;mwdier-Diliisio1/ .Dos HI'irll', 'iN3 "I 'he first orlhe wartime ecotlomy llllilbrm palterns appeared in 1943; thi:. second lieutenant \\(',1I'S the
I
JI
:\143 tunic, with plain collar and unplcatcd pockets "ilh straight flaps. The Wallcn-5S oITker's ,houlder strap:. han' the characteristic double underlay of Wafli:'nfarbe (here, orangc-red; on it black baM'. A hand-embroidered :.ih'er wire SS eaglc is worn on the Iefi skew; on the forearm, his di\'i~ional eunhand and Ihe sp...'Cial 'SSF~Jdgn"larmrri" cuflband. Long field trousers. anklc IlOOIS. and a well-Hushed Schirrnl1llitzt: with oranf.;"e-re
G:!: l"lIlnJrldu'ebel. Feld,fI,nldamltrir, IfNI Thi:. vet('ran :-.ICO shows the deterioration in the appcarann' ofCerrnan unilorm b) 1911, His i\143 tunic, Willi plain collar and ple han' been replaeed hy ankle lx>ots and Cal1\':L~ webbing anklets. The :\Lj.3 '1',1\\ edge' helmct i:.co\"ercd here in Arm) ~pJinler·pallcrn call1ollfla1\:e doth.
(;3: hltJurbrJ. Frld~OIdarm~rir. 19.J-.1 -/] The illlnxlucuo\1 or the :\144 field uniform saw the linal st:lgt· ill IIIl' ~impJillcalion and Jo\\cring of quality ofCcrman Arm) dress." with the ~IPs of .111 natiolls, hO\\ner. this XeD has made the effort
G"h"im" .·"Idpolw,,; "'"il':m. Th" lop row &bow. th" Luf..waff""fuyt" collar palch.... for th" nnk. of F"ldpoU"",olHrs"kr"tiir, F"ldpoU""iin"p"klor, and F"ldpoU""idir"k. lor. TIl" .,,,... ral row .. how" Ib" Army_'Hyl" collar pa...,h". for rank I':radingl ofF"ldpoU""ia....'''..anl and Feldpoli,."i."kr"tar 10 F"ldpoli,..,ich"f, Should"r siraps below are .,milar for bolh LuflwafT" and Army rank.. of F"ldpoli,."i."krdar and OlHrf"tdpoli""idir"klor. Only coloura u""d as d".cribed in th" I"",t difTu"
to cn~Lln: a,\ Sl'l'l:'tl"t an appearance a~ po~~iblc. Slec"c eagle ami "'ullhand arc no\\' ab~ent; lh... collar patclw", of '(jcld quality'. are dl'\"oid or \\'affenrarbl'; ollly the shoulder slrap piping and gorgct still indicate branch or sen."ice. The head~car is the ubiquitous :\LJ3 EinJu:;I.ljddmiit;:.r; Ill' \\ ..'ars f\J44 troUM'N. and ankle boots with nlll\'a:- anklets.
H,: SS-Sdlllrjiiltrt1". SS-Ftldgendarmmt. I!H] Thi:'lough XCU. thrown into the fronllinc \\ilh a small ad hoc It ampfgruppe. GIrI'i{'~ th{' Pallzerfall~t
45
anti-lank projectile: prcvioll~ success wilh this weapon is indicated b) Tank Destruction Badgc~ on hi~ upper slecve_ I\s Wilh G3, only the Waffcnfarbe piping 011 hi~ shoulder straps and the gorget now dellote Ilis t\ II) sta tus. 1-1 is helmet CO\TI" is in \ \' aflclI55 camouflage cloth: he is arnll"d Wilh a slung \J1\lU and stick grcn:ld(:s,
/-12: HOllpifddlt.rbI!I. /',ldjii/!p_ 1!}I5 This warrant officer of the dn'aded Feldjager shO\\s :l mjxturc of uniform itl'ln:. (·omnulIl at lhe end of the war. I-Ie \H:ar., the t\143 hdmet and wllie. but has been fortunate enough to rClain gfwKI-Clit~nec is indicated by the Inlilntry Ass;\ult Badgt, and Imn Cros:. 1st Class on his kft pocket, and tlw CI()S(' Combat Clasp abO\-e. His gorgt" is of slandard pattern except for the kgend '''-''ldjii/!,erkorp~', and on his left forearm he wean; the n.·d hras:~ard Ix'aring the \\ords ·Obrrkom· /1/o"do drr Il"fhrmorhtiFtltljiigfr". His weapon is the latest SG4-1 as:.ault riOe.
H3: Feldu'ebfl. Fddgel/(Iormt'rie. summer 19B Germany's defeat kft the Feldgcndarmerie and Fdclj;iger formations among the List to lay dO\m their arms. Thi~ ~CO on traffic control duty well after VE·Day has been j>crmitted to retain his pistoL but has removed the of1cnding swastika from the breast cagle on hi~ !Unit, and the insignia from his \113 cap. He wears trousers nude from Italian C
Thr.... F..ldg.. ndarm .... from a FaUl'chirmjag..rregim ..nt in Normandy '944. Allhough no long..r employed as p ..r ..chut.... dropped inf.. ntry, 8uch unit••till utled th.. llpecial FallllchirDl' jiig..r helm ..t. Not .. that th .. Army rath .. r than th.. Luft....arr.... patt..rn (ll:or(ll:'" ill ....om h .. r"', U. Charila)
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D, 11",,,,i, I'.itrk 3f<:~nl "" I. manrh~ er Ie rub." de m.nd,c, l"unil..".me <:<,Ia de <.Ilnp,.~r"' ,Ie l>.... e d'un "fEeier de ran"'.... '''C<' Ie W"f1'·"farl.., oea"ge de ,'cUr ""m,'. D. ~('"I, ]a pl"'l'" 1,.i",·,Io-,,·' 1,01"'.11<"" la Fdrl",·ndarmcrio-. OJ I... in'ign("d.'col ell" lJ'elOC 'Ill I:>. "",,'ehe i"d~! Iw,e, hon_~mi..... , E. ,,,u,·~a......,,u, il purl< I' unifunrre 1l'O,-"ullOmallr; l'ai~le ,ur Ja m.no:l>r Cl la 1'1"'1"" 01.. ~rme n",n"~,,, ,It'• .,;g..... d'"s"" a I~ lon~"" dar.. ~ ,00" condi,i""" d'f".ul~,l.. ocra,k. Ie br'''''couilk rnnpl~.", I~ 'et>«" u".un.... Il.~,... '" "Iltm.n. pbqu, de rot
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A, Dtncl Un'rr"ffin~r or.og' die Z"ilunif.... m dc. (",."b"".rir mi, R."g.h... r~he" de, Armer .. ,,01 Ilrus..dict, L .. I",,,,,hl,,n ... nd d.., Grunmne drr l'oIUnumfu Hrcrnbramtrn. I}•• S'nflh:utd ;un Clrl.,..rm ~ , .... rr hrrnu_:olx:r richen ~Id1DUDCTtln"""
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111 n... .·~kIlrdar .... ""'h"'~ ....... tg<:,oe Wa"" .ubr, ...... hn d...- PnlWoi ..bliche Ad.....uf drm ,\nnri. SroiIbanll ..'" l n' "" .. nd Kr:>.~ ""rrInn a'" ''lin ~,..rfuh". Ba SS-K ..:o«<". SOCh" ""...... mod I.... ~:on pd. ~nd am Ln......"" .. nd Ii. rac<'~ " ... III drr r dd'!'1.....' ........ dt:r Armr. I);e fddmuucdrf A.......... ha, .nW"" Kokardr. d... mU dem r(>lic' anti~icbn, I..'",,,",,,,n 1..lonhm di<' roliznfarhrn und nn Bn>J-I m" dTI- p-"nen 1''''pe1 de< Schu17po!r:t<1. .n l~"'<1' ""d t:m Z~i'pu"k," ,,,,Ie di.. K""'l'"""in,·.I:"ifocm I~'r"i" h.n"".l. I>
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II, •• , iI:" I~'rri" I...; 01... 1"""0'1""" bfolge !."mel< .md 1~'!lr"t" >ich in, l:imalZ bti dr, K.""pf~tLlppe. NUl die P""p"1 ,,,,<1 d.,. Kr"g"'''I''C/ld I....... n ",in~rr ""I"ungl;"h." I Ir~ru,br,,,idr "h,men. H~ [me h,mtl~ "n.", «tf.nde Mil(hrr"g 'u. aht", "IllI n,'''''''' Zuhrhn... d .. '·on d;""'m IJrrl(l'oI1i''''r, .1" ~dUrrh..'"rr 'Knpfjagd ".>I"."d d.,. I"werr Kampll,••odl .. n~.n ,,,,,,08m ""nl•. f:. n, ~in ~rfaj,;etreT I"fan ...u",>l
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