1957er Awards Worn by Policemen

[SCHUPO]

Gents,

The 1957er versions of NS Zeit awards (made without swastikas) were authorized for wear by uniformed personnel of West Germany after 1957. This included the Bundeswehr, Polizei, and Feuerwehr. East Germany never authorized the wear of NS Zeit awards in any form.

However, I have only seen one photograph of the 57er awards being worn by a Policeman even though I know that Policemen secured such awards. There are many photos of these awards being worn by Bundeswehr personnel, generally in the form of the authorized ribbon bars rather than the full size badge or medal.

Does anyone have photographs of the 57er awards being worn by postwar Policemen?

[Steve 5]

I think this thread would better off in the 1957 awards section of this forum, where it may well receive better coverage and attention.................
Prost ! Steve.

[SCHUPO]

Thank you for the suggestion Steve. I ask the same question on the 57er Forum and I did get a bit of discussion.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...ghlight=police

I thought this question might get a few different viewers on this section that might have seen photographs as well.

I have also noticed that photographs of the postwar DSB Sports Badge in wear by West German Policemen are not common either. However, they are seen on postwar ribbon bars that include the 57er awards. I mention this in the light that the postwar DDR Sports Badges were very often worn by East German Policemen.

[Nachrichten]

Try this link:-

http://www.1951.staatssymbole.de/page9/page9.html

Nice 'shot' of BGS General, with awards (for previous service).

N

[SCHUPO]

Yes, thank you for the link Nachrichten. A super photo of the full size Bundesrepublik neck award in wear with the mixed 57er ribbon bar by the BGS General.

It seems clear that Bundeswehr personnel were much more likely to wear the 57er awards on duty than were Policemen.

[Collectinsteve]

Some nice pictures! Thanks.

There was a discussion on this Forum about BGS use, but I don't think it extended to Polizei. I've not come across much, if any, pictures that show such use. But I wouldn't be surprised if there were times when they were worn.

Steve

[stonemint]

Does anyone know the name of the BGS General?:

[Gordon Craig]

SHUPO,

I must have missed this thread while I was on holidays. Never too late to chime in though.
I don't remember ever seeing a picture of a West German policeman wearing TR/57er awards. There was a thread in 2009 on sports badges of the DSA. I searched for it on the forum but couldn't find it. According to Uwe the DSB badge was introduced federally in 1952 but my copy of "Die Ordnen und Ehrenzeichen unserer Republic" says it was introduced in 1958. Uwe also mentioned that there were state sports badges introduced as early as 1948. Uwe made another comment of interest to this thread when he said "but after the end of WWII, and afterwards, the sports badge DRL w/o swastika had their great time. For police men for example; they want to wear their previous award badges."
I have a 60s dated S-H uniform with a Reiterabzeichen on thread loops on the left breast pocket. I have most of this particular policeman's uniforms and field gear. To make an educated guess on what badge was worn on the thread loops on you police tunic I suggest that you measure the distance from the top of the upper loop to the bottom of the lower loop. We could then compare that distance, between the inside of the hinge and the latch, to post war badges one might expect to find worn in that particular location.
One comment about the picture showing the TR awards worn on a BGS ribbon bar. This was common. Especially in the early days of the BGS. You can tell a BGS ribbon bar from a BW ribbon bar because the background material on BGS bars is green compared to the black background on the BW bars.

Here is a WIKI article on the DSA badges.

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsches_Sportabzeichen

Regards,

Gordon

[SCHUPO]

Gordon,

Thank you for the link and the information on wear of the sports badges by the police. Obviously the SA Sports Badge could not be worn postwar nor could the DRL badge with the swastika. However, I supposed the DRA badge and the Horsemanship badges (etc.) could continue to be worn if allowed by a postwar police agency or a sharp eyed Sergeant. I had not thought of that. There also seem to be postwar versions of these badges such as a DRL without the swastika or a horsemanship badge without the R.

I know that policemen like to continue to wear their old insignia, badges, and awards if they can get by with it. It lets others know they are an "old salt" and they often times have enough seniority to not have anyone say much about it. What you mention that Uwe said makes sense in that regard.

[Gordon Craig]

SCHUPO,

The horsemanship badges are still issued by the organization that did so in the TR days so they can still be awarded today. I haven't taken mine off the uniform to see if it is the TR type or post war one. Something I will have to think about before doing it. Wouldn't want to damage these old thread loops.

Regards,

Gordon

[SCHUPO]

SHUPO,

I must have missed this thread while I was on holidays. Never too late to chime in though.
I don't remember ever seeing a picture of a West German policeman wearing TR/57er awards.
Regards,

Gordon

Gordon,

Take a look at post #141 for an interesting picture of a postwar Bavarian Policeman wearing his 57ers. The tank badge appears to be numbered.

http://dev.wehrmacht-awards.com/foru...647386&page=10

George