post war police Tschakos

[torstenbel]

How can you tell in East German postwar police Tschako apart from a West German postwar police Tschako? Apart from the Cap badge, is there any other difference or are they essentially the same? Cheers, Torsten.

[Mike G.]

Torsten, not sure your question is understood?
Are you talking about Post War WWII?
That would make since, as both East and West Germany were using the same type of Tschako immediately after WWII.
And your assumption that the only way to tell the difference would be the cockade would then also be correct. The East German Tschakos would have cockades from Districts like Saxony, etc.

[torstenbel]

Hi mike, sorry if there is some problem in the way I formulated the question ... by postwar I do mean post WW2 of course and I guess that you have answered my question here. So, the only difference between east german and west german police Tschakos would be in the cap badge/star and the body of the Tschako would be the same for either.... would the bodies of the Tschakos have been made by the same companies also?

So, if I had some west german police Tschakos, then all I would have to do is find some east german police cap badges, swap them out and hey presto, I have some east german police Tschakos?

Cheers, Torsten.

[SCHUPO]

Torsten,

The East Germans used WWII period Tschakos, just like the West Germans did, immediately after the war in 1945. They then began manufacturing new Tschakos which were different. West Germans used the pre-war style of Prussian Tschako without the felt covering on the body. East Germans used the pre-war style of Saxon Police Tschako which is entirely different from the Prussian style. The East German Tschako is more squat in shape and is molded from one piece rather than being constructed of separate pieces sewn together like West German ones.

So, no just changing the cap badges does not an East German VP Tschako make.

[torstenbel]

Thank you and good news. I prefer these to have been different from eachother. Thank you also for the excellent explanation. Cheers, Torsten.

Torsten,

The East Germans used WWII period Tschakos, just like the West Germans did, immediately after the war in 1945. They then began manufacturing new Tschakos which were different. West Germans used the pre-war style of Prussian Tschako without the felt covering on the body. East Germans used the pre-war style of Saxon Police Tschako which is entirely different from the Prussian style. The East German Tschako is more squat in shape and is molded from one piece rather than being constructed of separate pieces sewn together like West German ones.

So, no just changing the cap badges does not an East German VP Tschako make.

[Mike G.]

Torsten,

I don't think one can actually refer to the German Police Tschako that was worn between 1945 and 1949 as an East German version vs. a West German version. The Tschako in and of itself was identical. As you noted, only the insignia worn on the Tschako differentiated the two helmets. And actually, how the insignia initially was incorporated was also the same. Both West Germany and East Germany used insignia that identified the geographic locality of the Police Unit.

This changed in 1950, when East Germany produced its own unique version of the Police Tschako. The style of the helmet not only was changed, but the insignia became a state embossed insignia, and was the same throughout all of East Germany. Initially the East German Insignia was a black, red and gold (yellow) Tri-color Shield. In 1960 the Tri-color shield was replaced with the East German State Seal (Staatswappen). 1962 was the last year the Tschako was worn by the East German Police. It continued in use in West Germany until the mid-70s.

To recap: The German Tschako utilized in East Germany between 1945 and 1949 was the 1936 Pattern German Tschako.

In 1950 East Germany produced a unique new model, that differed from the version produced in West Germany, which remained true to the original 1936 Pattern. In 1960 the insignia was changed to the Staatswappen.

The West German version was constructed of 4 pieces. The policeman version was initially made of leather, which later was replaced with a high grade vinyl like material.

The East German version was constructed of a single bakelite cast helm, that was covered in leather in a one piece application process. The East German version took on a more modern streamlined appearance.

[Mike G.]

This is an example of the 1936 pattern Tschako:

[Mike G.]

This is an example of an East German Post War Tschako of the type worn between 1945 and 1949 (It was worn in West Germany also):

[Mike G.]

In 1950 East Germany produced its own version of the Tshako. Initially, the insignia had the Tri-color Shield. In this picture, it is shown with a West German (Berlin) Policeman issue counterpart for comparison (front and side):

[Mike G.]

In 1960 East Germany changed the insignia from a Tri-color Shield to that of the State Seal (Staatswappen). Again, an officer police version is shown along with a West German counterpart to show the difference (front and side view).

West Germany did continue to produce the "Felt" type Tschako in the Officer version.

[torstenbel]

Mike, thank you very much. Excellent and practical comparison of the types used and produced. Cheers, Torsten.

[dave peifer]

mikeg...........excellent pics and information,thanks for the post......again i learned something...........thanks............dave

[Rev462]

Mike,

Very nice pics!

Just to add a bit more information: the Trapo had their own version of the Shako with a winged wheel at the bottom of the "starburst". There were also white-painted Shakos worn by traffic control personnel.

As you can guess, both of these types are VERY rare and VERY expensive. Still looking for examples for my own collection!

[Mike G.]

Mike,

Very nice pics!

Just to add a bit more information: the Trapo had their own version of the Shako with a winged wheel at the bottom of the "starburst". There were also white-painted Shakos worn by traffic control personnel.

As you can guess, both of these types are VERY rare and VERY expensive. Still looking for examples for my own collection!

Rick,

You are quite right. Thank you for bringing up these additional Tschako type examples.
I think somewhere on this DDR Forum are examples of the white painted Traffic Police Tschako (I believe Dave H.) has a couple two or three examples; and an example or two of the very, very rare Trapo Tschako. Also, I believe examples have been previously posted by one of our German members from his personal collection.

[Paul Spain]

I have found another Tschako used by VolksPolizei too, It was dark blue with the standard D.D.R. police star prior to the staatswappen. I have a pic of it somewhere on my PC and will post it if no one beats me to it.