Vopo ranks

[KevinH]

I am most familiar with NVA ranks and I must admit that the system that the Vopo used is somewhat of a mystery to me. As I am looking to come up with a Vopo impression I have a couple of questions.

At what point was a volkspolizist considered an officer? Namely, what is unterwachtmeister considered? NCO? EM?

Was the rank structure similar to the NVA with enlisted men, NCO's and officers?

Also, what ranks wore a green cap chin cord and what ranks wore the silver one?

And my last question, which may be a bit murky from other posts I've read, but did the piping of uniform and trousers follow the same system as in the NVA? (Officers piped, EM unpiped)?

[uscob]

I am most familiar with NVA ranks and I must admit that the system that the Vopo used is somewhat of a mystery to me. As I am looking to come up with a Vopo impression I have a couple of questions.

At what point was a volkspolizist considered an officer? Namely, what is unterwachtmeister considered? NCO? EM?

Was the rank structure similar to the NVA with enlisted men, NCO's and officers?

Also, what ranks wore a green cap chin cord and what ranks wore the silver one?

And my last question, which may be a bit murky from other posts I've read, but did the piping of uniform and trousers follow the same system as in the NVA? (Officers piped, EM unpiped)?

Cap Cords:
green up to oberwachtmeister
silver from Unterleutnant on.
Uniforms are piped for all Ranks, except on the Breeches and were used by all Ranks except for Generals.

[friede]

all Uniforms from around 1960 up to 1979 are unpiped, Jackets and trousers!. Therefor jackets and trousers sometimes (most) piped.

the Offiziers - ranks are the same as NVA for examle

Leunant der VP (Volkspolizei) Hauptmann der Feuerwehr ... Major des Strafvollzuges ... Oberleutnant des LS (Luftschutzes)

MDI - Ministerium des Innern (Polizei, Feuerwehr, Strafvollzug, Transportpolizei, Wasserschutzpolizei... ) is an very difficult area!!!

all Offiziere used silver - Kordel

all Wachtmeister used different collors at hat

Schutzpolizei, Bereitschaftspolizei, Wasserschutzpolizei green
Transportpolizei (darkblue uniforms) blue
Feuerwehr (darkblue uniforms) first black, later blue
Strafvollzug (dark blue uniforms) gray
Luftschutz up to 1977 black

the pipes at hat (all times from 1954 - 90) Jackets and trousers (from 1954- ca. 1960 & 1980 - 90) used the same collors

[TimoJ]

Field Gear Experiment leads to Questions

Great Stuff

[KevinH]

Thanks guys, very helpful.
So then I have a few follow up questions..
What was an Anwärter considered? Would they have warn the same chin cord as the wachtmeistern?
and lastly, did the Bereitschaftspolizei have a different rank structure than the rest of the vopo?
Many thanks!

[SCHUPO]

Kevin,

Nico and Friede have answered your questions well so far. Anwarter was a probationary policeman without permanent appointment or rank. After the probationary period the rank would be Unterwachtmeister der VP. Generally speaking Anwarter would wear the appropriate colored cap cord of a Wachtmeister.

The Deutschen Volkspolizei (regular police) had seven enlisted/NCO ranks while the Kasernierten Einheiten des MdI had six. So, the Bereitschaftspolizei would have the same ranks with the exception of the rank of Wachtmeister. There was also no Generaloberst rank in the barracked police.

Bear in mind that the rank structure changed slightly over time. This information is circa 1983 but specific answers would have to be related to the date of the uniform.

I hope this is helpful.