These are photos of my grandfather. Born 1907, he joined police school in 1926 and was a policeman (Hauptwachtmeister) in Berlin before the war. When the war started, he was transferred to the Feldgendarmerie as Stabsfeldwebel. He served mainly in Poland and France.
He was never promoted to officer during the war. In a postwar CV, he writes that this was because he refused to join the Nazi party. He was approached several times by higher officials to join, but never did. I don't know if (military) police officers were required to be party members - I don't think so, so there might be some other reason why he didn't get promoted. Perhaps someone knows more about military police career issues?
So what became of him? Well, there is a sad and somehow tragic story behind this. To cut it short, he had a motorcycle accident during the advance in France and suffered a severe head injury. But he refused to have it cured, as he wanted to "stay with Guderian" (quote). He died several years after the war from late consequences.
Nevertheless, what I'm really interested in is to find out what his ribbon bar was like. The problem is, I have only very BLURRY photos of him wearing his bar. There are other, clearer photos, but always without bar.
So here they are:
The first picture, the earliest one, should be mid- or early 30s. There are two awards on his bar.
The second pic is from a group photo of some kind of police seminar, late 30s, I think. Here, he wears three awards.
Closeup:
The third one is probably an early war photo. As far as I can see, still three awards.
Closeup:
The final pics must be late war. I think, there are four awards, the first one probably the EK2.
Closeup:
So what are the awards in this final pic? I know that he had the EK2, because he wears the ribbon from his buttonhole in other pics. I think it shows up on his bar only in the final two pics. He must also have had a police DA, normally 8 years. I guess these were updated to Wehrmacht DA's if the wearer was transferred to Feldgendarmerie?
What the other awards are, I have guesses, but would rather not preclude any opinions.
Thanks
Chris
He was never promoted to officer during the war. In a postwar CV, he writes that this was because he refused to join the Nazi party. He was approached several times by higher officials to join, but never did. I don't know if (military) police officers were required to be party members - I don't think so, so there might be some other reason why he didn't get promoted. Perhaps someone knows more about military police career issues?
So what became of him? Well, there is a sad and somehow tragic story behind this. To cut it short, he had a motorcycle accident during the advance in France and suffered a severe head injury. But he refused to have it cured, as he wanted to "stay with Guderian" (quote). He died several years after the war from late consequences.
Nevertheless, what I'm really interested in is to find out what his ribbon bar was like. The problem is, I have only very BLURRY photos of him wearing his bar. There are other, clearer photos, but always without bar.
So here they are:
The first picture, the earliest one, should be mid- or early 30s. There are two awards on his bar.
The second pic is from a group photo of some kind of police seminar, late 30s, I think. Here, he wears three awards.
Closeup:
The third one is probably an early war photo. As far as I can see, still three awards.
Closeup:
The final pics must be late war. I think, there are four awards, the first one probably the EK2.
Closeup:
So what are the awards in this final pic? I know that he had the EK2, because he wears the ribbon from his buttonhole in other pics. I think it shows up on his bar only in the final two pics. He must also have had a police DA, normally 8 years. I guess these were updated to Wehrmacht DA's if the wearer was transferred to Feldgendarmerie?
What the other awards are, I have guesses, but would rather not preclude any opinions.
Thanks
Chris
THOSE I can work with! 
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