German soldiers in dark uniforms

[jmark]

Can anyone provide information on the soldiers in dark uniforms? I can't tell if they're pre-war (are the helmets old-style?) or very late war (perhaps even Volkssturm). I thought the caps shown in the centre photo of Photo 1 weren't manufactured until about 1943, but of course I could be totally wrong.

Any help appreciated.
Jason

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[Jan Klaassen]

As far as I can work out, the helmets are not the WWI model.

[hucks216]

I was going to post a similar thread as I also have 3 or 4 photos showing the same type of uniform, these photos being in an early war photo album to a member of Infantry Rgt 20. I was wondering if it was some sort of uniform used in training? Here are the 2 clearest ones...

[anmarlodz]

isn't it a fuerpolizei ( fireman ) ?

[Jonathan M]

Judging by the decals on the helmets they may be prewar or early war.

[kevinm1200]

I would say they are pre war, possibly during Hitlers rebuilding of the German military.

[chrischa]

These photos are pre-war.

The officer is wearing the cross strap which was stopped in 1939.

Regards,
Chris.