Dienstausweis of the SiPo - a study.

[SiPo]

After careful study and analysis of 83% of the known surviving 1944 and 1945 issued Gestapo and Kripo Dienstausweis, I have been able to identify specific differences in their design.

The differences enable us to be able to categorize the issue dates into specific issue types, and only apply to the 1944 and 1945 Dienstausweis.

These differences are in the layout of the area to the right of the photograph in the personal details section. This section was used to record the holders Name, Rank, duty station and the issue date of the Dienstausweis.

So far, I have identified 7 different types for the 1944 issued Dienstausweis and 5 different types for the 1945 issue. These can be broken down into:

Gestapo 1944 = 3 distinct types, classified as G44a, G44b, G44c
Kripo 1944 = 4 distinct types, classified as K44a, K44b, K44c, K44d

Gestapo 1945 = 2 distinct types, classified as G45a, G45b
Kripo 1945 = 3 distinct types, K45a, K45b, K45c

In all examples, the name and rank are typed but the differences lie in the way the duty station and issue date are is annotated. In some examples the duty station is either typed or pre-printed and likewise the date of issue.

These issue types can now be broken down further:

GESTAPO 1944

Type a

1) Name and Rank is Typed.
2) Duty Station is Typed.
3) Issue date is Typed.


Type b

1) Name and Rank is Typed.
2) Duty Station is Printed.
3) Issue date is Typed.

Type c

1) Four blank lines in which Name & Rank is Typed.
2) Issue date Typed.


KRIPO 1944

Type a

1) Name and Rank is Typed.
2) Duty Station is Typed.
3) Issue date is Typed.

Type b

1) Name and Rank is Typed.
2) Duty Station is Printed.
3) Issue date is Printed.

Type c

1) Name and Rank is Typed.
2) Duty Station is Typed.
3) Issue date is Printed.

Type d

1) Four blank lines in which Name & Rank is Typed.
2) Issue date Typed.


GESTAPO 1945

Type a

1) Name and Rank is Typed.
2) Duty Station is Typed.
3) Issue date is Typed.

Type b

1) Name and Rank is Typed.
2) Duty Station is Printed.
3) Issue date is Typed.


KRIPO 1945

Type a

1) Name and Rank is Typed.
2) Duty Station is Typed.
3) Issue date is Typed.

Type b

1) Name and Rank is Typed.
2) Duty Station is Printed.
3) Issue date is Printed.

Type c

1) Name and Rank is Typed.
2) Duty Station is Typed.
3) Issue date is Printed.


Examples shown below.

[SiPo]

2.

[SiPo]

3.

[SiPo]

4.

[JoeW]

Excellent treatise Graham.

[PBR]

Top!

[Dave C.]

Excellent work Graham Now if I could just find one example...

[old siagon]

Wonderful presentation!

Many thanks,
Vince

[Hundestaffel]

Superb Information and Presentation.

Many Thankx for taking the time and effort to post this...


"Hundestaffel"

[SMV]

Very informative work Graham.

It seems that with the exception of Service Post "Kattowitz", all of the printed examples are from Berlin. Have you seen any other printed
examples from other cities?

Thank you,

Marcus

[SiPo]

Marcus,

You are quite correct.

It is not known if this was a deliberate security feature or a case of "elitism" for those members who were serving in the main HQ's in the capital city.

In fact these Dienstausweis were printed a short distance between both the RSHA and RKPA, at the Reichsdruckerei. The Reichsdruckerei was centrally located between the RSHA, Prinz-Albrecht Straße 8, and the RKPA, Werderscher Markt 5-6, a distance of 0.2 and 0.3 Km respectively.

There is another card with a printed duty station, which was to a BdS in occupied Europe.

I personally believe the design of the "Kattowitz" Dienstausweis used to be similar to the G44a and G45a. However, when the Staatspolizei Leitstelle Kattowitz was abolished in August 1944 and amalgamated with the Kripo and SD to form the Kommandeur der Sicherheitspolizei Kattowitz, a new card was needed. This new Dienstausweis adapted the design feature of printing the duty station as already seen on the 1944 BdS/KdS Dienstausweis.

There is a Dienstausweis in the archives of the Czech Government which is unique in that the Dienstausweis number, the duty station (in this case Prag) and the issue date have all been rather crudely stamped. Although this is the only one like this that I have seen, the Dienstausweis design is that of a G45a but obviously has the details stamped as opposed to typed. This was more than likely done in haste due to the fact that this was a very late issued ID, dated 3/3/45.

[SMV]

Great info. Graham.

Do you know if all Sipo Dienstauweis` were printed at the Reichsdruckerei in Berlin or were they printed locally? My guess would be that because of security measures, they were mostly printed in Berlin, delivered by special SS courier, typed and assembled at the designated duty station.

Thanks,

Marcus

[SiPo]

Do you know if all Sipo Dienstauweis` were printed at the Reichsdruckerei in Berlin or were they printed locally? My guess would be that because of security measures, they were mostly printed in Berlin, delivered by special SS courier, typed and assembled at the designated duty station

All 1944/45 type Dienstausweis were printed at the Reichsdruckerei as this was the only facility that had the technology to produce the complex anti-erasure patterns found on these ID cards.

Each Kripo/Gestapo Stellen had an ID office or "Ausweisstelle." This Ausweisstelle was responsible for sending the details of officers borne on their books to the RSHA, for production of their Dienstausweis. In order to do this, a pass sized photograph of the officer was supplied to the RSHA. The rear of this photo contained all the officers details required for the Dienstausweis ie. Dienstmarke number, name, rank and duty station. Once the card was completed, it was mailed back to the Ausweistelle of the respective Stellen where all the officer had to do was sign it. As far as is known, the normal mail system was used.

However, I do have one Gestapo Dienstausweis in my collection which appears to be locally issued/assembled, the photo of the bearer being stamped by the bearers duty station. Also, the photograph appears to have been "recycled" from an earlier issue red linencloth Dienstausweis. The rear of this photo still contains the required details. The reason for this anomaly is not known.

[SMV]

Excellent!

Thank you for your indepth analysis!

Marcus

[Panzer Rob]

It's threads like this that remind me why I love to collect IDs.

Spectacular work, G-man... You have one hell of a collection.

Rob