Generalgouvernement-Sonderdienst Uniforms and Insignia

[stonemint]

This is a much over-looked and unknown police organisation--the Sonderdienst. They were the Polizei of the Generalgouvernement, and were made up primarily of Volksdeutsche. Their uniforms and insignia are not referenced in any English-language references, so what I would like to do is create a reference thread here. If you have any Sonderdienst uniforms, insignia, pics, or paper material, please post here.

First off is a very rare pic of a Sonderdienst Officer. Note that he wears the SS eagle, but in lieu of the standard EM/NCO wreath, he wears an RMBO style wreath. The tabs are gestickt, and reflect the runic "s". Also note the bullion sleeve eagle (courtesy of Diane at her Facebook page):

[stonemint]

Sonderdienst bullion tabs (courtesy of Brandenburg Historica):

[stonemint]

Sonderdienst EM on right:

[stonemint]

Close-up of the Sonderdienst EM/NCO visor cap wreath (courtey of Pascal B):

[stonemint]

Sonderdienst EM Sentry--note the sleeve patch. Wording is "SONDER DIENST" and below the eagle "GENERALGOUVERNEMENT"

[stonemint]

Another Sonderdienst EM. Note Heer adler in lieu of SS:

[stonemint]

Sonderdienst visor in wear by a members girlfriend:

[stonemint]

Probably a SDG Helferin:

[Ausweis]

Sonderdienst Soldbuch

[kuratorium]

belt buckle (two-piece variant):

[VPpat]

Very interesting, could you explain exactly what they did

[wallonien]

I've never heard of this organisation before!
Very interesting, thanks for sharing!

[Askold]

An excellent thread! Here is my contribution:

Early Sonderdienst, note the shield and the cuffbands:







Kurt Muller:

[Askold]

P.S. I always wondered about this photo - what is single enlisted Sonderdienst man doing at Galicia division rally? Together with the photo of Ukrainian Sonderdienst helferin, it makes me wonder - could these people be Ukrainian Volksdeutche or perhaps some small ammount of Galicians/Ukrainians served in that formation?

[HPL2008]

Very interesting, could you explain exactly what they did

The Sonderdienst was established by the Generalgouverneur Hans Frank in May 1940. Originally controlled by the county administrators in occupied Poland, after some power-struggles it was eventually subordinated to the Commander of the Order Police in the Generalgouvernement and subjected to the SS- and Police jurisdiction in January 1943.

Recruited from 18- through 40-year old Volksdeutsche (ethnic Germans) - of whom at least some had earlier served in the Selbstschutz - it was an armed administrative executive force with Auxiliary Police duties.

The Sonderdienst had some duties of the Administrative Police (like enforcing tax- and quota collection or the surveillance of regulated prices), but was also heavily involved in general guard-, order- and security duties including measures connected to the ghettoization and deportation of Jews.