Re: Photograph MP and German Police

[woodyab]

Maybe this was on the wrong site.
Hello all, I am trying to locate a photograph that I saw on the Internet but can no longer find. Can anyone help. The photo shows two German Police in shakos and greatcoat. They are still wearing the National Socialist Police Eagle, sans swastika, at least I cannot remember seeing it. They are surrounded by Brit MPs looking at, I think, a map on the bonnet (hood) of a Military Police Jeep.
Apart from trying to find the photo can anyone offer any thoughts on where the photo was taken?
I know at the end of the war the German Police, Feldgendarmerie, etc de-natzified their uniforms and carried on regardless...policing. Any help really appreciated.
Tony

[W.Unland]

Hello,

After the war the German Police retained their NS-zeit uniforms in the BRITISH sector, ie; North Germany. The old uniforms were very quickly dumped/re-badged etc in the US sector. Consequently the photo you describe is entirely reasonable.......in the British sector.

If indeed they are still wearing sleeve eagles it would have to be at the end or IMMEDIATELY after the end of the war. Most British controlled areas kept the uniform but dumped the sleeve eagle and replaced it with a pin on "police" breast badge. So the photo would be 1945.

Regards,
W.Unland

[kuratorium]

click

[JoeW]

Bill, there is photo evidence in Radecke's book of Berlin police in the West Zone wearing their de-nazified uniforms and headgear. Perhaps the photo in question is found in that volume III of his series.

[woodyab]

Re: MP and german Police

Thanks all for your reply. Kuratorium, I viewed the picture, very interesting but too late in time. Good array of weapons: sten guns and French rifle.

W. Unland, You are on the money. The tshako is the National Socialist design, still bearing the large Police eagle but cannot see a swastika (would imagine that it has been expunged). The two German police are wearing greatcoats. I can only see one shoulder strap; the right one on the nearest policeman.It looks like a Revierwachtmeister post 1941, when the bar at the bottom was added.
I agree, the photo appears to be 1945.

Joe W, what book are you talking about? Unfortunately I still cannot find the photo on the web. I have a few books on German police (and RMP) but cannot find this in any of them.
Well, thanks again.
Tony

[JoeW]

The late Erich Radecke was a retired German police who authored a book on German police shakos and a three volume set on German police insignia.

The III Reich shako were used with the eagle intact, but the swaz was drilled out of the wreath. No cockade was worn at first.

[woodyab]

Re: MP and german Police

Joe, thank you for your exceptionally quick reply. The shakos in the photograph have the cockades still attached to the top of them. So what does that indicate?
Once again thank you.
Tony

[kuratorium]

The shakos in the photograph have the cockades still attached to the top of them. So what does that indicate?

Look at this thread : click!

[woodyab]

Re: MP and german Police

Kuratorium, thanks again for your help. Unfortunately the photo I am on about, the Police are still wearing the Police Eagle.
Anyway thank you.
Tony

[JoeW]

I checked Radecke's Volume III which indicates the police in divided Berlin did not wear the III Reich eagle. He indicates the de-nazified eagle was in British occupied Schlewig-Holstein. So I think that limits your location.

[woodyab]

Re: MP and german Police

Joe, thanks for the feed-back. You have helped narrow the search. I was already trying in the British sector and ignoring Berlin as hinted at by Bill Unland. By the way I have joined the German dagger site which also deals with the various Police. I have Angola's Vol 2, but that does not help me with this. I have also the various Osprey but they do not offer anything. I was hunting down the Radecke books but have decided not to go too far financially.
Thanks once again.
Tony