Hello, I tried using the search option before posting this, but had no luck. I'm trying to find info on the ordinary German Police during WW2. In other words, the average street cop. I don't know this position would have changed during the TR or the war, if it would have merged with the SD or Gestapo. Any help is appreciated, thanks in advance. Rob
Hi Rob, dont know of any english website. How are your german skills? My Grandpa was at the Dresdner Bereitschaftspolizei til the war began. There are some german websites like the first where i am a member too. Zur Geschichte der Ordnungspolizei - Lexikon der Wehrmacht or here with pics and the Gendarmen http://www.sachsen-polizeigeschichte.de/41415.html Regards Ulrich
Rob Found this on a site about German helmets. "The Protection Police (Schutzpolizei) was a branch of the Order Police (Ordnungspolizei-ORPO) that was responsible for regular police duties within municipal cities and townships with populations greater than 2,000 persons. Prior to 1934, Protection Police were organized as separate authorities in each land or state within Weimar Germany. In January 1934 the National Socialist government began to reorganize all police authorities in Germany by placing them under direct national (Reich) control. Heinrich Himmler was appointed by Adolf Hitler to be the commander in chief of all police organizations in Germany. As a distinct police group, the Protection Police were responsible for regular police duties as one might be accustomed to in modern society. This included general criminal investigations, traffic control, fighting street crime, and the host of duties typical of most police officers. Within the larger Order Police structure various police duties were typically broken down into special units that were responsible for carrying out these activities. Police units were generally housed in barracks and trained as military personnel as well as in standard police protocol." Also, many of the police personnel were sent to the occupied countries in Police Battalions, established for law enforcement and anti-partisan duties. Some took part in the Holocaust - perhaps the most well known (or should I say infamous) being 101 Reserve Police Battalion. This may also be of interest: Ordnungspolizei - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Quite a complicated subject - hope this helps a little. Regards Richie
Vielen dank for your help! I do know some German, so I will be able to work through the sites you provided Ulrich. Thanks for the link you sent Richie...that one won't be a problem Rob
Hi Rob, you´re welcome and your german skills are good!!! Here is a link to the "Forum der Wehrmacht " were a section is only for the German Police. Maybe this is a bit helpful! Forum der Wehrmacht | Einheiten der Polizei und des SD Machs Gut! Ulrich
Hello Rob. I came across this link to a book on the subject. It sounds as though it would help in your quest. Amazon.com: UNIFORMED POLICE FORCES OF THE THIRD REICH: 1933 - 1945 (9789197589437): Phil Nix: Books Here's a bit about the Orpo: Translated as the "Order Police", the Ordnungspolizei were formed by an act of the German Interior Ministry in the summer of 1936. The act absorbed the regular German police forces in the SS, incorporating all local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies. The police were divided into the Ordnungspolizei (Orpo) or Regular Police), the Sicherheitspolizei (Sipo or Security Police), and the Kriminalpolizei (Kripo or Criminal Police. The Orpo assumed duties of regular law enforcement while the Sipo consisted of the Gestapo and Sicherheitsdienst. The Kriminalpolizei was a core of professional detectives who were tasked with investigating violent and serious crimes. The Kripo existed on a fine line between full SS and regular police, until 1942 when the Kripo, SD, and Gestapo were all combined under the authority of the RSHA. You can read about the different divisions here http://www.wordiq.com/definition/Gemeindepolizei
