W.Unland

Closer to show branch color and cap more clearly: The cap is a high quality, heavily padded PEKURO with a frosted eagle with polished highlights. Very "first class" cap.

Side view showing rare named eagle

Hello, Presented here is the uniform of an NCO in the Schutzpolizei d. Gemeinden which were the civil police officers in small municipalities not covered by a Schutzpolizei station. They were hired and uniformed by the municipalities themselves. As they were absorbed into the SchuPo very early on, relics from this organization are very difficult to locate, and are amongst the hardest of the police branches to collect. Their branch color is a deep carmine red. Although the tunic is an NCO and the cap an officer's, or meister's, they still look rather nice together. I still need a pair of piped service trousers if anyone out there has a pair. Thanks for looking. Regards, Bill Unland

Hello, The construction of this eagle IS consistant with other known period made insignia. Without a closer view of the obverse I cannot say for sure, but this could certainly be an authentic eagle. Regards, William unland

Dear Rick, Both eagles look OK to me. I see no reason why these could not have been stored at the clothing depot Dachau for use by feldgendarmerie units of the WSS. The 2nd oval was produced without lettering later in the war. That 3 feather is an odd bird. I have one exactly like it. I think that these small ovals don't have room for an embroidered district. Besides, if intended for Feldgendarmerie use they would NOT have had any district or town name in any case. Regards, Bill Unland

Here is a view of the kokarde on the tschako. It is dated 1932, but has been repainted from black to the Reich colors of red and white, probably in 1934. A rather rare transitional kokarde. It would have originally been all black in the flat ceter area.

Hello, Actually I just happened to find the tunic and tschako together. I already had the cap and "swallow's nest" insignia. The Prussian police is rather hard to find but generally undervalued. People like the "nazi" stuff but shy away from the earlier. I personally like the early items, but they are hard to find as they were replaced in 1936 and little survived the war. Here is a close up of the shoulderboards. Typical late pre TR construction: Regards, Bill Unland

And lastly a side view with cap: Regards, William Unland

Now with the M34 schirmmutze with 1st pattern TR police eagle:

A side view showing the "pointed" swallow's nests characteristic of landespolizei musicians:

Hello, Offered here is a circa 1934 Prussian Landespolizei uniform before the standardization of uniforms in 1936. The tunic is a model 1928, but were used up to the 1936 date. The musician's "swallows nests" are attached by hooks and loops sewn into the shoulder seams. First as would be worn on duty with the early Prussian tschako:

Here is a photo from e-bay showing it in wear:

Dear Paul, The green LSP eagles are rare in themselves, but the THREE FEATHERED are very rare. This particular maker seems to have produced three and six feathered variants. Here is my 3 feathers. Same pattern, different colors. It is unknown why this variant was made, but there are a few period photos showing it being worn. Regards, Bill Unland

Dear Rick, My understanding is that the coastal police were basically navy guys and wore navy uniforms with an armband or cuffband. Their officers were Wasserschutzpolizei and would have worn WSP uniforms. Yes, I guess this might have been used by a WSP nco assigned to the coastal police. Dear Paul, I know of only one WSP tunic, at least that I have seen. This branch was VERY small and the uniforms were used after the war in exactly the same pattern sans eagle, so they were worn out and discarded. Few have survived. Same with the caps. Regards, Bill Unland

Dear Paul, A green three feathered LSP eagle.............I need one of those! Regards, Bill Unland

And lastly a 3/4 view. These WSP caps are amongst the hardest to find for the police collector as there were so few WSP personnel, particularly enlisted men. Regards, William Unland

Side view showing typical "floppy" navy type pattern cap body, although to be sure this example is not as exaggerated as many, and may have been intended for other than navy use.

Inside, behind the kokarde. No holes through the lining material.

Closer. No holes or irregularities in the cap band suggesting other insignia, such as a navy wreath, having been applied.

Here is a closer view of the insignia. The photos have been lightened to show the cloth details better, but washes out the shiny eagle finish. No evidence of sewing or prongs where a navy cap eagle would have been attached.

Hello, I recently obtained this Wasserschutzpolizei NCO cap. It is unusual in that it is of "navy" form rather than civil police. After careful examination I can make the following conclusions about it: 1. It is indeed an authentic period produced naval pattern cap, made by one of a myriad of unknown makers which produced caps for the navy. The construction and materials are consistant with the period. The cap band is sewn down to the body during manufacture and is not a seperate piece as is the case on most post war caps and reproductions. The wear and soiling as well as the condition of the alcohol based lacquer chinstrap finish and pseudo leather sweatband convince me of it's period manufacture and use. 2. The insignia and fittings are authentic, and of period manufacture, both the eagle and kokarde being war time zinc. 3. Finally, and most importantly, the police insignia, kokarde, and side buttons appear to be totally original to this cap. There is NO evidence of additional holes, either from sewing or from prong attachments either in the cap body or the cap band. This cap appears to have NEVER had an eagle sewn or attached to the upper front, nor is there any evidence of a naval type bullion wreath ever having been sewn to the band, nor a metal wreath having been pinned through same. The police eagle is very tightly applied, and the attachment prongs are actually bent around the front stiffener, suggesting that the insignia was applied during manufacture. There are no extra holes "under the hood" as it were. In conclusion I feel that this hat is indeed an authentic Wasserschutzpolizei used cap. Period photographs show "naval pattern (leather, rimmed visor)" caps like this one in use by WSP personnel, as well as "police pattern (Unrimmed vulcanfiber visors)" caps. I am consequently pleasently surprised to believe that this cap has survived intact, and is a representative example of a war time WSP nco's schirmmutze/service cap. Of course, as these caps are rarely encountered with any provenance, and known authentic examples are rare to say the least, any other opinions, observations and/or problems with my analysis are welcomed. Regards, William Unland

And lastly a view of the interior. Barely servicable. Regards, Bill Unland

Side view. The cap shows no mothing or damage, only sweat stains inside due to the cloth sweatband being extremely absorbant.

Hello, Although certainly not the most beautiful, nor sought after of the police caps this must rank amongst the least encountered and rare in numbers produced. I must say that this is certainly the most cheaply produced TR schirmmutze that I have ever examined. It is truely a late war/material shortage production. The cap body is an extremely light weight Luftwaffe gray wool. The brim is very thin fiber that can be easily bent and broken by finger pressure alone. The sweatband is impregnated cloth and the liner basically gauze. The kokarde black base is cheap cardboard. Everything about this cap is the cheapest possible that would allow a smart appearance. Not servicable, and obviously not intended for daily wear. I have no doubt it is original production. The quality of materials would seem to be in keeping with the late introduction of this cap, as well as the relative unimportance of the organization. I am convinced that very few of these caps were produced as the Luftschutzpolizei by the introduction date of this uniform was basically an air raid debris removal squad, and the opportunity to wear a "dress" uniform was all but non-existant. I believe this cap was made for some administrative member of the organization, or perhaps a musician, certainly not one of the guys working at air raid scenes.

And lastly, the maker's logo: Regards, William Unland