W.Unland

Hello, Thank you to all for the kind words. The fiker boxes are backed with green wool felt. Probably NOT of conservator quality, but the best I can find here. The labels are simply computer printer heavy weight stock "pinned" to the felt to keep them from sliding around. They have been laid out using photoshop and MS Publisher. Regards, William Unland

Hello, Here is an officer's grade chutzpolizei Tschako with the very hard to find parade plume. The plume is made of buffalo hair, which is very fine and a bit hard to work with. The small elastic strap intended to hold the end of the plume is present on this Tschako, but has lost its elasticity. These plumes were worn very rarely, and most were lost as the war progressed. They do, however; make quite a striking impression when worn on the Tschako. Gendarmerie officers wore exactly the same Tschako but with brown lacquered leather fittings rather than black as shown here. [attachmentid=53128] [attachmentid=53129] Enlisted ranks wore a coarser black horsehair plume of the same design, and musicians a red plume in buffalo for officers and horsehair for enlisted ranks. I have personally never seen a red example and would love to see one if someone out there has one. Regards, Bill Unland

Dear Chris, Thank you. I have never quite gotten into the "get as much as you can " mode of collecting, and have tried to collect types and representative pieces, rather than accumulate things. I don't have the money to buy hoards of "investment grade" materials in any case I like things to tell a story or at least educate, and that is how I try to display my collection. Thank you for noticing. Best Regards, Bill Unland

Luftschutzpolizei (Air Raid Protection Police) Originally the SHD, this organization was absorbed by the police late in the war. They wore Luftwaffe uniforms with police eagles denoting branch. They were responsible for rescue work,fire fighting, debris removal, and gas protection services after and during air raids. The insignia is embroidered on gray rather than police green cloth. [attachmentid=53126] And lastly,miscellaneous machine woven BEVO type insignia introduced for use by all branches of the police late in the war. [attachmentid=53127] Thanks for taking a look. Nobody gets to see any of this over here in Japan! Regards, William Unland

Some Werkfeuerwehr (Factory Fire Protection) and trade badges. Actually employees of the various factories at which they worked, the Werkfeuerwehr wore a standardized uniform similar to a "regular" fireman, but with unique collar tabs and specially named eagles. [attachmentid=53124] Police service medals and Tschako plate [attachmentid=53125]

Schutzpolizei D. Gemeinden (municipal police). These named eagles are amongst the hardest of all TR insignia to find. The organization only existed for a few years before the war and was subsequently absorbed into the Schutzpolizei, so their red-carmine insignia was discontinued in 1939. [attachmentid=53122] Miscellaneous including white SCHUPO NCO, Feuerwehr officer's, and Administrative police. The white NCO eagle is the only one that I am aware of in collection. These were authorized for wear for less than six months in 1936. Consequently very few can be expected to have been produced and even fewer to have survived. [attachmentid=53123]

Miscellaneous including TENO Police, and Polizeihelferin. The black TENO eagle is one of the hardest police eagles to find. I am aware of only four examples in collections. The "southern cross" traditions badge is also quite rare as it was worn by but a few SCHUPO units before the war. [attachmentid=53120] Feuerwehr (Volunteer and Career Firemen). Although the most common of all police eagles, the late war carmine on green eagles are hard to find. Notice the carmine swastikas which differentiates them from the Feuerschuttzpolizei eagles which have a black swastika. As the green fire department uniforms were not adapted until late in the war NO "named" examples of this insignia should exist. [attachmentid=53121]

Schutzpolizei Insignia (Reich Protective Police). Although the most common, good period used examples are becoming harder to locate, and numerous reproductions are on the market. [attachmentid=53118] Feuerschutzpolizei (Armed Fire Protection Police) insignia. This was a relatively small organization who held complete police powers as well as being firemen. "Named" pre-war eagles are very rare. [attachmentid=53119]

Various officer's grade insignia. As these were all hand embroidered the number of variations is endless. The top one in the case is an oddity in that it has gold wings and details as well as gold threads around the swastika. Could be "faded" cellulon, but appears to have been made this way. Use unknown. [attachmentid=53116] Some Wasserschutzpolizei (waterways protection police) insignia. As this group was extremely small any insignia from it is hard to find. [attachmentid=53117]

Some Verkehrspolizei insignia (traffic police). These red on white eagles are extremely hard to find in "original" condition. [attachmentid=53114] Next some Gendarmerie worn by rural and mountain police units. Not to be confused with the army Feldgendarmerie, who wore a similar eagle on field gray backing rather than police green. [attachmentid=53115]

Here is a quick view of my Third Reich Police cloth collection. Sorry for the odd angles, trying to avoid the flash distortion. 1st, A Gendarm Meister with a few caps and Tschakos. [attachmentid=53111] Next, an officer's field uniform and a few eagle variations. Field uniforms had cuffs and collars in police green rather than brown as on service uniforms. [attachmentid=53113]

Dear Rick, To my knowledge only the administrative police wore gray piping. Uniforms and caps are not really my thing, eagles are, but from what I have always read this was the case. I believe criminal investigators were a branch of the schutzpolizei and would have worn a green piping, but again; I am not the expert on such matters. The red and gray shoulder boards were the early version of the Verwaltungpolizei boards. Later, I think 1943 the red was dropped and a straight gray was used. Here are a pair of such boards for a senior nco that I have. [attachmentid=46569] Regards, W.Unland

The eadle is NOT a typical officer's two piece but rather a very highly frosted enlisted eagle. If original to the cap, this might suggest that this cap was worn by a "meister", as they were entitled to officer's hat cords, but would probably wear an EM grade eagle. Here is a shot of this unusual, obviously private purchase insignia. [attachmentid=46488]

And lastly a shot of the typical light green interior of the EREL "PRIVAT" class of hat. [attachmentid=46486] Regards, Bill Unland

This one is VERY unusual as it has TWO vent holes one behind the cocade as is normal, but one also behind the eagle, [attachmentid=46485]

These "EREL" caps have a very nice shape and high peak to them. Here is a 3/4 view. [attachmentid=46484]

Hello, Here is another fairly rare piece of police headgear. This is an "EREL" "PRIVAT" grade cap to an administrative police officer, piped in gray for this police branch. These are rare as these were basically "non-uniformed" police officials, and uniforms were only utilized on rare ocassions. The administrative police include building and mine inspectors, health inspectors, and other "non-criminal" investigators. All members were of officer's pay grade, although there is evidence that senior nco's (meister) ranks existed as a training or some other probationary rank. Consequently enlisted insignia from this branch are MUCH more rare than that of officers. [attachmentid=46483]

Here is a side view. [attachmentid=46481] And the interior, with acceptance stamps. [attachmentid=46482]

Hello, Here is a fairly uncommon Prussian State police dress cap fitted with the "new" national emblem circa 1935. These caps were worn for a very short period of time before all of the police forces were nationalized and the uniforms standardized. This is my favorite police cap. Very attractive colors. [attachmentid=46480] Regards, Bill Unland

Obviously, this list is not to be considered all inclusive, nor complete, as there are many other patterns of eagle that the author has seen but not been in a position to examine closely enough to include in this analysis. It is important once again to stress to the reader that these police insignia were produced by many, if not hundreds, of manufacturers during the Third Reich period, and the product of each of these might be expected to be unique. Unlike the insignia of the political organizations and military during this period, police insignia seems to have been produced with little regard to any standard design or specified regulation. It seems that the insignia was described in general terms by the central police authorities, and the interpretation of that description was left to the individual manufacturers. Consequently, if one should encounter an eagle pattern not discussed in this essay, it should not be dismissed out of hand. After looking at the various patterns discussed above, some?feeling for what looks authentic should be gained to help the collector in forming an opinion about any eagle in question?s originality. Since police insignia were, for the most part, purchased locally, for local use, some eagle patterns can be expected to be region specific, although there is not enough data currently available to make an analysis of this aspect of production. In conclusion, the sleeve eagle patterns discussed above are believed to all be representative of authentic, period produced patterns, but that is based on a rather subjective analysis of the artifacts themselves, and unfortunately, no one person can ever say with certainty that a given pattern was indeed utilized during the era. An educated opinion can be made, nothing more. Well thats it for now. I hope this is found to be of some value to someone out there. If It saves one new collector from throwing his money away on a reproduction I will feel justified. Thanks for looking, and if anyone has anything to add I encourage them to do so. Best regards, Bill Unland

Type 21. The final pattern to be considered in this essay is shown here. These are most often encountered as Feuerwehr eagles, but are relatively rare. [attachmentid=45171] This eagle is characterized by its small, unique head with tiny angular beak (1), and its angular body detail lines (2). To date only fire service eagles have been discovered in this pattern and it is unknown if they were made for use by any branch of the police. The author has not examined enough of this pattern to express an opinion as to their manufacturing process. [attachmentid=45172]

Type 20. The eagle shown next is controversial to say the least, and many collectors doubt that this type ever existed at all. This author is convinced, however; that it is indeed an authentic period made insignia. For less than a year, beginning in 1936, a white summer blouse was authorized for senior non-commissioned officers of the Schutzpolizei, similar to that specified for officers. The NCO?s, however; were to wear a green eagle on white cotton rather than the bullion officer?s eagle. This regulation was rescinded soon after the 1936 Olympics. As this would have been a private purchase uniform it is impossible to determine how many, if any, NCO?s actually purchased such a blouse during this period. It has been argued that some were indeed worn by Schutzpolizei assigned to the Olympic security operations, but no photographic evidence of a white NCO tunic in wear has yet surfaced. That said, it is unreasonable to assume that insignia manufacturers would NOT make a green eagle on white in accordance with the 1936 uniform regulations, just in case a customer might demand one. The eagle shown here displays all of the attributes of an authentic, period made insignia. Its design seems to be unique and has not been seen on any other insignia. The author believes that it is indeed a very early insignia produced before the ?standard? eagle specifications became widespread. [attachmentid=45169] This eagle is characterized by its thick, prominent crossed ribbons at the bottom of the wreath (1), the very narrow body with sharp, angular detail lines (2), nicely shaped head without any detail lines at all (3), and the rather indistinct, unusually elongated thin background wreath (4). This last detail is very unusual, and suggestive of an early manufacture date. As shown in type 1 discussed earlier, the wreaths in the early production eagles display very unusual leaf patterns and design, and this eagle which would have only been produced for a short time immediately after the introduction of the police sleeve eagle insignia, seems to follow that tendancy. [attachmentid=45170]

Type 19. The next eagle pattern to be considered is one of the most handsome. Unlike many of the insignia discussed earlier, this example is very realistic and ?dignified? looking. It has only been encountered by this author twice. Once as shown here and once in orange. It is assumed that it was produced by a small, local manufacturer. [attachmentid=45166] This eagle can be easily recognized by its unique leaf pattern at the bottom of the wreath (1), and its handsome realistic head with correctly shaped beak (2). The proportions and modeling of this eagle is singularly outstanding amongst all of the insignia examined by the author. A very fine graphic representation of an eagle! [attachmentid=45167] Here is a photo of the two examples of this eagle found to date. The slight differences in execution suggest that this pattern of eagle was embroidered by a hand machine operator. [attachmentid=45168]

Type 18. The pattern of eagle shown here has not been encountered often, and the two examples shown are the only ones of this type seen to date by this author. [attachmentid=45163] In can be inferred that this is a ?late war? pattern as these examples are both ?cut out? to the shape of the eagle in compliance with late war regulations discontinuing the use of jurisdiction names on police sleeve eagles. This pattern is distinguished by the equally sized down curved rows of body detail lines (1), the two distinct detail lines on the nicely shaped head (2), and the low placed swastika touching the wreath at the bottom (3). [attachmentid=45164] Here is a photograph of the two examples known. Both are identical, and it must be assumed that they were produced using some automated procedure. The eagle on the right is embroidered on a dark gray material and is assumed to have been used by the ?Luftschutzpolizei?. [attachmentid=45165]

Type 17. The next, rather odd looking eagle, is also thought to be the product of a small local producer for use in the city and district of Wien. [attachmentid=45160] This eagle?s distinctive features are its ?helmet like? head ridge (1), rather short squat body (2), and very thin legs (3). Some authorities doubt the authenticity of this eagle based on its unconventional design. This author , however; finds nothing in the materials used, or embroidery techniques that would suggest it to be other than authentic. [attachmentid=45161] All known examples of this eagle are identical in every way, and it is presumed that these were produced using some automated or repeating embroidery machine. The HBT summer example shown here has had a four letter name removed to comply with late war orders. It is impossible to determine what it originally said but it is assumed to have been Wien as all other examples found have been so named. This eagle has only been found in green and green on black for use by armored Schutzpolizei units, presumably at the police panzer school located in Vienna. [attachmentid=45162]