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    dblmed

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    Posts posted by dblmed

    1. Some more great Schuma history, for those of us who have forgotten it.

      SD, AND POLICE / SCHUMA BATTALIONS

      -----------------------------------------------------------------

      With the appointment of SS General von dem Bach-Zelewski as Coordinator of Anti-Partizan in the East, a variety of security formations were beginning to emerge.

      As early as 1941, these security formations were beginning to be diluted with Baltic and Ukrainian recruits. These units were supervised by the SS Police and SD/SS Security Staff. In Ukraine and the Baltic provinces all these scattered units were formed into an auxiliary police force known as the Schuetzmannschaft Ordungspolizei (Schuma). The units were either divided into Front or Guard Units. Although the SS and Police operated within Army-administered areas, the Army had its own security formations, known as Security Divisions.

      When the Germans split up and conquered Poland in 1939. Large areas were incorporated directly into the Reich, while other lands inocrporated into Reichskommissariats of Ostland (Baltic States and Belarus) and Ukaraine. The repressive german policy towards the Poles led to creation of Ukrainian-Galician police force for the Galicia District. Twelve Schuma Battalions were organized: 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 210, 211, 212.

      With the rize of partizan warfare, the main duties of such Schuma battalions were to seek out and destroy the Soviet Partizans. Each battalion had a staff and four 124 man companies, each with one machine gun platoon and three infantry platoons; totalling 700 man. The battalions varied from Frontline, Guard, Engineer, Construction and Replacement Battalions deployed along the Army Group Rear Areas. The SD also included Schuma forces (Schuetzmannschaft der Sicherheitspolizei). A number of home guard organisations (SB - Sluzhba Bezpeky / Selbstschuetz) were also created.

      Ukrainians joined the German-sponsored forces in large numbers, and in late 1942, 70,000 were in the Schuma, becoming one of the largest Schuma forces. About 35,00 served in 71 Schuma Batallions: 51, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 61, 62, 63, 101, 111, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 129, 130, 131, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140, 143 to 169. These battalions included some Cossack, cavalry and artillery units. Home Guards were disignated as the Ukrainian National Self-Defence Force (UNS) and had up to 180,000 man. When in 1944 the Red Army overrun Ukraine, these units were transfered to Ukrainian Self-Defence Legion and others had joined the 14th and 30th divisions of Waffen SS.

      From http://ukr-ww2.onestop.net/schuma.html Txs, Dave/dblmed

    2. I got Lucky and found this really ?Bright RED/Carmine? Machine Embroidered SCHUMA Sleeve Emblem.

      (Other Schuma Sleeve Emblems seem to be BeVo, so I don't know if this RED is a recognized variant? It is on 'Police Green' Wool)

      (This RED is really a brighter shade than a usual Fire Eagle. You could see him coming from a mile away!)

      I Also found a nice Schutzmannschaften / Schuma ?Dog Tag? to accompany it.

      FRONT ??..Txs, Dave/dblmed

    3. Some SCHUMA BACKGROUND: With the invasion of Russia on June 22ND 1941 the German army quickly occupied large tracts of territory resulting in ever extending rear areas that required policing to maintain order amongst the population and to secure open transportation and communication lines to the front.

      Originally the army had established small auxiliary police units for these purposes which were followed by SS action groups.

      The territories occupied proved to be too large for these small auxiliary units to police effectively which resulted in recruitment of local anti-Communist personnel which were formed into Schuma, short for Schutzmannschaften, (Protection Troops), units in November 1941.

      The Schuma personnel fell under the control of the regional H?here SS und Polizeif?hrer, (Higher SS and Police Leader). These Schuma personnel wore a wide variety of uniforms, headgear and insignia including surplus black Allgemeine-SS uniforms, and assorted field-grey and police green items.

      In June 1942 distinctive cap and sleeves emblems were introduced for Schuma personnel to distinguish them from Ordnungspolizei, (Order Police), personnel.

      Text is Courtesy of: http://www.Germanmilitaria.com

      You Advanced guys may be aware of All of this, but the Date of implementation of Schuma 'Cloth' was new info. for me. Txs, Dave/dblmed

    4. SCHUMA Cloth Items fill a kind of mystical niche for me. They are just beautiful & some of the most artistic of the TR period.

      My understanding of the Schuma Organization, is that they were essentially Non-Germanic Members serving the Polizei and Sipo/SD in occupied areas (outside of Germany). Primarily in the Baltics and Ukraine. (They filled the manpower void in these areas.) There were German Officers in the ultimate control of each Schuma Unit - but did he wear SCHUMA Cloth? Don't know. The Cloth Items are nothing short of exquisite, with fine machine embroidery & colors. The SCHUMA Motto of "Faithfullness, Bravery & Obedience" is found on the sleeve Patches. I got interested in the Schuma when I found 2 sets of Shoulder Boards & 3 Patches. Txs, Dave / dblmed

    5. The SS Side Cap is a BEAUTY in its Authenticite' & the fact that it even survived the war!

      "Salty" is tough for the average collector, who may have only a few items which he/she might

      prefer as being in Average or Better condition. But, for the Advanced Collector such as yourself -

      "Salty" make sense, as it best demonstrates the true variations of the items!

      It is a Keeper! CONGRATS! .... Dave/dblmed

    6. Even More New Police Material

      I just followed the LINK, and there is also a Uniform Poster taken from a German Police office! It has been reproduced (in Full Color), and looks to me, like it is probably the best identification tool for German Police Uniforms. (No more squinting when looking at those little pictures in the rare to find, DDP Taschenbuch or Soldatenfreund issues.)

      This is ALL really great news - in helping to understand the many aspects of the German Police! Hat's off to Roger Bender for bringing new great materials to us as Collectors.

      Txs, Dave/dblmed

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