Ranks and insignia of the Ordnungspolizei

''Ordnungspolizei''

Ordnungspolizei (Orpo) ranks were based on local police titles and were considered a separate system from the ranks of the SS. If a member of the Order Police was already an SS member or - upon application - became an SS member, he was automatically awarded an SS rank according to his police rank. Within the police administration, only the police rank was used. In the SS environment, the equivalent SS title was usually mentioned first, even if the bearer usually had no function in the SS administration. In 1944, all Orpo generals also gained equivalent Waffen-SS ranks so that, in the event of capture by the Allies, the Orpo general would hold status as a military officer instead of a police official.

It was not until the decree of 16.4.1940 that the Order Police were allowed to show their SS affiliation in their uniforms: A small SS rune was sewn on below the left breast pocket.

''Ordnungspolizei'' rank insignia

In addition to collar and shoulder insignia, Ordnungspolizei also wore the wreathed police eagle on the upper left sleeve. The collar patch and shoulderboards were backed, and the sleeve eagle (below the rank of Leutnant) embroidered, in truppenfarbe, a colour-code which indicated the branch of police: green for Schutzpolizei (protection police) and police general officers, wine-red for Gemeindepolizei (municipal protection police), orange for rural Gendarmerie, carmine-red for fire brigades, gold for maritime police, and light grey for administrative police.

General officers

Note: Since most police generals, increasingly as time went on, were also SS generals, they typically wore an SS uniform except at police-specific functions.

Field and junior officers

Enlisted, NCOs, and senior NCOs

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Rank and pay

Policemen were promoted according to a regulated career system from Anwärter to Hauptwachtmeiser. Having served in the military for two years, promotion to Rottwachtmeister took place after two years in the police; to Wachtmeister after four years; to Oberwachtmeister after six years; to Revieroberwachtmeister after seven years. After twelve years, policemen were guaranteed a promotion to Hauptwachtmeister. Selection for promotion to Meister could take place after 16 years. Some Meisters could be selected for promotion to Revierleutnant and then Revieroberleutnant. After five year as a police lieutenant, and at an age of at least 50 years, promotion to Revierhauptmann could take place. Promotion for officers was determined by merit and seniority. Promotion to Hauptmann required a written civil service exam, while promotion to Major required a three months promotional course at a police officer school. A special police general staff school was opened for this purpose in Dresden.

Mean annual pay for an industrial worker was 1,459 Reichsmarks in 1939, and for a privately employed white-collar worker 2,772 Reichsmarks.

References

pl:Ordnungspolizei#Stopnie

References

1. O.-Kdo P I (1a) Nr. 146/40, RMBliV S. 798.
2. Gordon Williamsson, ''World War II German Police Units'', Osprey Publishing 2006, p. 8.
3. Maybe equivalent to the Wehrmacht's ''Festungswerkmeister'' ("Fortress [[Shop foreman. Foreman]]") and ''Hufbeschlaglehrmeister'' ("[[Farrier]] Instructor").
4. Unteroffiziere mit Portepee (equivalent to warrant officer)
5. [http://www.uniforminsignia.org/?option=com_insigniasearch&Itemid=53&result=1536 ''Schutzpolizei des Reiches''] Retrieved 2016-01-10.
6. ''Public Safety in Germany.'' (Headquarters, Army Service Forces, 7 December 1943), p. 24.
7. ''The German Police'' (Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force: Evaluation and Dissemination Section (G-2), 1945), p. 101-103.
8. ''Reichsbesoldungsordnung 1943'', RGBl I:38
9. [http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Soldat/Besoldung.htm Die Besoldung eines Soldaten der Wehrmacht ] Retrieved 2013-11-26