TheSchutzpolizei des Reiches or theSchupo was the state protection police ofNazi Germany and a branch of theOrdnungspolizei.Schutzpolizei is the German name for a uniformed police force. TheSchutzpolizei des Reiches was the uniformed police of most cities and large towns.State police departments were in charge of protection police,Kripo criminal investigation divisions (Kriminalpolizei), and administrative police. The state protection police comprised a patrol branch, barracked police,traffic police,water police,mounted police, police communications units, andpolice aviation. Policemen were required to have previous military service, good physical and mental health,Aryan descent and membership in theNazi Party.
State police departments (Staatliche Polizeiverwaltungen) were local andKreis police administrations in charge of protection police, criminal investigation divisions(Kriminalabteilungen), andadministrative police.[1]
| Municipality | State police department | Police commissioner |
|---|---|---|
| Small town | Polizeiamt | TheLandrat, as head of theLandkreis police administration, was police commissioner. Under him, a police administrative official with the rank ofPolizeirat orPolizeioberinspektor was in daily charge of the department. |
| Town | Polizeiamt | The nearestPolizeidirektor was also the commissioner for the department. Under him, a police administrative official with the rank ofPolizeirat was in daily charge of the department. |
| City | Polizeidirektion | A police lawyer with the rank ofPolizeidirektor. |
| Big city | Polizeipräsidium | A police lawyer with the rank ofPolizeipräsident. |
In each state police department, there was a state protection police command (Kommando der Schutzpolizei), led by a chief of the local protection police (Kommandeuer der Schutzpolizei) .
Under the protection police command was a territorial police organization for the patrol branch (Einzeldienst). It was consisted of three levels:
The barracked police (Kasernierte Polizei) was a predecessor of today's GermanBereitschaftspolizei riot police. It was normally organized in company-sized units (Hundertschaften) in larger cities. DuringWorld War II, the barracked police formed the core ofpolice battalions serving inGerman-occupied Europe and the rear of theGerman army.[3]
Also in the barracked police were motorized special units (Motorisierte Uberfallkommandos) equipped witharmored cars. During the war, they were deployed to Western Europe to suppress anti-German demonstrations as well as tooccupied Slovenia to keep the alpine roads open and combat local resistance.[4]
During the war, police guard battalions (Polizei-Wachbataillone) were established, consisting of conscripted personnel in their fifties who were too old to be called up to theWehrmacht. Each battalion consisted of 350–500 men, and eachmilitary district (Wehrkreis) had 3–4 guard battalions. They were armed with rifles and a small number of light machine guns. The main tasks of the guard battalions were maintaining order and controlling traffic in connection with civil defense efforts in locations subjected to Allied bombings.[5]
Fifty-one traffic police units (Motorisierte Verkehrsbereitschaften) were formed in 1937 for traffic control in the larger cities.Nazi Germany's enlargement led to more such units being added in the incorporated areas. Traffic police were equipped with patrol cars, patrol motorcycles, and command vehicles. In cities with over 200,000 inhabitants, there were also specific traffic accident units (Verkehrsunfallbereitschaften) equipped with special vehicles for traffic accidents. In 1941, aMotorisierte Verkehrskompanie zbV was established to ensure that wartime traffic regulations were complied with, such as rules concerning driving permits and gasoline rationing. Its five platoons operated over the entire country.[5]
Wasserschutzpolizei, thecoast guard orwater police, was an organization similar to today'sWasserschutzpolizei. It was in charge of coastal and internal waterways as well as harbor policing. It was the successor to the German Empire'sReichswasserschutz and absorbed the maritime police (Schiffahrtspolizei) and harbor police in 1937.[6]
The mounted police was either an independent unit or part of a larger unit that also contained foot patrols. The basic units were thePolizei-Reiterstaffeln (mounted troops). By 1938, Berlin,Königsberg,Stettin,Breslau, andGleiwitz had gained larger specific mounted police units, each consisting of three solely mounted units. In other cities, the mounted troops formed part of combined units. During the war, police cavalry regiments and battalions were part of the police battalions serving in German-occupied countries.[7]
Police signal squads (Polizei-Nachrichtenstaffeln) were the local components of the police communications service. Radio, telephone,telex were used on their own secure lines, separate from the general public. Mobile radio stations along the highways and in larger cities belonged to specialNachrichtenbereitschaften (signal companies). During the war, police signal companies formed part of the Police Battalions serving in the occupied countries.[7]
Police aviation had existed in Germany sinceWorld War I. Police aircraft performed border patrols, conducted surveillance of highways and sea routes, conducted forest fire flights, courier flights and was used for communications. By 1940, there was a police air unit (Polizeifliegerabteilung) with nine aircraft; most of which were stationed in Berlin or Poland. In 1942, it was transferred to theLuftwaffe, forming theFliegergruppe z.b.V. 7, although the aircraft continued to be operated by police aviators.[8]
To be accepted as a police trainee before the war, the following requirements had to be fulfilled:[9]
Police training was given at special police training companies.[9]
Police officers were mainly recruited from the SS-Junker Schools (SS-Junkerschulen) inBad Tölz,Braunschweig andKlagenfurt. Others had to fulfill the same basic requirements as the police trainees (see above) in addition to having taken the general university entrance exam (Abitur) and having gained the rank ofSS-Anwärter. Police officer training was conducted at police officer schools inBerlin-Köpenick andFürstenfeldbruck.[9]
Policemen were promoted according to a regulated career system. AWachtmeister was promoted toOberwachtmeister after a minimum of six years of service and toRevieroberwachtmeister after seven years. After twelve years, policemen were guaranteed a promotion toHauptwachtmeister. Selection for promotion toMeister could take place after 16 years. SomeMeisters could be selected for promotion toRevierleutnanteandRevieroberleutnante. After five year as a police lieutenant, and at an age of at least 50 years, promotion toRevierhauptmann could take place.[9]
Promotion for officers was determined by merit and seniority. Promotion toHauptmann required a writtencivil service exam, while promotion toMajor required a three months promotional course at a police officer school. A special police general staff school was opened for this purpose inDresden.[9]