The ranks and insignia of the Ordnungspolizei were developed in 1936 after the nationalisation of Germany's regular police forces.

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.O.-Kdo P I (1a) Nr. 146/40, RMBliV S. 798.

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 water traffic police, and light grey for administrative police.Gordon Williamsson, World War II German Police Units, Osprey Publishing 2006, p. 8.

General officers Shoulder insignia Collar insignia Collar insignia Orpo general rank Equivalent SS rank Chef der Deutschen Polizei Reichsführer-SS Generaloberst der Polizei Oberst-Gruppenführer General der Polizei Obergruppenführer Generalleutnant der Polizei Gruppenführer Generalmajor der Polizei Brigadeführer 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 Shoulder insignia Collar insignia Orpo general rank Equivalent SS rank Oberst der Schutzpolizei Standartenführer Oberstleutnant der Schutzpolizei Obersturmbannführer Major der Schutzpolizei Sturmbannführer Hauptmann der Schutzpolizei Hauptsturmführer Oberleutnant der Schutzpolizei Obersturmführer Leutnant der Schutzpolizei Untersturmführer

Enlisted, NCOs, and senior NCOs The background was black for the Sicherheitsdienst (who wore the SS uniform but with the police rank insignia), dark brown for regular police units, and ginger brown for the Feldgendarmerie.

The collar, sleeve cuffs, cap band and piping (both officers and NCO ranks) were dark brown for regular police units and ginger brown for the Feldgendarmerie.

Shoulder insignia Collar insignia Orpo general rank Translation Equivalent SS rank Equivalent U.S. Army rank Meister Master NoneFormally equivalent to Sturmscharführer in the Waffen SS, but the insignia, and most notably the functions of the latter were hardly comparable. Roughly equivalent to the Wehrmacht's Festungswerkmeister ("Fortress Foreman") and Hufbeschlaglehrmeister ("Farrier Instructor"). (Warrant officer) Hauptwachtmeister Chief watch master Hauptscharführer (Master sergeant) Revieroberwachtmeister (Schupo)Bezirksoberwachtmeister (Gendarmerie)Zugwachtmeister (Kasernierte Polizei) Precinct senior watch masterDistrict senior watch masterPlatoon watch master Oberscharführer (Technical sergeant) Oberwachtmeister Senior watch master Scharführer (Staff sergeant) Wachtmeister Watch master Unterscharführer (Sergeant) Rottmeister Team master Rottenführer (Corporal) Unterwachtmeister Junior watch master Sturmmann Constable (Private first class) No insignia Anwärter Candidate Mann Constable cadet (Private)

Source:Unteroffiziere mit Portepee (equivalent to warrant officer)Schutzpolizei des Reiches Retrieved 2016-01-10.

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.Public Safety in Germany. (Headquarters, Army Service Forces, 7 December 1943), p. 24.The German Police (Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force: Evaluation and Dissemination Section (G-2), 1945), p. 101-103.

Pay grade Reichsbesoldungsordnung 1943, RGBl I:38 Annual Pay Reichsmark (RM) (basic pay without allowances) Mannschaften (Enlisted) Unterführer (NCO) Revieroffiziere Offiziere (Officers) - .. Anwärter - .. Anwärter with more than 6 months service - .. Unterwachtmeister A8c5 1,536 Rottwachtmeister A8c4 1,920 Wachtmeister A8c3 2,040 OberwachtmeisterA8c2 2,340 Revieroberwachtmeister A8c1 2,370 Hauptwachtmeister with less than 12 years service A8a 2,100–2,800 Hauptwachtmeister with more than 12 years service A7c 2,000–3,000 Hauptwachtmeister appointed before April 12, 1943 A7a 2,350–3,500 Meister A5b 2,300–4,200 Obermeister Revierleutnant A4e 2,800–4,600 Leutnant A4e 2,800–4,600 Oberleutnant A4c2 2,800–5,000 Inspektor Revieroberleutnant A4c1 2,800–5,300 RevierhauptmannA3b 4,800–6,900 Hauptmann A2c2 8,400 Major A2b 9,700 Oberstleutnant A1a 12,600 Oberst B7a 16,000 Generalmajor B4 19,000 Generalleutnant B3a 24,000 General

Mean annual pay for an industrial worker was 1,459 Reichsmarks in 1939, and for a privately employed white-collar worker 2,772 Reichsmarks.Die Besoldung eines Soldaten der Wehrmacht Retrieved 2013-11-26

References

External links Ranks and insignia of the Ordnungspolizei

pl:Ordnungspolizei#Stopnie