Schutzpolizei (Nazi Germany)

The Schutzpolizei des Reiches was the State (Reich) protection police of Nazi Germany, a branch of the Ordnungspolizei. Schutzpolizei is the German name for a uniformed police force.

The Schutzpolizei des Reiches was the uniformed police of most cities and large towns. State police departments were in charge of protection police, criminal investigation divisions (Kripo, short for Kriminalpolizei), and administrative police. The State protection police comprised patrol branch, barracked police, traffic police, water police, mounted police, police communications units, and police aviation. Policemen had to have previous military service, good physical and mental health, be of Aryan descent, and be members of the Nazi Party. Police Officers had in addition to be members of the SS. Policemen were promoted according to a regulated career system. Promotion for officers was determined by merit and seniority. Pay for policemen was higher than the average industrial worker and was more in line with the average privately employed white-collar worker.

State police departments (Staatliche Polizeiverwaltungen) were local and Kreis police administrations in charge of protection police, criminal investigation divisions (Kriminalabteilungen), and administrative police.

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In each state police department, a state protection police command called Kommando der Schutzpolizei was under a Kommandeuer der Schutzpolizei as chief of the local protection police.

Under the protection police command was a territorial police organization for the patrol branch (Einzeldienst).

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The barracked police, Kasernierte Polizei, was a predecessor of today’s German Bereitschaftspolizei. It was normally organized in company-sized units (Hundertschaften) in larger cities. During the war, the barracked police formed the core for the police battalions serving in the occupied countries and in the German army rear.

Large protection police command had motorized SWAT-teams (Motorisierte Uberfallkommandos) equipped with armored cars. During the war they served in Western Europe, suppressing anti-German demonstrations, and in Slovenia keeping the alpine roads open and combating local resistance.

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