UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories Police Uniforms Forum Question re: Armoured Police M43 cap

From posts here I can see that the black panzer wrap was issued to police and that they would have worn a black sidecap wuth police emblem. However, is there any photographic evidence or academic insight into the black M43 having a joined police emblem and ****ade insignia on black material. I have seen the metal eagle and separate ****ade but not the joined patch. I notice in one Osprey book that it appears (on a drawn representation) that a Meister has a green piped M43 with the possible use of a field grey joined police emblem and ****ade insignia on a black M43 cap. Any ideas out there?

The Osprey book takes considerable liberties with the drawn uniform plates. Many, many errors in these plates so do not rely on them.

The Pol Panzer uniform has this oddly incorrect sleeve eagle with a white swastika that has actually now been reproduced from this plate it seems and the field policeman standing next to him is wearing a flag bearer gorget that they identify as one for the Feldgendarmerie, I guess??? A green police trapazoid should not be worn on a black Einheitsm�tze as shown. I have never seen trap on black backing but the standard eagle on black would be proper on the Einheitsm�tze (M-43).

Ah..the source of the infamous white swastika...thanks for the info

HeerSchmidt,

You are welcome.

I guess if I am going to publicly talk about mistakes in a reference book I should identify it. Osprey Men-at-Arms #434, "World War II German Police Units."

You reference Plate H and I pointed out the errors on the "Meister, Schutzpolizei armoured troops, 1944" and the gorget on the "Wachtmeister, Schutzpolizei, c.1943" that you asked about. They identify the gorget as an "aluminum duty gorget" and they also mis-identify his rifle in the description of the plate.

Unfortunately, there are many other errors such as those seen in the composite plate that they reproduce on the front cover. This plate shows a non-existent Schupo parade cartouch box strap with red/black/bullion stripes and a Gendarmerie NCO wearing a black belt and holster (instead of brown) and ribbons (WWI IC 2nd Kl) in the incorrect button hole on his tunic. Be very cautious with these uniform plates and take them with a grain of salt.