UBB.threads Forums Uniform & Accessories Police Uniforms Forum Ranks of the Prussian Landjaegerei 1920 - 1934

According to Nix/Jerome, "The Uniformed Police Forces of the Third Reich 1933-1945", pp. 49/50, the ranks of the Landjaegerei were changed twice:

- from June 1920 (when the Gendarmerie was renamed Landjaegerei) until 1926 the Gendarm was named Landjaeger and all officers Landjaegerrat;

- in 1926 rank titles were created by adding "der Landjaegerei" to the appropriate police rank, i.e. to create "Leutnant der Landjaegerei"

- rank titles were changed at 30 January 1934, so that Landjaegerkommandeur became General der Gendarmerie, Landjaegeroberst became Oberst der Gendarmerie, etc.

This raises the following doubts in my mind:

1: Roland Schoenfelder (p. 302) confirms that Gendarmerieoffizieren became Landjaegerraete, but surely there were specific ranks between 1920 and 1926, not just the Landjaeger and Landjaegerrat? This is suggested by the fact that von Sommerfeld's rank was given as Landjaegerrat Major, suggesting that between 1920 and 1926 all officer ranks were prefixed "Landjaegerrat".

2: what was the official form between 1926 and 30 January 1934: Leutnant der Landjaegerei or Landjaegerleutnant?

3: Nix/Jerome ignore Landjaeger-Obersekretaer and Landjaegeranwaerter.

And when precisely in 1926 was the change in the ranking system made?

Thanks for any enlightment on this!

hpt

Hugh,

I don't think we are ignoring you. It is just that you ask a really good question. I don't know the answers myself.

Löhken shows rank boards for 1932 as being Anwärter der Landjäger, Landjäger, Leutnant der Landjäger, etc, but in the same tables uses the term Oberlandjäger and Landjägermeister, etc. He typically uses, and quotes, new orders for the Landjägerei vom 11 October 1926 for rank as follows:

Anwärter der Landjägerei
Landjäger
Oberlandjäger
Landjägermeister
Oberlandjägermeister.

He says as of 17 Februar 1927 and März 1928 new uniform regulation paralleled the Schupo and Landjägerei. Officer and Rat ranks are not really well addressed. That kinda - sorta answers your question for enlisted ranks but it is still not that clear to me.

George

I´ve a photo album of Landjäger commander and first leader of the Reichsbundes preussischer Gendarmeriebeamter Karl Kobbe. His rank in 1927/28 (as chief of an local Landjäger Beritt -district) Landjäger-Hauptmann.

So Landjägerhauptmann or Landjäger-Hauptmann would be correct.

Many thanks ORPO & Niedersachsen. I know my questions are often not directly uniform related: and so appreciate feedback like yours all the more!

hpt