ORPO

Posted 27 December 2003 11:43
The Landespolizei were the state police of the individual German Länder, such as Baden, Bavaria, Prussia, etc. The Landespolizei were barracks Polizeisoldaten who were highly militarized with armor and artillery. Many LAPO units were transferred en-masse into the Wehrmacht in 1935-36. The remaining LAPO units were absorbed into the Ordnungspolizei after nationalization of the police in 1936.

This particular NCO tunic is the uniform of the Bavarian LAPO, circa 1935. It is stahlgrün color with schwarz collar and cuffs. The breeches were schwarz along with the belts and boots. Notice the striking similarity to the standardized Ordnungspolizei tunic introduced in 1936. No doubt Himmler's stint as head of the Bavarian Secret Police had an effect on his uniform selection for the ORPO.

George

"You can't please everyone, so you've got to please yourself." Ricky Nelson


Posts: 2456 | Registered: 25 October 2003