The ranks and insignia of the Ordnungspolizei were developed in 1936 after the nationalisation of Germany's regular police forces.
The ranks and insignia of the Ordnungspolizei were developed in 1936 after the nationalisation of Germany's regular police forces.
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. [1]
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 maritime police, and light grey for administrative police. [2]
| Shoulder insignia | Collar insignia(1936–42) | Collar insignia(1942–45) | 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.
| 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 |
| Shoulder insignia | Collar insignia | Orpo general rank | Translation | Equivalent SS rank | Equivalent U.S. Army rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Meister | Master | None [4] | (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) |
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 aftr 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. [6] [7]
| Pay grade [8] | Annual Pay Reichsmark (RM) (basic pay without allowances) [8] | Mannschaften (Enlisted) Unterführer (NCO) Revieroffiziere | Offiziere (Officers) |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | .. | Anwärter | |
| - | .. | Anwärterwith more than 6 months service | |
| - | .. | Unterwachtmeister | |
| A8c5 | 1,536 | Rottwachtmeister | |
| A8c4 | 1,920 | Wachtmeister | |
| A8c3 | 2,040 | Oberwachtmeister | |
| A8c2 | 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 | Revierhauptmann | |
| A3b | 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. [9]