Immediate Post-WW1 German Police

[k bandow]

I got in this great photo yesterday, likely taken in the years immediately following WW1. MP18s, stacks of M1918 Stahlhelms, Tschakos, crash helmets, flare pistols, and flashlights can be seen. I wish I could have seen it with my own eyes!

 

[SCHUPO]

This is a great photo. The fellow holding the clipboard appears to be a Justiz (Prison Police) NCO. From his collar tabs I suspect this is his armory. Justizverwaltung Police wore this style of tunic with concealed buttons on the front with distinctive insignia. They were responsible for prisoner control so such an armory in a prison environment is likely. Weapon-wise the MP were certainly used by them and what appear to be flare pistols are likely nearly identical tear gas guns.

Here are a couple of uniforms from the Prison Police.