History

During the Third Reich, an effort was made to unite all of Germany’s disparate provincial police forces and agencies into a single cohesive national unit. To attain this goal, Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler was named Chief of the German Police in the Ministry of the Interior in June 1936. That same month, Himmler implemented new standardized uniforms, headgear, and insignia. The uniforms worn prior to Himmler’s appointment were often navy blue, particularly in what had been Prussia. The new uniforms were green, in a shade that was then dubbed “Police green”.

The German Police were divided into two main units, the Ordnungspolizei (Orps or Regular Police) and the Sicherheitspolizei (Secret Police); the Ordnungspolizei were unofficially called the green police (Grüne Polizei) as a result of their uniform colour. The Sicherheitspolizei were made up of two main organizations, the Gestapo and the Kriminalpolizei (Criminal Investigation Police). At the beginning of the Second World War, the Sicherheitspolizei were brought under the auspices of the Reich Main Security Office.

The Southern Cross sleeve insignia was worn by certain police units that had kept the traditions of the security troops (Schutztruppen) serving in the German colonies in Africa. It was worn on the lower left sleeve.

The insignia was introduced on November 8, 1938. It is shield-shaped and features a white shield split into four sections, with the top left one (as viewed) in red with five white stars, symbolising the Southern Cross constellation. The insignia is on a police-green cloth backing. (Reproductions on a field-grey or white cloth backing are known to exist.)