Schutzpolizei (Nazi Germany)
The was the State (Reich) protection police of Nazi Germany, a branch of the . is the German name for a uniformed police force. The was the uniformed police of most cities and large towns. State police departments were in charge of protection police, criminal investigation divisions (, short for ), and administrative police. The state protection police comprised a patrol branch, barracked police, traffic police, water police, mounted police, police communications units, and police aviation. Policemen had to have previous military service, good physical and mental health, be of Aryan descent, be members of the Nazi Party and also  members of the SS. Policemen were promoted according to a regulated career system. Promotion for officers was determined by merit and seniority. Pay for policemen was higher than the average industrial worker and was more in line with the average privately employed white-collar worker. State police departments. State police departments ("Staatliche Polizeiverwaltungen") were local and Kreis police administrations in charge of protection police, criminal investigation divisions "(Kriminalabteilungen)", and administrative police. Source: Branches. In each state police department, a state protection police command called "Kommando der Schutzpolizei" was under a "Kommandeuer der Schutzpolizei" as chief of the local protection police . Patrol branch. Under the protection police command was a territorial police organization for the patrol branch ("Einzeldienst"). Moreover, the organizational structure was made up by the following sections: Source: Barracked police. The barracked police, "Kasernierte Polizei", was a predecessor of today's German "Bereitschaftspolizei". It was normally organized in company-sized units ("Hundertschaften") in larger cities. During the war, the barracked police formed the core for the police battalions serving in the occupied countries and in the German army rear. Large protection police command had motorized SWAT-teams ("Motorisierte Uberfallkommandos") equipped with armored cars. During the war they served in  Western Europe, suppressing anti-German demonstrations, and in Slovenia keeping the alpine roads open and combating local resistance. During the war, police guard battalions ("Polizei-Wachbataillone") were established, consisting of conscripted personnel in their fifties who were too old to be called up to the Wehrmacht. Each battalion consisted of 350-500 men, and each military district ("Wehrkreis") had 3-4 guards battalions. They were armed with rifles and a few light machine guns. The main task of the guards battalions were maintaining order and control traffic in connection with civil defense efforts in places that were subjected to Allied  bombings. Traffic police. Fifty-one specific traffic police units ("Motorisierte Verkehrsbereitschaften") were formed in 1937 for traffic control in the larger cities. Nazi Germany's enlargement led to more such units being added in the incorporated areas. Traffic police were equipped with patrol cars, patrol motorcycles, and command vehicles. In cities with over 200,000 inhabitants there were also specific traffic accident units ("Verkehrsunfallbereitschaften") equipped with special vehicles for traffic accidents. In 1941 a "Motorisierte Verkehrskompanie zbV" was established, to ensure that wartime traffic regulations were complied with, i.e. rules concerning driving permits, gasoline rationing, and so forth. Its five platoons  operated over the entire country. Water police. "Wasserschutzpolizei", the Water police, was an organization similar to today's "Wasserschutzpolizei". It was in charge of coastal and internal waterways as well as harbor policing. It was established from the "Reichswasserschutz", and absorbed the maritime police ("Schiffahrtspolizei") and harbor police in 1937. Mounted police. The mounted police was either a specific unit, or part of a larger unit that also contained foot patrols. The basic units were the "Polizei-Reiterstaffeln" (mounted troops). Berlin, Königsberg, Stettin, Breslau, and Gleiwitz had in 1938 larger specific mounted police units, each of three mounted troops. In  other cities the mounted troops formed part of combined units. During the war police cavalry regiments and battalions existed as part of the Police Battalions serving in the occupied countries. Police communications. "Polizei-Nachrichtenstaffeln" (police signal squads) was the local component of the police communications service. Radio as well as telephone and telex on its own secure lines separate from the general public were used. Mobile radio stations along the highways and in larger cities belonged to special "Nachrichtenbereitschaften" (signal companies). During the war police signal companies formed part of the Police Battalions serving in the occupied countries. Police aviation . Police aviation existed in Germany since World War I. The police aviation performed border patrols, conducted surveillance of highways and sea routes, conducted forest fire flights, courier flights and was used for communications. In 1940 there was a police aviation unit, the "Polizeifliegerabteilung", with nine aircraft; most of which were stationed in Berlin or Poland. In 1942 it was transferred to the Luftwaffe, forming the "Fliegergruppe z.b.V. 7", although still operated by police aviators. Personnel. Employment and training. Policemen. To be accepted as a police trainee before the war, the following requirements had to be filled: The training was  given at special police training companies. Police officers. Police officers were mainly recruited from the "SS-Junkerschule"s at Bad Tölz, Braunschweig and Klagenfurt. Others had to fulfill the same basic requirements as the police trainees (see above), and in addition having taken the general university entrance exam ("Abitur") and having been accepted as "SS-Anwärter". Police officer training was conducted at the police officer schools in Berlin-Köpenick and Fürstenfeldbruck. Terms of employment. Promotion. Policemen were promoted according to a regulated career system. A "Wachtmeister" was promoted to "Oberwachtmeister" earliest after six years employment and to "Revieroberwachtmeister" after seven years . After twelve years tenure as "Hauptwachtmeister" was guaranteed. Selection for promotion to "Meister" could take place after 16 years. Some "Meisters" could be selected for promotion to "Revierleutnante", and "Revieroberleutnante". 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 were 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 existed in Dresden.