This senior private of the divisional artillery shows the typical appearance of a Polizei Division soldier during the Westfeldzug. He wears the standard Army issue M100s field blouse with the Litzen collar patches of the Police, and red-piped artillery shoulder straps. Were it not for the SS eagle and swastika worn on the sleeve rather than the breast, he might pass as an Army soldier at first glance. Note that the use of the Police helmet decal in place of the SS version was common during this period.

This general officer wears an unusual mix of insignia. His regulation general’s service cap has a black velvet band and woven aluminum piping. The collar patches and shoulder straps are the regulation Waffen-SS pattern for this rank, but his sleeve eagle is of the Army rather than the distinctive SS type, in gold wire on green. He displays the buttonhole ribbon of the 1914 Iron Cross 2nd Class; on his pocket, the silver decoration showing award of the 1st Class during World War I, above the cross of a subsequent World War II award; the Knight’s Cross hangs at his throat. His privately purchased breeches carry non-regulation general officer’s Lampassen stripes in the pale grey of Waffen-SS general ranks.

Greece, 1943 The Polizei Division was issued with tan tropical uniforms during its spell of duty In the Balkans. The tunic is the Italian ‘Sahariana’ style with a frontal yoke forming the flaps for the breast pockets. The extent of the use of insignia varied, but full insignia are worn here, including the divisional cuffband. Note that the cap insignia, sleeve eagle and rank chevrons are made in tan thread on black, while the collar patches and shoulder straps are standard issue. The tropical field cap, unlike the Army version, has no false side flaps.

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Why Polizei Panzergrenadier Division? Beside the will to have an “own” division from the police several other reasons existed. For example to give young men from the police reserve pool the chance to distinguish themselves at the front and not fully registered by the Wehrmacht. Another bonus was that men not fit for frontline duty replaced these comrades in their police and administrative positions. The division needed more than just policemen. Of course units needed tailors, bakers, welders and engineers etc… Parts of these positions were done by policemen who had  learned this profession before coming to the police or non-police members. Not all members of the divisions were policemen. Officers, NCO´s and squad leaders were from the police and Waffen-SS, men were recruited from Wehrmacht and police reserves.

Many NCO´s were former Waffen-SS members transferred to the Orpo after years of military duty.

When Himmler was first bringing the Waffen-SS up to strength he faced a great of opposition from the army – they did not want a rival organization to take over their duties. Consequently, Himmler was forced to limit the number of Waffen-SS units he could field and to accept volunteers only while the army could conscript men into their ranks. Himmler, who was in charge of the police, was able to use this organization to work around the limitations put in place by the army. By drastically increasing the number of policemen in Germany, and training them as soldiers, Himmler could continue to build his own private empire. This is important when one considers that police men could not be conscripted for army service – thus, Himmler was able to conjure up the basis for another Waffen-SS regiment right under the army’s nose.

Polizeidivision was created in 1939 with:

- Officers, NCO and medical officers from Schupo officers were veterans from WW I, Wehrmacht reservists in 30′s and for younger officers orpo officers trained in SS Junkerschulen Tolz and Braunschweig.

Administrative officers and medical staff came from Waffen SS manpower came from policemen available for front service and police reserve; note: primary art regiment was Heeres artillerie regiment 300 under Oberst Borowski; the Ia was a former SS VT officer Staf Walter Kruger out of Police division numerous policemen were enlisted in Feldgendarmerie.

To consider the military value of Policemen I refer to the 2 books upon the military commander of the Waffen SS and the awards books upon RKT and DK in Gold on the other hand more than 100 former officers of Landespolizei which join Wehrmacht in 1935/36 reach to General rank and units commanders during WW II

In May 1943 the SS-Polizei  Panzergrenadier Division was sent to the Balkans, where elements took part in anti-partisan operations in northern Greece during the summer and autumn of that year. Troops from the division were recorded by witnesses from the Geheime Feld Polizei to have been involved in atrocities against civilians in the Klissura region during this period. The division remained in Greece until July/August 1944, before going back into the line to face the advancing Red Army.

The division joined other German units reinforcing the southern sector of the from around Belgrade, Yugoslavia. It once again suffered heavy losses, and by September 1944 was down to around half its strength.