Ranks and insignia of the Ordnungspolizei

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 water traffic police, and light grey for administrative police.^[2]

General officers

More information Shoulder insignia, Collar insignia(1936–42) ...

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

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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.

Field and junior officers

More information Shoulder insignia, Collar insignia ...

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

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Enlisted, NCOs, and senior NCOs

The background was black for the Sicherheitsdienst (who wore the SS uniform but with the police rank insignia), dark brown for regular police units, and ginger brown for the Feldgendarmerie.

The collar, sleeve cuffs, cap band and piping (both officers and NCO ranks) were dark brown for regular police units and ginger brown for the Feldgendarmerie.

More information Shoulder insignia, Collar insignia ...

Shoulder insignia	Collar insignia	Orpo general rank	Translation	Equivalent SS rank	Equivalent U.S. Army rank
		Meister	Master	None[3]	(Warrant officer)
		Hauptwachtmeister	Chief watch master	Hauptscharführer	(Master sergeant)
		Revieroberwachtmeister (Schupo) Bezirksoberwachtmeister (Gendarmerie) Zugwachtmeister (Kasernierte Polizei)	Precinct senior watch master District senior watch master Platoon 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)

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• Source:^[4][5]

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 after 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]

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]