Re: STAATSPOLIZEI

DAWGFACE47@webtv.net schrieb:
> 
> KARL, the recent horror i ERFURT, 

Yeah, quite ugly, isn't it.

> kicked a couple of things up to y forebrain and i have some 
questions i hope > you can answer for me 
> 
> when i was in germany in the 60s, i remember seeing  
> german policemen in some cities wearing dark blue uniforms and
flat-topped 
> leather helmets as well as leather gear.
> 
> but, in other places, (around  HANAU, MAINZ, and the city 
> across the river,  FRANKFURT, etc, i remember seeing	almost kelly 
> green police VWs and VW buses, and policemen wearing white caps , tan

> shirts, and  almost kelly green uniforms (well a bright green but not
that 
> bright!). 
> 
> anyway, i kep thinking these latter  police were called 
> STAATZ POLITZEI and were the same as our (USA) state police, ie, non

> federal and non country or municipal law enforcement.  

In Germany, basically all police are under control of the Länder
(States). There are no communal/municipal police forces, though cities
may employ security firms. The Federal government controls the
"Bundesgrenzschutz" (Border Police) which nowadays also has a fair
amount of inland duties (e.g.patrolling railroads, protecting federal
buildings etc.) and can support the state police if neccessary
 
> i just cannt remember now who was who and what the 
> difference s were. 

Until the late 1960's / early 1970s the various state police men wore
different uniforms. I know Hamburg had blue uniforms with flat-topped
caps, Berlin had leather helmets (called "tschakos"), other states had
green uniforms. At some time it was decided that all should wear the
same uniform so as to be less confusing. 

It now is a flat cap, green jacket, light sand shirt, dark sand
trousers. Black leather jackets may be worn in cold weather. The
various state police differ in minor details like the insignia.

Motorcycle patrols, SWAT teams, police on riot duty etc. have their
special gear, usually in bright green, usually with white trim. POLIZEI
written on the back (note the spelling)

Cars are green and white, utility vehicles (buses etc.) just green. A
short time ago, they have started to switch to green/silver schemes -
apparently it's easier to sell used cars that way.

Hope this helps