The Police Shako for Officers of the Protection Police of the Third Reich represents a significant testimony to German police history between 1933 and 1945. This elegant headgear embodies the comprehensive reorganization and militarization of German police forces under National Socialist rule.
After the seizure of power in 1933, the German police were gradually centralized and subordinated to the influence of the SS. In 1936, Heinrich Himmler was appointed Chief of German Police, which accelerated the standardization of police uniforms and equipment. The Schutzpolizei (Protection Police or Schupo) formed the uniformed branch of the Order Police and was responsible for general public safety.
The shako described here, dating from around 1939, follows the uniform regulations that prescribed a clear distinction between enlisted men, non-commissioned officers, and officers. The officer's version was distinguished by higher-quality materials and more elaborate workmanship. The fiber shako consisted of a dimensionally stable fiber body covered with green cloth – green being the traditional color of police forces in many German states.
Characteristic of the officer's version were the aluminum scale chains attached to the front edge of the shako and serving as chin chains. These chains were significantly more elaborate than the simpler versions for enlisted ranks. The national eagle, the central emblem of the National Socialist state, was manufactured in officer quality from high-grade metal and showed the eagle with outstretched wings above the swastika.
The field insignia in aluminum thread represented the traditional police badge and was attached to the front of the shako. This cockade typically displayed the characteristic colors and symbols of the German police and served to identify the wearer's branch of service.
The interior of the shako was equipped with sweatband leather and light silk lining, which increased wearing comfort and emphasized the high-quality workmanship. The manufacturer Hans Römer from Neu-Ulm on the Danube was one of several specialized manufacturers of police and military headgear. The designation “Echt Fiber-Tschako” (Genuine Fiber Shako) indicated the use of authentic fiber material, which was characterized by dimensional stability and weather resistance.
The size designation 57 corresponds to the head circumference in centimeters and was a standardized measurement that simplified supply and issue. Shakos of this type were worn mainly on representative occasions, at parades, and on guard duty, while more practical headgear such as peaked caps were frequently used for patrol duty.
The Protection Police played an increasingly militarized role during the war. Police units were also deployed in occupied territories and were partially involved in war crimes. After 1939, the character of the police changed dramatically, and many policemen were recruited for military or paramilitary tasks.
From a collection-historical perspective, such shakos are today significant documents of uniform history. They document the craftsmanship quality of German uniform manufacturers as well as the iconographic and organizational structures of the Nazi state. The preservation with the original case indicates careful storage and increases the documentary value of the object.
Dealing with such objects requires historical sensitivity. They serve scientific research and the documentation of a dictatorial past that must never be glorified. These uniform pieces remind us of a system that was responsible for oppression, war, and mass murder on a scale of millions.
