Thanks guys. I just found out that it is a police Luger. It has a sear safety. So I would guess that Patrick's guess would be the closest. I was really hoping that it was a military marking but does'nt look to be.
Your disappointment is my interest! This will make a unique entry in my database of police unit marks. May I have some more information on the gun: toggle logo, chamber date(s), s/n & suffix, interesting proofs, etc.?
Patrick, Would these be traffic directors, who would stand in an intersection? Or would they be patroling traffic, as in a police car? Also were they Landjägerei, Schutzpolizei or a separate unit?
Ron
the Landjäger were rural local police. The Verkehrspolizei direct and control road traffic. They´d stand at a road crossing, direct traffic and also patrol.
Patrick, Thanks for the information. I'm really not into police lugers that much, but this one has me hooked. I'm trying to negotiate a deal with the seller. If I can get it,I will post some photos.
There is some consternation regarding the V.P.S. meaning Verkehrspolizei. The only relation to this are Lugers marked P.T.V. There must be some other explanation. I have checked every referrence that I can find, to no avail. I have received the Luger. Photos and discription have been posted in this section.
There is some consternation regarding the V.P.S. meaning Verkehrspolizei. The only relation to this are Lugers marked P.T.V. There must be some other explanation. I have checked every referrence that I can find, to no avail. I have received the Luger. Photos and discription have been posted in this section.
Ron,
here is my explanation. There were no "Traffic Cops" in the early 20's in Saxony or any other state(no Autobahn and no VW's, only dung-waggons).
But "technical" centurias (Hundertschaften) were formed for the motor pools. The motor pool of the Landes-Polizei Sachsen was located in Dresden and serviced by one Hundertschaft.
Incidentally, every reported Sax. unit mark so far started out with "S.P." or "S.L." and not with "P.S."
A Hundertschaft in the state of Wuerttemberg was called "Polizei-Schar" and had a strenght of 120-180 officers and men. One "Polizei-Verkehrs-Kraftwagen-Schar" and one Pol.Sd.Wg.(Pz.Kw.)Schar (Police- Armored-Vehicle-Centuria), were stationed in the district of Stuttgart.
IMO, "V.P.S." stands for Verkehrs(Kraftwagen)-Polizei-Schar of Wuerttemberg.
Source : Die kasernierte Polizei 1920-1932 in Feldgrau
Note. I could come up with several Weimar or Imperial IDs but don't wanna elaborate w/o docs.
Klaus my friend. Thank you very much. This is great! Again I owe you. If I can ever repay you, or do you any favor at all. Please do not hesitate to ask.
Klaus my friend. Thank you very much. This is great! Again I owe you. If I can ever repay you, or do you any favor at all. Please do not hesitate to ask.
Klaus, What duties did they perform? Were they drivers, mechanics, or mechanized units, etc.? I have been trying to research, but am limited on my resources.
Klaus and all, I just received a copy of German Police Vol.I by Angolia and Taylor. A very interesting book. With a large amount of information on the Weimar and Third Reich Police units, formation and organization. While scanning through it I found a reference to the V.P.S.
In case War time mobilization was required. A special unit was set up. The "verstärkte Polizeischutz or V.P.S." was to be activated to be used to guard and defend installations, munitions factories, supplies, and industries essential to the war effort. They would also be used as an evacuation and rescue service. "They would become part of the local guard formations". Kind of their version of Homeland Security.
Don Maus mentioned the book in a previous post, so I ordered it. Don has informed me that he has found a few minor errors,in his opinion, but it seems to be accurate for the most part.
Ron,
is there any documentation listed in the reference to the "verstaerkter Polizeischutz" and could you elaborate on some data e.g. date of formation, strenght, formed from what personnel (SA,SS)etc.
It states that,As of 16/17 January 1937 "An agreement was reached between the Reich War Minister and the Reichminister of the Interior aimed at guaranteeing the efficiency of the police in time of war. In effect, the police could only draw on a limited pool of manpower for replacements,as all others were subject to call-up by the army: untrained men over 30 years of age, and trained men over 43." [This was printed previous to the excerpt in my post above]
A referrence footnote #291: "Manpower Study" describes the V.P.S. as "Reinforced Police Control Service" defining it as the peacetime Order Police plus reinforcements. The V.P.S. is referred to by Kopitzsch,op.cit.,who states it was also called simply "Police Reserve" (Polizeireserve): the Wehrmacht had at their disposal for such Reserve those born between 1901 and 1909 and it was raised with a strength of 91,500. V.P.S. would more literally be translated to "Reinforced Police Protection".
This is pretty much the extent of the article. Does it sound plausable?
It states that,As of 16/17 January 1937 "An agreement was reached between the Reich War Minister and the Reichminister of the Interior aimed at guaranteeing the efficiency of the police in time of war. In effect, the police could only draw on a limited pool of manpower for replacements,as all others were subject to call-up by the army: untrained men over 30 years of age, and trained men over 43." [This was printed previous to the excerpt in my post above]
A referrence footnote #291: "Manpower Study" describes the V.P.S. as "Reinforced Police Control Service" defining it as the peacetime Order Police plus reinforcements. The V.P.S. is referred to by Kopitzsch,op.cit.,who states it was also called simply "Police Reserve" (Polizeireserve): the Wehrmacht had at their disposal for such Reserve those born between 1901 and 1909 and it was raised with a strength of 91,500. V.P.S. would more literally be translated to "Reinforced Police Protection".
This is pretty much the extent of the article. Does it sound plausable?
Damn Klaus!! It looks like we'll have to make that a six pack of "Hefeweize" doesn't it. Or how about a keg and a straw!?
Thanks! Ron
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