The ranks and insignia of the Ordnungspolizei were developed in 1936 after the nationalisation of Germany's regular police forces.
Ordnungspolizei (Orpo) ranks were based on local police titles and were considered a separate system from the ranks of the SS. It was also possible for Orpo members to hold dual status in both the Orpo and the SS, meaning that two ranks could be held simultaneously. In the case of Orpo generals, equivalent SS rank was always held in which case the Orpo general would be addressed by their SS rank first, followed by their police titles (for example: SS-Obergruppenführer und General der Polizei). 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.
Orpo personnel who were also members of the Allgemeine SS were authorised to wear an embroidered SS Sigrunen patch on the breast pocket.
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 maritime police, and light grey for administrative police.[1]
| 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 |
| Shoulder insignia | Collar insignia | Orpo general rank | Translation | Equivalent SS rank | Equivalent U.S. Army rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master | None[3] | (Warrant officer) | |||
| Hauptwachtmeister | Chief watch master | Hauptscharführer | (Master sergeant) | ||
| Revieroberwachtmeister (Schupo)Bezirksoberwachtmeister (Gendarmerie)Zugwachtmeister (Kasernierte Polizei) | Precinct senior watch masterDistrict senior watch masterPlatoon 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) |
| Pay grade [5] | Annual Pay Reichsmark (RM)(basic pay without allowances) | Mannschaften (Enlisted)Unterführer (NCO)Revieroffiziere | Offiziere (Officers) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | .. | Anwärter | ||
| - | .. | Anwärter with more than 6 months service | ||
| - | .. | Unterwachtmeister | ||
| A8c5 | 1,536 | Rottwachtmeister | ||
| A8c4 | 1,920 | Wachtmeister | ||
| A8c3 | 2,040 | Oberwachtmeister | ||
| A8c2 | 2,340 | Revieroberwachtmeister | ||
| A8c1 | 2,370 | Hauptwachtmeister with less than 12 years service | ||
| A8a | 2,100 - 2,800 | Hauptwachtmeister with more than 12 years service | ||
| A7c | 2,000 - 3,000 | Hauptwachtmeister appointed before April 12, 1943 | ||
| A7a | 2,350 - 3,500 | Meister | ||
| A5b | 2,300 - 4,200 | Obermeister Revierleutnant | ||
| A4e | 2,800 - 4,600 | Leutnant | ||
| A4e | 2,800 - 4,600 | Oberleutnant | ||
| A4c2 | 2,800 - 5,000 | Inspektor Revieroberleutnant | ||
| A4c1 | 2,800 - 5,300 | Revierhauptmann | ||
| A3b | 4,800 - 6,900 | Hauptmann | ||
| A2c2 | 8,400 | Major | ||
| A2b | 9,700 | Oberstleutnant | ||
| A1a | 12,600 | Oberst | ||
| B7a | 16,000 | Generalmajor | ||
| B4 | 19,000 | Generalleutnant | ||
| B3a | 24,000 | General |
Mean annual pay for an industrial worker was 1,459 Reichsmarks in 1939, and for a privately employed white-collar worker 2,772 Reichsmarks.[6]