By Oliver Ohmann
What did a Berlin policeman wear on patrol in 1950? What did the uniforms of the first female police officers look like? How did uniforms differ in East and West? Andreas Skala can answer these and many other questions.
Although the 49-year-old retired from active police service in 2016, the policeman stayed with his colleagues as a police historian, collector and author.
“You have to be a little crazy,” says Skala about his huge police collection, which makes up large parts of his apartment.
The number one. With this hat from the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund 40 years ago, Skala’s passion for collecting began Photo: Stefanie Herbst
Now (with a lot of help from his wife Gudrun) a reference and historical work has emerged from it. In the book, Skala describes in words and pictures the uniforms of the Berlin police since 1945, including insignia of all kinds.
Original service cap worn by Gail Halvorsen, the Airlift “Candy Bomber” pilot. He also signed them Photo: Stefanie Herbst
The description begins right after the end of the war. “In fact, the existing uniforms were simply denazified and freed from swastikas and other emblems,” explains the author. In 1947 the first standardized uniform came out after the war in the western sectors, it was blue-grey and still had military epaulettes. The People’s Police were dark blue, with red ties.
Of course, the service caps of policewomen from Berlin, Germany and all over the world also belong to Skala’s collection Photo: Stefanie Herbst
Skala: “In 1961 the appearance changed. A very civilian uniform was introduced in the west, and since 1977 colleagues have worn the green-beige uniform designed by the well-known Berlin fashion designer Heinz Oestergaard.”
“The Uniforms and Personal Effects of the Berlin Police 1945-2021”, 268 pages, 49 euros, available from the publisher at orte-der-geschichte.de Photo: Stefanie Herbst
It even features a pith helmet worn by a traffic cop 60 years ago. Special clothing, such as motorcycle or rider helmets, is also taken into account in the book, as well as rank insignia, baseball caps and corona masks. “There are even fakes, because the collector community is large,” reveals Skala.
His book is anything but crazy – it’s the new standard work on the subject!
