Overview
The "Volkspolizei" (VP) is the police of Laywenrania. It was founded directly after the independence. It's task is to secure the inner security, to protect civilians from infringements and to solve crimes.
- Organisation
- Equipment
1. Organisation
Divisions
The Volkspolizei divides in the following divisions:
- Schutzpolizei, einschließlich Wasserschutzpolizei und Betriebsschutz (uniformed police, including water police and industrial safety)
- Verkehrspolizei (traffic police)
- Kriminalpolizei (Criminal Investigation Department)
- Transportpolizei (transport police)
- Pass- und Meldewesen (registration)
- VP-Bereitschaften und (VP-ready troops)
- Feuerwehr (fire brigade)
- PINGU (Polizeikommando für innere gefährliche Unternehmen/Special Police commando for dangerous tasks in the country)
Governor of the VP is the secretary of the interior. He leads the VP over the "Hauptverwaltung VP" (administrative centre). The middle instance are the territorial agencies ("Bezirksbehörden der VP", BVP), followed by the county agencies ("Volkspolizeikreisämter", VPKA).
Ranks
The officers of the Volkspolizei use the ranks of the Laywenranian Military with the addition "der VP" (of the VP).. All other ranks have the addition "der VP" (of the VP).
- Anwärter der VP (candidate)
- Unterwachtmeister
- Wachtmeister
- Oberwachtmeister
- Hauptwachtmeister
- Meister der VP
- Obermeister der VP
- Officers
The edging shows the according branch: Schutzpolizei – dark green, Bereitschaft – green, Transportpolizei – blue, Transportpolizei-Bereitschaft – light blue, Feuerwehr – red, Strafvollzug − grey.
Recruitment
Upon joining, a recruit takes a five-month course at the Police Academy (VP-Schule). The schedule containes police law, criminal law and procedures, and military-style fitness training. Afterwards the recruit completes a 6-month practical internship.
Upon joining, recruits have to carry out following oath of office:
„Ich schwöre, meinem sozialistischen Mutterland, der Volksrepublik Laywenrania und ihrer Regierung allzeit treu ergeben zu sein, Dienst- und Staatsgeheimnisse zu wahren und die Gesetze und Weisungen genau einzuhalten.
Ich werde unentwegt danach streben, gewissenhaft, ehrlich, mutig, diszipliniert und wachsam meine Dienstpflichten zu erfüllen.
Ich schwöre, daß ich, ohne meine Kräfte zu schonen, auch unter Einsatz meines Lebens, die sozialistische Gesellschafts-, Staats- und Rechtsordnung, das sozialistische Eigentum, die Persönlichkeit, die Rechte und das persönliche Eigentum der Bürger vor verbrecherischen Anschlägen schützen werde.
Sollte ich dennoch diesen meinen feierlichen Eid brechen, so möge mich die Strafe der Gesetze unserer Republik treffen.“
"I swear,
to be loyal to my socialist motherland, the Volksrepublik Laywenrania and its government at all times, to keep official and state secrets, and to strictly obey laws and instructions.
I will unswervingly strive to fulfill my official duties conscientiously, honestly, courageously, vigilantly and with discipline.
I swear,
that I will, without reservation, under risk of my life protect the socialist social, state and legal order, the socialist property, the personality, the rights and the personal property of the citizens against felonious attacks.
If I nevertheless break this, my solemn oath, I shall be confronted with the punishment of the laws of our republic."
2. Equipment
Uniform
There are various kinds of uniforms, worn according to the work or social situation and differing in material for summer or winter wear. Most uniforms — service, semi-dress, and parade — are gray-green but the transport police wears dark blue.
The basic categories of uniforms are service, semi-dress, and parade.
The service uniform (Dienstuniform) is a summer service uniform for officers with a bloused jacket, worn without a shirt, trousers, and a visored service cap. The winter service uniform features a jacket that has four large patch pockets with button-down tabs, worn with a black belt, the service cap, breeches, shirt, tie, belt, and high boots are provided for officers and NCOs. For winter, there also is a long, heavy, belted overcoat.
The semi-dress uniform (Ausgangsuniform), except in details, is the same for all ranks and is worn on off-duty or off-post occasions. It includes the service cap, jacket, long trousers, and black low-quarter shoes. The single-breasted jacket is worn without a belt, with a white or grey-green shirt and a green tie. Officers are allowed to wear the jacket with a white shirt. During periods of warm summer weather, either the shirt and tie or the jacket may be omitted.
The parade uniform (Paradeuniform) for officers is the semi-dress jacket worn with all awards and decorations, breeches and riding boots, service cap, white shirt, green neck-tie, and a ceremonial dagger on the left side, fastened to a silver-grey parade belt. Officers in guards of honour carry sabres. In winter, overcoat, scarf, and gloves are worn.
The type of work uniform (Arbeitsuniform) worn is governed by seasonal considerations and weather. Generally, reconditioned items of service clothing; field, semi-dress and winter padded uniforms; some dyed black, were issued for all types of fatigue and maintenance details. Coveralls are also used by the lower ranks, especially heavy vehicle and flying personnel. Officers in technical branches supervising fatigue details wear a laboratory-style smock.
Other types of Volkspolizei uniforms exist. Women have their own uniforms consisting of jackets, skirts or slacks, blouses, caps, boots or pumps, and other appropriate items in accordance with the season and the occasion. Traffic police, motorcyclists, armoured vehicle personnel, and others have special items of apparel.
from: http://www.ddr-geschichte.de/Politik/Staatsorgane/Polizei/polizei.html
From left to right: Female Unterleutnant (second lieutenant) der VP; Uniform/Summer Oberwachtmeister der VP (sergeant); Uniform/Summer Unterleutnant der VP, uniformed police; Uniform Oberwachtmeister der VP, uniformed police
Additionally, Officers on duty wear a Type IIIA bulletresistant vest under their uniform.
Officers of PINGU can wear, dependent on the mission special military-grade bulletresistant vests and helmets.
Weapons
Every officer has a personal weapon (Pistol DPi-3). The use of the firearm is the last resort to stop a person from fleeing (shooting in the legs, tires of cars, etc) or commiting a crime. If the officer or another person is in danger of his life or health, he is allowed to use deadly force if necessary.
If needed, the Police can use the KS P.
Other weapons include the submachine guns MPi SN and MPi PP, flash and stun grenades (mostly in use with PINGU) and a baton (common for officers on patrol and riot police).
Vehicles
The VP uses mainly the F401 and L60M. The lower half of the vehicles is painted green, the upper half white, on the sides and the front their is the emblem of the VP and the lettering "VOLKSPOLIZEI".
Old cars of the Volkspolizei on the Museum