BACKGROUND: On June 17TH 1936, Reichsführer-SS Heinrich Himmler was appointed to the newly created position of Chef der Deutschen Polizei im Reichsministerium des Innern, (Chief of the German Police in the National Ministry of the Interior), effectively giving him full control of all police agencies within Germany. As a result of this appointment and the restructuring of all the separate German state police into a single national police force new regulations were instituted on June 25TH 1936 to bring about uniformity in dress for all police through-out the country. One of the new uniform regulations replaced the previously worn blue uniforms with a new style police green uniform that was utilized, with minor modifications, until the end of the war. The police were divided into eight assorted branches of service and during the restructuring the different police agencies were assigned specific identifying "truppenfarbe" (Troop {Branch of Service} Colors), with green truppenfarbe being allocated to the Schutzpolizei des Reiches, (National Protection Police).

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Police green greatcoat as introduced in July 1936 for the newly unified German State Police, to replace the previously worn navy blue uniforms. Police green, cotton twill construction, double breasted style greatcoat. Greatcoat features two vertical, parallel rows of six silver washed, pebbled, alloy, buttons with corresponding button holes only on the left front panel, and single button hole on the right front panel. Single metal hook and eye closure at neck with a small protective fabric tab. Two diagonally angled slash pockets with rounded forward edge flaps at front waistband. French cuffs. Horizontal half waist belt with dual button closure to reverse waistband. Vertical tail skirt center vent from just below waist to coat bottom with three button closure. Lay down collar of chocolate brown wool. Collar has a closure strap with dual buttons and button holes under left hand side with corresponding button under right hand side. Shoulder board loops and buttons intact. Slip on shoulder boards of double silver/aluminum outer braid with evenly spaced "V"s in brown around combined overlapped dual braids in silver/aluminum and brown on an green rayon truppenfarbe base. Interior fully lined in grey wool. Lining has a horizontal slash pocket to left breast and a diagonally angled slash to reverse of left hip pocket for dagger/sword hangers. All original buttons and stitching. Greatcoat in excellent condition. Roughly size 36" chest. Nice!