Schutzpolizei (Nazi Germany)
![Colors for the Schutzpolizei in Prussia 1933.](/Images/godic/202502/09/Fahne_Preußische_Schutzpolizei_1933.svg5020.png")
![Policeman in the characteristic shako of the Schutzpolizei.](/Images/godic/202502/09/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-C00772,_Berlin,_Polizist_bei_Kälte5020.jpg")
![Schutzpolizei in France 1940; marching.](/Images/godic/202502/09/Bundesarchiv_Bild_121-0397,_Frankreich,_marschierende_Schutzpolizei5020.jpg")
![Schutzpolizei in France 1940; eating.](/Images/godic/202502/09/Bundesarchiv_Bild_121-0464,_Lille,_Essensausgabe_an_Polizisten5020.jpg")
The Schutzpolizei des Reiches was the State (Reich) protection police of Nazi Germany, a branch of the Ordnungspolizei. Schutzpolizei is the German name for a uniformed police force.
The Schutzpolizei des Reiches was the uniformed police of most cities and large towns. State police departments were in charge of protection police, criminal investigation divisions (Kripo, short for Kriminalpolizei), and administrative police. The State protection police comprised patrol branch, barracked police, traffic police, water police, mounted police, police communications units, and police aviation. Policemen had to have previous military service, good physical and mental health, be of Aryan descent, and be members of the Nazi Party. Police Officers had in addition to be members of the SS. Policemen were promoted according to a regulated career system. Promotion for officers was determined by merit and seniority. Pay for policemen was higher than the average industrial worker and was more in line with the average privately employed white-collar worker.