"Ghetto Police Uniforms" Topic

In my pursuit of Harry Turtledove armies, I find he "Lizards" used the ghetto police, both Polish and Jewish as collaborators. I am only able to find bits and pieces of their uniform. Turtledove describes them as wearing long coat (overcoat I assume), a peaked cap (I have found two styles – foregion legion and standard military peaked cap) and a red-white-and-black arm band.

I wonder if anyone might have any information or details on the dress these police might have worn.

Thank you,

Terry

Google image search turned up the follwing:
link

This link has a colour still & description which may be of use:

link

Jason, Your suggestion turned out excellent! I am getting the movie from Netflix, but in he mean time, went to YouTube and watched a few clips from the movie and think I saw not only the Jewish Ghetto Police, but also the Polish Ghetto Police as well. Just excellent and exactly what I was looking for.

I've always had a hard time with the subject, and have talked to several 101st airborne veterans who shared stores to keep you awake at night, but I plan to watch this one.

And I like to be as accurate as possible with an army and those two forces were very active allies of "The Race" (lizards) in Harry Turtledove's WorldWar series, so they will provide a nice element that fills in a needed slot for me.

Thanks again,

Terry

I am sorry I do not recall who posted to my deleted (???) thread asking about the Osprey Polish book, but I thank you for recommending the movie "The Pianist". I just watched it and it is first off a good movie, but sobering how cruel we humans can be, but more for my need, it gave good images of the Jewish Ghetto Police and I also believe the Polish "Blue" Police. For that I thank you very much and I am now ready to proceed with doing an element of them.

Terry

…those two forces were very active allies of "The Race" (lizards) in Harry Turtledove's WorldWar series,

Turtledove was writing a novel, and you're running a game, for fun. So I won't get too heavy with either of you.

But I will say, from my readings about the ghettos, that many of the Ghetto Police and other functionaries of the Judenraette did what they could to mitigate the impact of Nazi orders on their constituents. Some showed a bizarre true devotion to their oppressors and some were utterly without scruples, but many others hid resistance activity behind an obedient mask.

You may wish to help your players understand that, although their position was, in the end, hopeless, not all of the Ghetto Police were reptiles.

Zippy, I fully understand what you are saying, and cannot, nor even try to justify any of the truth and realty. As you said, I am playing a game. Even that said, I am not able to bring myself to field the Jewish Ghetto Police as it still sticks in my throat. I am going to field an element of Polish Police, who wore the same uniform they did before the wore, only without insignia. Their uniform was a blue overcoat, black boots and belt and a blue Garrison hat, which is what I will be doing. They were called the "Blue Police" because of their uniform. I will be using Peter Pig Russian officers with clubs replacing pistols and the pistol holster removed from their belts.

One thing I read in my research for uniforms was that many of the Jewish Police chose to pursue that path in hopes of survival for themselves, but in the end, once their need was gone they suffered the same fate as those they sent to the camps.

I do appreciate your concern, and value your thoughts. I knew this was a very delicate subject when I posted it, and hope my position is well understood. My intent is NEVER to offend or upset anyone, and I sincerely apologize if this thread has. I am grateful for the uniform information and have learned more of that awful episode of mankind.

Bottom line, my element will be regular Polish Police, and only because they sided with the Lizards, and are specifically stated in the text. The Jewish police are also, but I prefer not to do them.

Terry

Thanks for that Terry, and I don't mean to rake you over the coals, really. You should be able to play a darn game of toy soldiers without anyone throwing a hissy-fit about it. But if you can find room for some nuances in your game…

Although I am not as well read on the subject, I would bet that many of the Blue Police were also hapless human beings caught up in awful events. I hate to see the old neighbors demonized.

If you want to know more, I recommend Timothy Snyder's recent book Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin:

link

The Jewish Holocaust is only part of a truly awful story that should be better known, as a warning to all of us.

Hi Zippy,

No worry at all. I actually appreciated your input. For years I collected WWII Airborne so got to know many 101st and 82nd veterans. I have had them tell me about their experiences and some shared theirs with the camps and that is more than I can handle. So I doubt I will want to read anymore about it as that kind of thing really does bother me. I am glad I watched "The Pianist" though as it combined with what Turtledove shares in his books helped me have a deeper and better understanding of the Ghettos. But I have not seen any of the other holocaust movies and prefer not to as I don't need to see it to remember or understand them. But thank you for the suggested book.

I am enjoying Turtledove's works and plan to also read his series on the Americans in WWI when there are both a USA and a CSA which end up fighting each other. Again, some possible opportunities for some fun armies.

Again, my sincere thanks for your input.

Terry