Talk:Alfred Wünnenberg

Successor to Himmler?
One source (with a cite) added many moons ago by another claims that Hitler in his last will and testament stated that Wünnenberg (who had taken over the Orpo from Daluege after a heart attack) was to be appointed Chief of the German Police. First off, the source cited is a website "Small Biography" and secondly, every other source I have ever seen has stated that Karl Hanke was appointed both the last Reichsführer-SS and Chief of the German Police. I added a footnote stating such and could cite many books to support it. I think that cited entry as to Wünnenberg's so-called appointment is wrong and really should be removed. I will do it unless someone has a valid complaint. Kierzek (talk) 14:53, 3 February 2010 (UTC)
 * I removed the incorrect info. someone had obtained from the website "Small Biography" and my footnote I had added as to the above, as it is no longer needed. Kierzek (talk) 01:39, 5 February 2010 (UTC)

Photo
The photo caption states: "Alfred Wünnenberg as SS-Obergruppenführer". Unless I am very much mistaken, Wunnenberg appears to be wearing an army, and not SS, uniform. Can someone explain? 99.241.76.133 (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 00:28, 17 May 2013 (UTC)

No Hoheitszeichen/Wehrmachtsadler over the right chest pocket -> not Wehrmacht; Generalskragenspiegel/general's collar patch -> not (Waffen-)SS; On the photo he is wearing a general's uniform of the Ordnungspolizei. See the article Ranks and insignia of the Ordnungspolizei.

SS-rank
Wünnenberg was a Police officer (Ordnungspolizei), in 1939 he applied for SS-membership. Maybe he was only an opportunist. But by this step his promotions in the Ordnungspolizei started and he knew it. All knew it. After the war they claimed that their membership was automatically applied, that they became SS-officers without individually signing up for SS-membership. Most of them could start new careers in the police after the war. Despite his high rank and chef of Ordnungspolizei in the last two years of war Wünneberg was in prison for only a short time. --Aschland (talk) 12:14, 23 January 2016 (UTC) "Contrary to the postwar assertions of some policemen that SS-rank parity was established for all members of the police, SS rank was given only to policemen AFTER their voluntary application for and acceptance of the SS rank." (Edward B. Westermann, Hitler`s Police Battalions, Enforcing Racial War in the East, University Press Kansas, 2005, p. 99/p.267, n. 34) --Aschland (talk) 11:04, 14 February 2016 (UTC)