Deutsche Hilsfeldgendarmerie Armband

[Arminius]

Who would have worn this type of armband.
Would it have been civilians or Hiwis helping out the Germans ?.

[danhashman]

i read some time ago that in 1941 -42, local Tschetniks ( diverse serbian anticommunist Milicia- units) helped out as HILFSGENDARMERIE for the german Occupation-forces in central serbia.

Or the paramilitary fascist "Brigate nere " in italy also served as Hilfsgendarmerie around 1943..

That could give a clue of what kind of people the Hilfsgenarmerie could be - anyone loyal to the deutsche Besatzungsmacht, useful as they could communicate and understand better the local customs - as they were locals themselves..