May the schwartz be with you: New Bavarian police ‘force’ gear draws smiles

Bavaria police have received some brand new protective gear that officers will don while managing high-threat security crisis. The uniforms however - particularly the oddly-shaped helmets – have drawn some sarcastic remarks.

The new gear was unveiled this week in Munich by Joachim Herrmann, Germany’s interior minister. The Class-4 protection suits featuring an overcoat with ceramic composite plates and a titanium helmet can stop high-caliber bullets fired by an assault rifle.

The design of the helmet is apparently meant to fend off blows targeting the head to padded shoulder pieces, but many Germans noticed that it also made its wearer look like a certain movie villain. Darth Vader from Star Wars, according to some – or his comic counterpart Dark Helmet from the 1987 film Spaceballs, according to others.