“May the Schwartz be With You”: New Darth Vader Helmets Make Cops Look Like Cast of ‘Spaceballs’

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.

OMG! In Bayern wird die Polizei zur Darth Vader Armee umgebaut https://t.co/h9I8VITzhc #polizei #bayern #darthvader pic.twitter.com/LAJaeFN2Hn

— Nadine Schildhauer (@N_Flux) November 25, 2015

Translation: “OMG! In Bavaria, the police will be rebuilt to Darth Vader army.”  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.

Okay. Es dauert wirklich nicht mehr lange bis zum neuen #StarWars Film. Das ist der neue Helm der Polizei in Bayern. pic.twitter.com/miKENtIKvS — Ralf Podszus (@RalfPodszus) November 25, 2015

Translation: “OK. It really will not be long until the new #StarWars film . This is the new helmet of police in Bavaria.”

Bayern Polizei VS. Lord Helmchen… Bavaria Police VS. Dark Helmet (Spaceballs)….lol https://t.co/q71wYfulUa pic.twitter.com/MVsRj2FxJ8

— TiLMENDOMiNATiON (@TiLMEN) November 25, 2015

Die Bayern! Praktisch wie immer #Polizei #Helm #darthvader #Polizeihelm #Bayern https://t.co/HOgjyCzsEn /stb pic.twitter.com/3QiIv0aAk9

— stern (@sternde) November 25, 2015

Translation: “The new Police Helmet, practical as it gets!”