Peterwagen

While there are no statistics on the number of Hamburg cops named Peter, officers' cars have long been known as "Peterwagen" because of one impatient British soldier. While under British administration in 1946, Hamburg's police force was to be equipped with new radio patrol cars. A German clerk tried to explain the situation to the British officer responsible for approving the vehicles: "Patrol cars, sir!" But the heavy Hamburg accent made the word incomprehensible to the Brit and he asked the clerk to spell it. "P, like Peter...," began the German. After the first letter, the officer had heard enough and quickly said, "Oh, I know, Peterwagen!" And ever since, Hamburg patrol cars have been known as Peterwagen.