Mobility, vigilance, justice : the U.S. Constabulary and law and order operations in occupied Germany, 1945-1947

Abstract

This thesis deals with the role of the United States Constabulary in Occupied Germany with regard to law and order operations from V-E Day to the end of 1947, when the Constabulary began reverting to a combat role and its law enforcement duties fell upon the reconstituted German civil police forces. As a security arm with authority over both civilian and soldier alike, the Constabulary contributed significantly in bringing order to Germany, but sometimes at the cost of individual rights and human dignity. Chapter One examines the ways in which historians have viewed the Occupation and the Constabulary. Chapter Two delves into the organization's establishment, while Chapter Three brings into light the unit's leadership and training aspects. Chapter Four views police jurisdiction, while Five deals with Constabulary methods of enforcing Military Government laws.