Evening star., 1946-05-12
|Pre-V-E Day Plan to Police Reich
Developed inU S. ConstobuIQry

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are being made for their stay at
Bamberg, Bayreuth. Freising, Kas-
sci, Munich and elsewhere.
Training School Organized.
The training school for. the con-
stabulary has been set up at Son.
thofen where hundreds of officers
and enlisted men are being gradu-
ated to serve as instructors through
out the force.
Individual units have their own
specialties. While all men will re-
ceive rudimentary training in mill
tary police duties, other units will
specialize on problems of border
patroling, search and seizure opera
tions and military patrols. Of1cials
said the constabulary will work in
close cooperation with the Counter
Intelligence Corps, the Criminal In
vetsigating Division and the Ger
man civil police, as we'll as with Or
dinary military police.
While most of the men now filling
its ranks are coming from recent
arrivals in Europe, the Constabulary
is building on the foundations OF
many Of the famous units that took
part in the defeat of Germany
Headquarters in Bamberg, for ex-
ample, is based largely on the 9Th
Corps which campaigned in Italy
France, Germany and Austria. Also
included are majority OF the COM
bat units of the 4th Armored Divi-
sion, and the I'd, 4th, 9Th, 11th, 14th
and 18th Mechanized Calvary groups
The famous 1st Armored Division
which cracked the German lines in
North Africa and rolled through the
European invasion, also is contribut-
ing units. The LIST and 18th Tank
Battalions Of the Constabulary are
former Army cavalry regiments.
A supporting aviation arm, func-
tioning under orders of the Con-
stabulary commander, will provide
the force with 140 planes.
To Use New Guns.
The equipment of a ground regi-
ment, as revealed by the War De-
partment for the first time yester-
day, will include 18 of the latest
recoilless field artillery pieces of the
type used so effectively in the island
operations of the Pacific. New and
advanced types of these guns are
being provided for the Constabulary
from the United States.
Each regiment also will have II
light tanks and 435 jeeps. In addi-
ton to the headquarters troops
service and tank troops, a regiment
will have three mechanical squad
rons or battalions. The pattern OF
the Constabulary regiment is one OF
high mobility and firepower.
To help bolster morale, the men
are being provided with smart and
distinctive uniforms. These are
harder to obtain, right now, than
combat equipment but progress Is
being made in outfitting the Con.
stabulary.
To Use Distinctive Uniform.
Smooth-faced leather boots which
will hold shine" are replacing the
rough footwear of the GIs. Fol
duty wear, the blouse will be serge
olive drab with trousers to match
Each man will wear Sam Brown
I belt on duty with leather maya
zine and flrst-aid pouches, a pistol
or gun slung across his shoulder. A
yellow scarf will be worn about his
neck. A shiny helmet, possibly
painted distinctive color and bear
ing the units insignia has been de-
signed for duty wear.
Gen. Harmon is reported to have
designed the special insignia for the
Constabulary and this was approved
recently by the War Department
1t combines the colors of the ARM
ored, Infantry and Cavalry services.
The insignia patch is circular with a
blue perimeter, blue &C" on q yell
low background, with a red lightning
"blitz" cutting the &C" in the center.
This lightning bolt symbolizes the
striking power of the force.
Troops eventually slated for duty
with the Constabulary to bring 1t
up to its full strength, it was said
either will be volunteers or men
especially screened at REINFORCE
ment depots. They will be chosen
for high physical and mental stand
ards because of the peculiar and
technical duties called upon to
perform as conStabularymen