Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-07-31
How Military Government Functions in Germany
u. S. Aims to Revive Democracy
In Occupation Zone of Reich
Fourth OF a Series.)
By Herbert F. Corn
Monosins Editor Of The Sto,

Managing Ed
| BERLIN.-For occupational adj
ministrative purposes Germany is
divided into four zones, occupied by
Soviet. British, French and Amer
lean troops. The American zone
has been subdivided into three
states, or Laender-Greater Hesse,
Wurttemberg- Baden and Bavaria
In addition the Americans partici-
pate in the quadripartite control
of Berlin and assist the British in
the administration of the Bremen
enclave through which our supplies
flow
The four powers sit in Berlin on
the Allied Control Council which
co-ordinates, supervises and insures
execution of occupational policies
as determined by the four govern
ments. The American member of
the council is Gen. Joseph T. Nc
Narney. Military Governor of the
United States zone. 1t. Gen. Lucius
D. Clay is his deputy.
Within week after the PotSdam
declaration work was begun in the
American zone to revive democratic
institutions and free elections. Our
organization is set up to parallel
German political units-townships
(Gemeinde), district or county
(Regierungsbezirk or Kreis), and
state Iand). At each level of gov
eminent is a Military Government
detachment operating through nom
Nazi German officials.
In the beginning all Military
! Government orders were given to
( the burgomeisters (mayors), by local
Military Government detachments.
Local leaders we're in turn en-
courageo to use their newly acquired
authority to build up confidence of
the citizenry in their new govern
ment. Their actions, however, were
under supervision of the Military
Government. For every member
| in the German civil administration
under the burgomeister there was
counterpart in the Military Gov
eminent team who exercised tech
meal supervision, according to his
specially.
Americans Used for Security.
Now the denazification and reor-
ganization of local and state Ger
man government have progressed so
| far that transfer of responsibility
! is almost complete and most In
structions 60 to local governments
through the Minister Presidents OF
the Laender who receive their In
structions from the American Mill
tary Government. American per-
sonnet, mostly civilian, is utilized
largely at the lower levels for secur-
Iity and as watch dogs.
| In addition there has been estab-
lished advisory assemblies in the
three Laender in the American zone.
Instructions to Minister Presidents
from the Military Government,
generally, are confined to setting OF
policies. The German Laender gov
ernments are required to prepare
and present plans for execution OF
these policies. Their approval is
based on compliance with the policy
desired and the efficiency of the
plan.
| Failing in the overall policy of
inducing it's Allies to proceed with
the formation of central govern
ment for all Germany, the American
Military Government took another
step toward centralizing German
authority in our zone when it set
up the Laenderrat, or council OF
states. 1t is composed of the Min
lister Presidents of Bavaria, Greater
Hesse, Wurttemberg-B Baden and the
Mayor of Bremen 0oint American
British controlled Zone). 1t meets
regularly in Stuttgart and has the
task, within the directives of the
occupying power, to work out in CO.
ordination the problems which go
beyond the boundaries of land, to
remove difficulties of communication
between the Laender and to secure
COORDINATION in development Of
political, social, economic and cul-
tural life. It's meetings are attended
by representatives of the Military
Government.
Contrast With Russian Zone.
Sparkplug of the Laenderrat Is DR..
James K. Pollock, political science
head of the University Of Michigan.
DR.. Pollock is senior political ad-
wiser to Gen. Clay. Under authority
Of Gen. Clay he set up the machin-
cry. OF it DR.. Pollock says:
This American zone operation
contrasts with the Russian approach
to the problem, since their zone has
a so-called Central Zonal Govern
ment which passes down to the
entire zone orders from the Soviet
Military Headquarters. 1t also con-
trasts with British Zone practices
where as yet they have not taken
the first step toward establishment
of contained Laender. More
progress might have been made, in