Feldjägerkorps " For the modern German Military Police see : Feldjaeger " The Feldjägerkorps was a military police organization in the German Wehrmacht during World War II . It was formed on 27 November 1943 from distinguished veterans and Patrol Service personnel . This corps was formed into three Feldjäger Commands ( I , II and III ) , which reported directly to Field Marshal Keitel , and was senior to all other military police organizations . This was divided into 30 ( Streifen ) Patrols , which were based 12 miles behind the front lines . These patrols could be rough in their justice , which included summary execution s . They were supported by a " Streifkorps " ( Patrol Corps ) , organized into sections of a senior non - commissioned officer and 9 enlisted personnel . History . By 1943 , World War II was turning against Germany and morale amongst the front line troops was dropping . Until this time , the Feldgendarmerie and Geheime Feldpolizei had been relied upon to try to curb desertion and maintain discipline , however these men had other duties as well and the situation was getting out of hand . In November 1943 , a new formation was created - the Feldjägerkorps . In order to be eligible for service , soldiers had to have a minimum 3 years frontline combat experience and have earned the Iron Cross 2nd class . Organization . The Feldjägerkorps consisted of 3 Feldjägerkommando : Feldjägerkommando I and II saw action on the Eastern front , whilst Feldjägerkommando III saw action on the western front . Each " Feldjägerkommandeur " originally controlled an Feldjägerabteilungen ( battalion ) , and from 24 April 1944 , a regiment ) . The Fj battalion consisted of five motorized companies , each of 30 officers and 90 non - commissioned officers . The Feldjägerregiment contained five Feldjägerabteilungen each of which contained three Kompanies , of about 50 men . The basic unit was the Streife ( patrol ) which was made up of anywhere between 1 Feldjäger and 3 Feldjäger and an officer . Mission . The authority of the Feldjägerkorps came directly from the German Army High Command , and as such even the lowest ranking soldier theoretically carried more power than army officers . The commanding officer of a Feldjägerkommando had the same level of authority as an Armee commander with the authority to punish any soldier of any branch of service ( the Waffen SS included ) . The Feldjägerkorps operated parallel to the front line and approximately 12 – 15 miles behind it . Their basic duties were to : They could also be employed in the same capacity as the Feldgendarmerie . After the surrender of Germany , Feldjägerkommando III remained armed and at the disposal of the US Army in order to maintain discipline amongst the German PoWs . Feldjägerkommando III finally and formally surrendered its arms to the Allies on 23 June 1946 . Reputation . Although the image of the Feldjäger was one of a tough , brutal soldier who shot on sight ; this was often not the case . Veterans have stated that if they were caught by the Feldjäger , as long as they had a valid reason and the necessary paperwork to be behind the lines they were left alone . In only a very few cases on the Western front were summary executions used . More was to be feared from roaming groups of deserters or SS officers who took it upon themselves to " police " the rear line areas - in some cases fire fights between these groups and the Feldjägerkorps occurred . Uniform . The Feldjäger wore a normal German Army infantryman ' s uniform with white waffenfarbe . The only items which identified him were the gorget and red armband worn on the lower left cuff , bearing bold black lettering reading ; Oberkommando der Wehrmacht - Feldjäger - Other Feldjager units . The SA - Feldjägerkorps - In October 1933 Hermann Göring established a supplementary police group for use within the State of Prussia . This group was also intended to have responsibilities in selected cities within Greater Germany . The unit consisted of former polizei members and volunteers recruited from existing Sturmabteilung ( SA ) and Schutzstaffel ( SS ) units . At this point in their history , leaders of the Nazi Party intended to use police brigades for protection as well as for gaining power over other political groups . Much of the intent of organizing these police units was to band together groups of men who had military training and knowledge stemming from their First World War experience . Designated the SA Field Police ( SA - Feldjägerkorps ) , this formation was organized into eight battalions of approximately 195 men each with each battalion being assigned to a specific city or district with its headquarters in Berlin . Members of the SA - Feldjägerkorps were allowed to rejoin or transfer into the SS following completion of their service with the unit . On 1 April 1935 the SA - Feldjägerkorps was incorporated into the larger Prussian “ Schutzpolizei ” and was no longer under the control of the SA or related authorities . Over time , many smaller police units were organized or cluster together for the purpose of expanding control .