The German telephone system, hampered by a lack of spare parts, was not in good condition. Redesignated 1 August 1946 as Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 19th Cavalry
Artillery Group, several combat engineer, ordnance, transportation, etc.,
The last question was dumb because we had ;A; Troop, 6th Squadron; painted on the bumpers of our jeep. Cav. They moved up and down the streets of large cities like Munich and Stuttgart, and of the smaller ones like Fritzlar, Weiden, Hof, and Passaunames which have become as familiar to the Constabulary trooper as Pittsburgh, Akron, Richmond, Clay Center, and Abilene. The Constabulary began training along side Regular Army units, already themselves stationed in Germany, in combat support roles. Activated 1 April 1951 at Camp Cooke, California
Even though many were caught by rear area units, the system had to be improved. ibid., (Frankfurt) December 2, 19465. The concept of a police-type occupation of Germany arose from the consideration of plans for the most efficient employment of the relatively small forces available. The backbone of the Constabulary was the Squadron. Nine Constabulary Regiments were stationed
CHAPTER TWO: THE CONSTABULARY TAKES CHARGE 1946 - 1950 - U.S. Army Theater Headquarters had already announced the principle that the Constabulary would be organized along geographical lines to coincide as nearly as possible with the major divisions of the German civil administration, in order to facilitate liaison with the German police and United States Offices of Military Government. On 1 May 1946, the Squadron was reorganized and redesignated as the 15th Constabulary Squadron. Redesignated 2 January 1953 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 19th Armored
They charged that the ring dealt in gasoline, jewels, clothing, typewriters, and sewing machines.; 4, ;Two Constabulary Troopers were killed near Hanau early today while trying to stop a speeding command car.; 5, S/Sgt Harry Miller, a former member of the 42nd Constabulary Squadron recalled, ;One incident occurred early in 1947 when the 2nd Squadron of the 2nd Regiment was pulling border patrol along the Austrian-German border. I remember that in 1949, the Commanding Officer, U.S. Constabulary Forces, General I. 16th Cavalry Regiment - Wikipedia Units, to be known as Constabulary, will specialize in patrolling and liaison with other control forces. CONSTABULARY - 15th Con Regt Postwar - the Constabulary Era [ edit] "line" troop per Constabulary Squadron. ;When, as it sometimes happens, Troopers step over the line and are apprehended, they are treated very well by the Soviets,; the General said. We didnt know it, but the Russians liked to play a game on us, called move the boundary. The "Lightning Bolt" shoulder patch consisting of a circular yellow shoulder patch with the border of the patch and the letter "C" in the middle being in blue. The mileage covered by foot patrols was equivalent to circling the globe once each week. Redesignated 9 March 1951 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 16th Armored
Most were East Germans controlled by Russians. A school was also needed to develop among the members of the Constabulary a spirit which would lift them towards the required high standards of personal appearance, soldierly discipline, and unquestioned personal integrity. The units converted into Constabulary squadrons and regiments included armored infantry, field artillery, tank, tank destroyer, antiaircraft battalions, and cavalry squadrons. The 16th Constabulary Squadron [Separate]
J. Anderson Collection Better radio equipment was being furnished at the end of 1946, though it was not yet of the standard of that used by State Police and Highway Patrol forces at home. Who would arm them? In 1948, the final, major, reorganization of the Constabulary took
1/4 ton Jeeps with or without mounted.30 caliber machine guns. Updated ;Troopers Handbooks; were distributed with practical suggestions gleaned from real-life police situations that occurred in the U.S. and Germany. US Army 16th Constabulary Squadron BERLIN Germany patch tab set D Troops were formed. Next to its need for well-qualified men, the Constabulary depended most, for success in its mission, upon its system of communications and upon vehicles suited to the needs of the job and to the condition of the German roads. The troopers were selected from the best soldiers available, and it was desired that all of them be volunteers. One of the first things he did during his inspection was to examine our Commendations Book and our Court Martial Book. The Constabulary School had standards comparable to those of Army Service Schools in the United States. Counteroffensive, Phase IV; Counteroffensive, Phase V; Winter-Spring 1970; Sanctuary
His primary duty was assisting the Troopers in matters involving German nationals, but he was also being taught democratic police procedures. Initially attempting to patrol everywhere at the same time proved to be unsuccessful. While the Constabulary did not have a direct successor, its duty of close cooperation with German authorities is now maintained by Military and Civilian Police Officers of the U.S. Armed Forces. ABMC Headquarters 2300 Clarendon Blvd, Suite 500 Arlington, VA 22201 Phone: 703-584-1501 By early 1948, it was clear that the mission of the Constabulary had changed, from police force to military occupation and the defense of West Germany. The mounted platoon (less one section) took part in Squadron strength manoeuvres at the . consolidated 2 July 1955 with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 19th Armor
to take the truckload of evidence to the Dachau War Crimes Trials AND DONT STOP FOR ANYTHING. Being the good soldiers that they were, they werent going to let a border checkpoint stop them; 6, Another former member, Gene Snowden, was a member of ;A; Troop, 6th Squadron, near Coburg, on the West and East Germany border. parade by Col. Robert A. Willard, Commanding Officer, Berlin Command. The 1st Armored Division, activated at Fort Knox, Kentucky, in June 1940 and one of the first American divisions to fight on the other side of the Atlantic, supplied many tank and infantry units. In September 1945, the G-2 Division of European Theater Headquarters put forward a plan, which was carried into effect towards the end of the years for the organization of a special security force known as the District Constabulary. Eventually, the United States Constabulary played mainly the role of adviser and supporter, ready to assist the German police on call. This would probably have been the 16th Constabulary Squadron. We got along well with the Germans, whether we were stationed in Hersfeld or in Fulda. Utilizing the standard U.S. ;three in a jeep;, the German policeman rode as third man whenever the Constabulary moved out on patrol in the cities or highways. Consequently, two or three men could answer a call for assistance where formerly a section or more had gone out. If they apprehended suspected displaced persons outside their camp, the troopers again stood by while the German policeman handled the situation. Converted and redesignated 9 March 1951 as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 16th Armored Cavalry Group. States Constabulary was deactivated in November, 1950 and provided personnel
[1] In July 2008, the Battalion deployed to Iraq, where it provided sustainment, combat support, and force protection operations in support of Multi-National Division-North through expert life support and logistical operations. Recon. American public was clamoring for the quick demobilization of the armed
The geography was entirely different from that of Germany, in that there are approximately 7,000 islands in the group. Approximately the area of Pennsylvania in size, the United States Zone of Occupation in Germany had similar contours, with flat lands, hills, mountains, and forests, crisscrossed by many rivers and streams. The trooper's indoctrination in the mission of the Constabulary gave him a knowledge of his responsibilities and the functions of the Constabulary. It likely dates c.1950 to the last year of the . troop and four mechanized troops. Combat Support Battalion Turner Tankers E-320 FA C-94 FA 42nd Eng. To preserve the 4th Cavalry on the active roles, the battalion headquarters and . He possessed a thorough knowledge of police functions; he learned not to abuse his authority. First, and most important, was the return to the United States and discharge of those veterans with sufficient points of overseas service. basis of three per regiment. Authorized crossing points were set up, manned by both German and Constabulary personnel. The United States Constabulary
The unit also utilized as an The yellow and blue stripes on their helmets and the insignia identifies them as men from the 16th Constabulary Squadron (Separate), assigned to Berlin Command as part of the Constabulary occupation force of West Berlin.] Because of the now famous Berlin airlift, the attempt to force the . As it happened, they had a bar across the road which could be raised or lowered to allow traffic to pass or stop as they required. The organization of the Constabulary forces consisted of the three brigades, and each brigade had three regiments. and organized at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, Inactivated 12 November 1921 at Forts Sam Houston and McIntosh,
Berlin's modern knights and their high-stepping mounts, known as the Horse Platoon of the 16th Constabulary, unlike other units in Berlin, is an all volunteer outfit. After a short period of operation, it was determined that the single line of static posts was not successful. The Russians kept the jeep, our M-1 carbine, our .45 Thompson, a pair of .45 automatics, and the policemans PPk. We took three M-8 Greyhounds and 10 jeeps along on this night raid. If the roads were better maintained, the sedan would be a more satisfactory patrol vehicle. USAREUR Units - 16th Con Sqdn - USArmyGermany.com C-94 FA - USA 6941st Guard Battalion Kameradschaft e.V. The 4th Constabulary Squadron, which had been redesignated as the 4th Armored Cavalry Reconnaissance Battalion on 1 December 1951, was inactivated in Austria on 1 July 1955. Wherever patrols operated, they were in constant communication by radio or telephone with their platoon or troop headquarters, which were in turn linked in a chain of communications reaching up to Constabulary Headquarters. 15 April 1968 at Fort Knox, Kentucky; Headquarters concurrently reorganized
The curriculum for Constabulary officers and noncommissioned officers included instruction in the geography, history, and politics of Germany. The German police were organized into almost as many units as the Constabulary. place. as Armored Cavalry Regiments [ACR's]/ By the end of 1948 this reorganization
still performed their duties efficiently and exceeding well as security
The original condition of the vehicles placed a severe test upon the Constabulary which, at the time it was inaugurated, had no service elements.[1]. Currently the regiment includes three squadrons (1st, 2nd, and 3rd), all assigned to the 316th Cavalry Brigade, Fort Benning, Georgia, supporting the United States Army Armor School . [1], The Constabulary assisted military government in the reorganization and development of the German police force. The mileage covered by the vehicles of the United States Constabulary was equivalent to nine vehicles circling the earth every twenty-four hours. (Troops of 16th Constabulary Squadron disbanded 9 March 1951.) In the two months prior to the official activation, more than 16,000 troops had been lost through redeployment. Service - USA 6941st Guard Battalion Kameradschaft e.V. officers every forty-eight hours. with M-8, the 2nd, 6th, and 14th Constabulary Regiments began to reorganize
If the patrol investigated a disturbance in a German home, the troopers stood by while the German officer made the arrest. The Constabulary School was established at Sonthofen, Germany, in a winter sports area at the foot of the Allgau Alps. It was definitely a police force, and a very well armed one at that. 16th Constabulary Squadron (Separate) in January 1946, with the primary mis-sion of patrolling the border between the American Sector of Berlin and the Soviet Zone of Germany. On 25 April, 1947, Lt. Col. Goodwin relinquished command of the
[1], The Constabulary set up a system of patrols throughout the entire area and along the borders. communism. A separate regiment, the 4th, was headquartered
Group, Mechanized (organic elements of the 19th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron,
Each graduate was ready to be returned (or assigned) to his unit as an instructor, following the four-week course. Some of the combat units assigned to the Constabulary were carried temporarily as mere paper organizations, redeployment having taken all their officers and men. 16th Texas Cavalry Regiment - Wikipedia became Constabulary units, along with elements of the seven mechanized
Initially appointed only by the Military Government following a rigid screening process, the fully armed policemen were then appointed by appropriate local German authorities. [1], The uniform of the Constabulary trooper was designed both to make him easily recognizable and to distinguish him as a member of an elite force. The Horse Platoon became part of the 16th Constabulary Squadron {Separate}
The replacement and training task at that time were staggering. When he arrived and exited the train, the German police provided an escort all the way to Kassen. They established a 16-month blockade of all land and water routes between West Germany and West Berlin in 1948. Commander
16th Constabulary Squadron Berlin District Looking for more information from military/civilian personnel assigned to or associated with the U.S. Army in Germany from 1945 to 1989. Was the crushing defeat rendered against Germany going to result in chaos? In addition, within the squadrons, all motorized troops were eliminated
These units included engineers, ordnance, medical, bands, etc., and also wore the Constabulary SSI. [1], At first the Constabulary tried to patrol everywhere in the Zone. Static border control posts were established at the crossing points. They caught the truck and brought the two Russian soldiers to our Regimental HQ in Freising, Germany, 35 miles north of Munich. 16th Constabulary Squadron HQ and HQ Trp, 16th Cav Grp 22nd Constabulary Squadron 22nd Armored Field Arty Bn 24th Constabulary Squadron 24th Cav Rcn Sqdn 25th Constabulary Squadron 25th Cav Rcn Sqdn 27th Constabulary Squadron 27th Armored Field Arty Bn 28th Constabulary Squadron 28th Cav Rcn Sqdn 35th Constabulary Squadron 35th Tank Bn As a result of reorganization, E Troop was
that the U.S. S. R. posed a threat to the West and , to reflect this, the
16th Constabulary Squadron Horse Platoon,1949. It was also trained for possible use in crowd con-trol and police action in emergency situations. In 1949 the Horse Platoon of the 16th Constabulary took place in a week long field exercise . Currently the regiment includes at least three squadrons, all assigned to the 316th Cavalry Brigade, Fort Benning, Georgia, supporting the United States Army Armor School . The 16th Cavalry served as infantry in Walker's . [1], As a result of continuous study of crime statistics, emphasizing the location and time of commission, the patrolling of the interior areas of the American Zone was modified so as to provide for more frequent visits to disorderly areas than to the relatively quiet localities. and exemplary conduct, and the Constabulary maintained those standards
cavalry groups and various other armored, tank destroyer and self-propelled
the majority of its combat power. This procedure built up the prestige of the new German police in the eyes of their own people. Cavalry Groups; however, they served with their parent group throughout
Another
Anyway, an officer came by and we were all released to his custody. Please help improve the article by merging similar sections and removing unneeded subheaders. Note that for the majority of the cavalry
The entire Zone was covered by a network of roads, while here and there were the Autobahnenthe four-lane express highways. 822d Military Police Company; 16th Constabulary Squadron (Seperate) 287th MP Company (Seperate) 287th MP Company (BASC) 42nd MP Gp. One of the problems faced by the Constabulary was the high rate of personnel turnover. During the period when tactical units, released from the Third and Seventh Armies, were being redesignated as Constabulary units, the main tasks were training and reorganization. It was then when the Berlin Airlift was formed and progressed
1 July 1946 was set as the date upon which the Constabulary would become operational and, in preparation for that day, the training program was divided into three phases. This table describes the content of the digital folders of enlisted muster rolls, 1 Jan 1916-31 Dec 1939 in the collection United States, Enlisted and Officer Muster Rolls and Rosters, 1916-1939. unit designated as Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 16th Armor Group, (Former elements of the 16th Cavalry withdrawn 1 March 1957
Planning was well advanced by the end of 1945, when the European Theater Headquarters notified the War Department that the constabulary would be organized as an elite force, composed of the highest caliber personnel obtainable under the voluntary re-enlistment program, and that it would be equipped with an efficient communications network, sufficient vehicles and liaison airplanes to make it highly mobile, and the most modern weapons. Sixteen months later, Col. Willard became the fourth squadron commander. To maintain its mobility, the Constabulary waged a constant struggle to overcome deficiencies in its transportation facilities. protecting its sector of West Germany. Ten-mile wide patrol zones, similar to police patrol ;beats;, were soon designated and assisted in accomplishing the task. Although the 16th Squadron was deactivated that year to become the 1st
organized, each squadron was authorized a headquarters, three mechanized
The biggest problem faced by the Constabulary were the shortage
Find 16th Constabulary Squadron (Berlin District), 4th Constabulary Regiment unit information, patches, operation history, veteran photos and more on TogetherWeServed.com. The
The technical and specialist training for the trooper included the theory and practice of criminal investigation, police records, self-defense, and the apprehension of wanted persons. Surprisingly (to the non-police experienced Constabulary command), the problem areas were not in the rural areas, but in the cities. : Troop Information Program 23 March, 1947), Copyright 2021 Dave Kaufman All rights reserved. US GIs, both combat veterans (who wanted to go home) and undisciplined replacements were the major problem in the US Occupation Zone. time. A mobile reserve of one company equipped with light tanks was established in each Constabulary regiment. With a new training mission in hand, the Constabulary slowly withdrew from its original objectives. The M-8 went out and caught the truck shortly (the M-8 could get up to 80 MPH if necessary). As with any policing agency in the US, the Constabulary began keeping crime statistics in order to determine which locations needed more active patrols. The photo above on the right shows a Trooper with a "Constabulary" tab above his circle-c patch which would indicate he was stationed in Berlin at the time. A large ex-German Army truck approached the check point and broke through the lowered gate. Warrant Officer Norman Bolduc, assigned as a liaison member (1948-50) of the 24th Constabulary Squadron to British and French occupation forces, recalled how the situation had changed from General Harmon's view in 1947. was still active as of
was complete; the three ACR's were assigned to the Constabulary and provided
Inactivated 27 November 1950 at Grafenwhr, Germany. The 4th Armored Division furnished the three brigade headquarters for the Constabulary. the Constabulary troops began to reorganize as tactical units equipped
During the first phase, prior to 1 April, attention was concentrated on the training of cadre and on the establishment of regimental and squadron headquarters so that the Constabulary would be prepared to receive the approximately 20,000 men expected to fill the ranks. Until the fence was erected, the actual border was marked only with red-tipped white poles and rocks. The US Constabulary consisted of up to 38,000 men organized into: The Constabulary was disbanded in 1952, after Germany had developed its own police forces. Other units had up to 75 percent of their allotted strength, but all the units taken together averaged only 25 percent of their authorized strength. Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase VII; Consolidation I; Consolidation
The Constabulary acted as a backup unit for each of these groups, and even experimented with boat patrols. )24th Constabulary Sqdn-Hersfeld (Austria) (attached to 14th A.C.R.). Constabulary officials identified the leader of the ring as a clothing manufacturer, and estimated he had netted $60,000 from the rings operations. [1], The Constabulary trooper, it was seen, must know, not only the customary duties of a soldier, but also police methods, how to make arrests, and how to deal with a foreign population. D/16 HISTORY - Company D, 16thArmor173d Airborne Brigade Copy I the command consisted of two brigade headquarters, three ACR's, a Field
There were many support units assigned to the U. S. Constabulary, beginning in 1948. Customs; 759 MP Horse Platoon; . The squadron was then inactivated in West Germany in 1950. The three brigades operated in the three German state areas of Hesse, Wuertemberg-Baden, and Bavaria. force in occupied Germany and admirably lived up to their motto, "Mobility,
By December 1946, the responsibility of the 15th Con Sqdn had been increased by portions of the . When the war ended, the 15th Cavalry Group and its two squadrons had taken nearly 7,000 German prisoners and had destroyed 78 guns and 495 enemy vehicles. They kept us for 14 days, and asked us questions about ourselves, our unit morale, and what unit we were assigned. It also operated roadblocks and of course, speed traps. The German policeman knew some English and the troopers were trained at the Constabulary school to understand a number of German phrases useful in police work. 1st Squadron Thirdly, the necessity for an organized and professional occupational force was becoming readily apparent. two years after the deactivation of Constabulary Headquarters until the
However, as there was, already a Patton Barracks, the
[1], In 1946, the Constabulary made many swoop raids, known officially as "check and search operations," against displaced persons' and refugees' camps and the German population.