“The U.S. Constabulary stands as an example of effective military law enforcement in occupied regions.”

By Daniel Murphy

IN THE summer of 1945, many looked at the devastation across Europe and believed that although the Allies had won the war, they were rapidly losing the peace, particularly in Germany. The cities of the former Third Reich were in ruins, public services were all but non-existent, and relations were quickly growing cold between the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. Securing a lasting peace in Germany hinged on the successful establishment of the Office of Military Government, United States (OMGUS). That was certainly the case in the American Zone of Occupation.

Following the German surrender on May 9, 1945, the American zone contained over 40,000 square miles of land and was home to 16 million Germans. Additionally, it contained 1,400 miles of international and regional boundaries. With German municipal and regional police forces diminished and mistrusted by much of the population, it was left to the American military government to maintain law and order in the zone. For any other civil programs to succeed, the occupiers first had to ensure public safety. Despite this daunting task, the rapid demobilization of the American army in Europe left occupation forces woefully understaffed. The military government soon required a highly mobile police force that could administer to large areas with the fewest possible soldiers.

The solution was the creation of the U.S. Constabulary. Under the Command of Major General Ernest Harmon, the U.S. Constabulary became operational on July 1, 1946. It was primarily composed of motorized cavalry units which had proved to be mobile and flexible during the war. The force was composed of constabulary regiments containing a headquarters element, three-line troops, a light tank troop, and a service troop for vehicle maintenance. These regiments were assigned large numbers of vehicles including motorcycles, jeeps, light tanks, and even horses to effectively respond across the U.S. occupation zone.  

The constabulary was designed to be an elite unit. Although it was armed and prepared for combatting potential guerilla warfare, in practice it was more akin to a state police agency. German roadways were patrolled to maintain safety and criminal infractions were investigated. The unique nature of the U.S. Constabulary required specialized training beyond that of an ordinary armored cavalryman. This took place at the U.S. Constabulary School in Sonthofen, Germany. Much of the curriculum mirrored traditional stateside police academies. It included instruction in basic criminal investigations, apprehension of suspects, traffic stops, and self-defense. Upon completion, graduates were issued the Trooper’s Handbook prepared in part by Col. J.H. Harwood, former colonel of the Rhode Island State Police. This manual contained further information on basic police procedures.

Once selected and trained, troopers wore distinctive uniforms consisting of yellow scarves, polished jump boots, and helmets emblazoned with a yellow circle containing a blue letter “C” bisected by a red lightning bolt.  This earned the troopers the moniker, “Circle C Cowboys.” The flashy appearance of the troopers was designed to have the same deterrent effect as black and white police cars in the United States: It was instantly recognizable to the German population and a reminder that law and order was being maintained despite governmental uncertainties. This was also the reason behind the primary mission of the U.S. Constabulary – the roving patrol. Troopers patrolled day and night across the U.S. Zone. When de-Nazified German police forces returned to cities and towns, these new agencies worked closely with the U.S. Constabulary. German police officers frequently rode with patrols and acted as interpreters. When arrests were made, German officers would arrest German offenders while troopers would place any offending Americans in custody.

In addition to patrols, the U.S. Constabulary conducted search and seizure operations. These frequently took place at displaced persons (DP) camps when illegal activity spiked. One such raid, Operation Duck, occurred on 18 December 1946. That’s when the U.S. Constabulary received reports of increasing murders, rapes, and black marketeering at the DP camp at Wildflecken. The raid resulted in the arrest of 15 people and the confiscation of weapons, drugs, and stolen property. Although the size seizure was small for such a major operation, the crime rate at Wildflecken significantly dropped following the raid making it a success in the eyes of the U.S. Constabulary.

Despite chronic personnel shortages, Gen. Harmon demanded the highest standards in the U.S. Constabulary. This was largely due to the independent nature of patrol work. Troopers were operating far from their command structures with little direct oversight. They faced the constant temptation of a flourishing black market and policed a disadvantaged population. Harmon inspected each of the U.S. Constabulary’s 27 squadrons at least once a month and was known to dispose of any officer or man not living up to his standards. 

By 1950, German agencies were effectively administering most aspects of civil government in the U.S. Zone of Occupation. German border guards were patrolling the nation’s boundaries and local German police officers were investigating crimes. The threat of Nazi holdouts waging guerilla war had waned, further minimizing the need for the combat-policemen of the U.S. Constabulary. Beginning in 1948, the size of the U.S. Constabulary decreased until 1952 when the 2nd Constabulary Brigade, the last operational unit, was disbanded.

A stable and democratic Germany was not guaranteed in May 1945. The U.S. Constabulary was a critical arm of the U.S. Military Government in the years following WWII. The patrols of the Circle C Cowboys provided a sense of security and stability to the German public which allowed other aspects of civil life to return. Additionally, the professionalism and integrity of individual troopers allowed the force to be a trusted police presence despite their role as an occupying force. The decades following WWII provide countless examples of failed attempts at military nation building. The work of the U.S. Constabulary stands as an example to current and future civil affairs advisors of effective military law enforcement in occupied regions.

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Daniel Murphy is a historian based in Boston, Massachusetts. He received his Master of Arts in American History from Pace University where he specialized in 20th Century military history. He served as the Northborough, Massachusetts Police Department historian from 2016 – 2022. He continues his academic research centered on military and criminal history.

Bibliography

“Directive to Commander in Chief of United States Forces of Occupation Regarding the Military Government of Germany,” April 26, 1945, U.S. Department of State Office of the Historian, accessed 3 January 2025. <https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1945v03/d351>

Gott, Kendell. Mobility, Vigilance, and Justice: the U.S. Army Constabulary in Germany, 1946-1953. (Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press, 2005)

Stacy, William. U.S. Border Operations in Germany 1945-1983. (District of Columbia: United States Army Center of Military History, 2002). United States Zone Constabulary Troopers Handbook. (Germany, 1946)

“The U.S. Constabulary in Post-War Germany (1946-1952),” The U.S. Army Center for Military History, accessed 3 January 2025. < https://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/constab -ip.html>