Feldgendarmerie

This is coolbert:

Feldgendarmes. German military police [MP]. Those from the era of the Second World War [WW2] deemed as particularly harsh, given almost extraordinary powers to apprehend and punish in a summary manner deserters. Punishment of the type most often involving execution!

Consider the figures from both World Wars:

"The German army carried out at least 48 death-sentences. The real figure is probably much higher; most documents seem to be destroyed" [World War One]

"during the Second World War. 15,000 men were executed." [World War Two]

[these numbers obtained from the Lachlan Cranswick's Personal Homepage - - executions carried out by the various combatants for the crime of desertion!]

Military Police, patrolling the combat zone, attempting to apprehend deserters, those persons also best categorized as malingerers or shirkers. Those not willing to do their duty. Slackers.

Military Police, again, seeming to have been given extraordinary powers of arrest AND having the authority to punish almost at whim. Punishment, once again, quite often involving summary execution of those apprehended.

Feldgendarmerie: "received full infantry training and were given extensive police powers . . . [training to include] Subjects included Criminal code, general and special police powers, reporting duties,"

Trained in an unremitting manner, to the highest standard, possessing skills of the infantryman but also of a policeman and much more than that!

"passport and identification law, weapons drill, self-defence techniques, criminal police methodology, and general administration . . . Courses lasted one year and failure rates were high: in 1935 only 89 soldiers graduated from an initial intake of 219 candidates"

"Many ordinary soldiers deemed to be deserters were summarily executed by Feldgendarmerie units . . . they screened refugees and hospital transports for potential deserters with orders to kill suspected malingerers. Rear-echelon personnel would also be checked for passes that permitted them to be away from the front."




German Field Gendarmes having extraordinary powers, AUTHORITY! As symbolized by the gorget worn about the neck. Persons also, those enlisted troops in the field having substantial rank beyond the ordinary as commensurate with their duty. [traditionally, the gorget is a symbol of authority, often associated with the officer class!]

"A typical 'trupp' attached to an Infantry or Panzer Division would have up to three officers, 41 NCO's and 20 enlisted men."

[among those NOT officers, a rank heavy unit!]

"the Feldgendarmerie became more popularly known by the pejorative Kettenhunde (English: chain-dog) for the gorget they wore with their uniforms."

During the campaign on the Eastern Front during WW2, desertion WAS NOT uncommon. Extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures?

Even the German soldier has his breaking point? The Feldgendarmerie were an antidote that went way beyond the norm!

coolbert.