The Feldgendarmerie units were established on mobilization of the army in August 1939 and drew the majority of its personnel from the civil Ordnungspolizei as they were already familiar with policing regulations and tasks.
The Feldgendarmerie were assigned a wide variety of tasks that included, military traffic control, maintaining discipline and compliance of orders of the troops, the apprehension of stragglers and deserters, escorting POW’s, control of the civilian population, securing communication and supply lines, anti-partisan suppression and control of any disorder in the occupied rear areas of battle among other duties.
The Feldgendarmerie were also empowered with the authority to perform location and personal searches and could demand required assistance from any military or civilian personnel.
The Feldgendarmerie’s authority extended to the point that Feldgendarmerie’s ranks out-ranked similar military personnel’s ranks.
As an expedient measure the Feldgendarmerie personnel originally wore police uniforms with army insignia added but by late 1939 or early 1940 they were issued army uniforms with distinct identifying insignia including a duty Gorget, a cufftitle and a police sleeve badge for wear by all ranks.
When required Feldgendarmerie personnel were authorized to enlist EM/NCO’s from other branches of service to temporarily assist them in their policing duties.
When EM/NCO’s from other branches of service were enlisted to assist the Feldgendarmerie they were supplied with an identifying armband for wear on the upper left sleeve of the field blouse or greatcoat.
The armband was only worn during active policing duties and was to be returned to the Feldgendarmerie issuing authority on completion of the service.
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The Feldgendarmerie were assigned a wide variety of tasks that included, military traffic control, maintaining discipline and compliance of orders of the troops, the apprehension of stragglers and deserters, escorting POW’s, control of the civilian population, securing communication and supply lines, anti-partisan suppression and control of any disorder in the occupied rear areas of battle among other duties.
The Feldgendarmerie were also empowered with the authority to perform location and personal searches and could demand required assistance from any military or civilian personnel.
The Feldgendarmerie’s authority extended to the point that Feldgendarmerie’s ranks out-ranked similar military personnel’s ranks.
As an expedient measure the Feldgendarmerie personnel originally wore police uniforms with army insignia added but by late 1939 or early 1940 they were issued army uniforms with distinct identifying insignia including a duty Gorget, a cufftitle and a police sleeve badge for wear by all ranks.
When required Feldgendarmerie personnel were authorized to enlist EM/NCO’s from other branches of service to temporarily assist them in their policing duties.
When EM/NCO’s from other branches of service were enlisted to assist the Feldgendarmerie they were supplied with an identifying armband for wear on the upper left sleeve of the field blouse or greatcoat.
The armband was only worn during active policing duties and was to be returned to the Feldgendarmerie issuing authority on completion of the service.
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