Gordon Craig

Yes please. I would really like to see the cast iron award. Regards, Gordon

Uffz. Rohleder Nice to see a medal and document that actually were issued together. While the medals are common the documents don't come up for sale nearly as often. Thanks for showing them. Regards Gordon

Don Bible posted a metal badge for the Industrial Police (IP) on the Police and Civil Organization sub forum of the WAF a few days ago. He has given me permission to post it in a thread on the GMIC. It was a badge I had not seen before. However, with some review of my files I found what appears to be one of these badges in wear by an Industrial Policeman. Below you will find some information on this short lived organization, pictures of the badge Don posted and some other pictures related to the IP. Regards, Gordon "Industrial Police (Source: The Employment of Local Nations by US Army Europe, 1945-1966, Bruce Siemon & Roland E. Wagberg, HQ USAREUR 1968; INDUSTRIAL POLICE In May 1947 EUCOM adopted a policy for the replacement of organized Labor Service guard units with industrial police -- individually hired displaced persons and Germans trained in police-type guard duties. The policy had two objectives: In the first place, it would reduce overhead because the industrial police did not receive the rations, clothing, billeting, and other benefits enjoyed by the guard companies. Also, by abolishing the organized guard companies -- completely manned by displaced persons -- the United States would remove an incentive for displaced persons to remain in Germany and resist repatriation or resettlement. The industrial police differed from LS guard units in not having a military-type organization, being limited to one meal a day at a charge of 50 Pfennige per meal that was deducted from monthly payrolls, and not being granted PX privileges. The industrial police guarded U.S. installations, formerly patrolled by LS guard units. Concurrent with employment of industrial police, German civil police were charged with ensuring security of messes, clubs, billets, quarters, and parking lots. Industrial police carried non-automatic carbines and were issued five rounds of ammunition per man when on duty. U.S. military uniforms were dyed blue and issued to the industrial police. Military post commanders were responsible for their training, including orientation in mission and instruction in communications, first aid, English, and weapon firing. While on guard duty industrial police could detain U.S. or Allied personnel apprehended pilfering, damaging, or misusing property. They could detain U.S. and Allied personnel only for the time necessary to turn them over to U.S. supervisory personnel. They also had the power to arrest German nationals and displaced persons who violated regulations they were charged with enforcing. Industrial police were paid in accordance with the applicable Land wage tariff, while organized guards were paid according to a scale established by EUCOM. This scale was considerably higher than the land tariffs for industrial police because DP personnel received preferential treatment. The schedules for industrial police included various grades and locality wage differentials typical of German schedules. 15th Labor Supervision Company By 1949 the LS guard units, with a strength of only 7,000, were not able to meet the support demands of the tactical forces. The static industrial police were unable to fill the gap between service required and that afforded by the organized guard units. At the time there were slightly more than 9,000 industrial police -- approximately 98 percent of them German -- employed as static guards. In July 1950 EUCOM directed the military post commanders to convert industrial police members to LS personnel and to organize them into guard companies. At the time, EUCOM authorized an overall increase of 15,500 in Army LS personnel strengths; industrial police personnel volunteering for labor service duty would fill approximately 7,000 of these spaces, and the remainder would have to be recruited. Certain policy changes were made to facilitate the conversion, as for example the provision that former members of the Waffen SS -- normally disqualified for labor service - might be considered for acceptance on the basis of their records with the industrial police. By the end of 1950 there remained only 400 industrial police, all of than in Berlin. The net effect of the increase in LS personnel was to change the composition of the organization. Whereas until 1950 the labor service had been composed exclusively of displaced persons, the conversion of industrial police to labor service introduced a large block of German nationals into the organization. Of course, with the completion of the resettlement and repatriation program, all displaced persons either had been assimilated into the local economy or had left the Federal Republic. Thus, any former DP personnel who joined labor service after the restoration of guard companies in 1950 were at least nominally Germans. The troop augmentation of 1951 - 1952 further raised labor service strength, especially in the guard elements. Total LS strength climbed to 25,535 by January 1952, with 17,457 of the total in guard units. By 1953, actual guard strength was 19,573. Budget limitations for FY 1954 resulted in a reorganization and redistribution of LS units and personnel. The FY 1954 budget authorized 17,775 guard personnel, a reduction of 1,852 spaces from the 1953 authorization of 19,627. The trend during the redistribution was to release German personnel. Actual guard strength went below authorization and on 30 June 1954 was 17,370. At the end of the occupation period a 10 percent reduction was made, so that in June 1955 guard members numbered approximately 15,000; 13,844 of the 23,640 total LS personnel then on the rolls were German."

Gentlemen, Great photos. Regards, Gordon

Jock, Very nice album. I have a BGS album but it doesn't have anywhere near this many pictures of the soldiers in the field. Thanks for posting the pictures. Regards, Gordon

dedenhansen, Very nice document. Thanks for posting it. Regards, Gordon

dedehansen, Thanks for your response. I have some more somewhere and I'll post pictures of them when they surface. Regards, Gordon

Avsar Ibar, Thanks very much for your comments. I noted the problems with the enamel etc and told the vendor. He assured me that it was just cracked enamel which is obviously not the case. Regards, Gordon

rabaduex, Trying to convince a reputable dealer that an item is bad using a picture in a book may not get you anywhere. The best way to prove something is not what it is supposed to be is by comparison of a known good example. For example, dimensions, weight, markings, distinctive pin by maker etc. You probably know all of this already but it was worth mentioning. Ottoman pilots badges have been highly faked and some of them are very well done. I would guess that the dealers response would depend, to some extent, on how long it has been since the badge was purchased. I have never been in your position where I needed to return something that I though was a fake. I have received fake items but the amount of money involved did not warrant spending the time and effort to try and right the wrong. I wish you good luck in your discussions with the dealer at the SOS. Regards, Gordon

Jock, Interesting to see a post war decal of the THW on a WWII field phone. Thanks for posting the picture. Regards, Gordon

Ulsterman, I haven't much of anything Hungarian since I returned to Canada from Hungary. A few badges here and there. Regards, Gordon

Andreas, Nice patches. Thanks for posting them. Here are some of mine. Regards, Gordon

Ulsterman, Thanks. Regards, Gordon

Gentlemen, I am new to Turkish medal collecting and have come across this piece for sale. Doesn't match any Medjidie that I am aware of. A fake or possibly a German made piece after WWI? Regards, Gordon

Long Thrust VI, Yes that is correct. You will see this portrayed in other LSUs in the link that I posted. Regards, Gordon

Long Thrust VI has pointed out some errors in what I wrote above. I said the Berlin Airlift too place in 1954 which is obviously incorrect. He is also correct that the LSUs wore grey uniforms. What I should have said was that the uniforms the LSU wore were American in style. At least those in Army service. Since this thread does not discuss LSU naval units we won't go into their uniforms. Another location for reference to these units can be found here; http://www.usarmygermany.com/ext/LaborService/ I would like to thank Long Thrust VI for taking time to email me re the corrections. Regards, Gordon

Bernhard, Thanks for your additional comments. It is interesting to hear that German awards were presented after the war to what I presume were POWs? A new field of research for me. Regards, Gordon

Chris and Bernhard, Interesting comments about the mine clearing group in Norway. In my research of the GM/SA I have never come across any reference to the GM/SA having a group in Norway. No doubt ex members of the Kriegsmarine would have been employed in mine clearing in Norway but Bernhard mentions that they were under German control. The GM/SA was under British control and when it was disbanded some of these men joined the U.S. Navy's Labour Service Unit (B) at Cuxhaven or the British civilian mine sweeping organization. Here is an article I did on the GM/SA several years ago on the BRD Sub-forum on the WAF. I have gathered a lot more information on the GM/SA since then but have never done a Part 2. Perhaps it is time? I also did an article on the Klost Fast Patrol Group but I haven't looked for it yet. http://www.wehrmacht-awards.com/forums/showthread.php?t=634590&highlight=GM%2FSA I would be very interested in hearing more about the mine clearing organization in Norway that was under German command. Regards, Gordon

Marion, Thanks for your response. Your reluctance to show the whole photograph is very understandable. Regards, Gordon

Marion, I have been looking for someone who served in the GM/SA for some time. If you have any pictures or any info about your father's service in the GM/SA I would be very grateful if you would share things with me. If you would like more information, general or specific, from my archives please just ask Regards, Gordon

Marion, Here is a better explanation than my previous post re the ensignia. Regards, Gordon

Marion, I am not sure what the duties of the "4th man" would have been on a GM/SA mine sweeper but it sounds like an interesting research project for me. I will see if I can find out. From memory, the lightning bolt would have been for electronics, the star for seaman, and the flags for communicator. Those may not be the exact titles but will give you an idea of the approximate duties. I've done a lot of research in this area and I'll post a better answer later in the day. Regards, Gordon

I meant to post this picture of the helmet in wear by a member of the 6941st Guard Unit Berlin. So here it is now. Regards, Gordon

LABOUR SERVICE UNIT - HELMET During the Berlin Air Lift in 1954, the U.S. Army and Air Force in Europe needed local people to help in running the operation. The local population employed in Germany eventually led to the establishment of Labour Service Units. Many stateless people were employed in these LSUs and Polish, Latvian, and other, units were established. They wore mainly U.S. military uniforms and formed logistics and guard units. This is a very brief outline of a very complex subject done only to introduce this helmet liner. These helmet liners were worn by many different Labour Service Units (LSU) and not always with the same emblem on the front. From what I can find on line, the badge on the front of this helmet was worn by the 6941st Labour Service Centre (Guard) (Berlin). Possibly other LSU’s as well. The helmet bears the stamp of the manufacturer on the inside top of the liner. A script F in a shield for the firm of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. Firestone made these “high pressure” M1 helmet liners from September 1942 until August 1945. The rivets on this liner show wear consistent with the use of the steel helmet worn over the liner.Now I can badge up my LSU tunic!Regards,Gordon

westfale, Your welcome. Thanks for the additional information about this award. Regards, Gordon