The end of World War II brought rapid demobilization
and an enormous reduction in the nation's Armored Force. By mid-1948, for example, only ten Regular Army divisions remained active
and only one of these was organized as an armored division (i.e., the 2d Armored Division). Amid the disorder of post-war Germany
in 1945-46, however, there was still a need for highly mobile organizations to serve as a multi-capable security force in occupied
areas. Standard infantry units lacked mobility, and military police units lacked the firepower to perform the many functions that
would be required. A mobile and flexible force would allow fewer troops to control a larger area with minimum personnel, as the
nation's demobilization policy demanded. Armor and cavalry organizations were noted for their mobility, so these units formed the
basis of what would be called the U.S. Constabulary.
Gradually, soldiers from various units and specialties, elements of the 1st and 4th Armored Divisions, and existing cavalry units that were already conducting similar functions, were reorganized
and redesignated as constabulary organizations. The U.S. Constabulary
became fully operational on 1 July 1946. It consisted of its headquarters
and special troops, the 1st, 2d, and 3d Constabulary Brigades, and
the 1st, 2d, 3d, 4th [this regiment served in Austria, with one
squadron stationed in Berlin, but did not report to the HQ, U.S.
Constabulary], 5th, 6th, 10th, 11th, 14th, and 15th Constabulary
Regiments. Each regiment had three squadrons that conducted routine
patrols and maintained static posts to control the border and crossing
points. The Constabulary was organized to provide unit representation
within each significant geo-political boundary in the occupied zone.
Each of the three Constabulary Brigades was stationed in one of
the German "states" in the U.S. occupation zone. The regiments,
squadrons and troops carried this presence down to the smaller political
boundaries. Almost 35,000 soldiers formed the Constabulary, which
suffered from a continual loss of trained personnel due to frequent
turnovers. Force reductions in 1947 caused the inactivation of the
HQ, 3d Constabulary Brigade, and the 1st, 3d, 5th, and 10th Constabulary
Regiments. In addition, the Army inactivated the regimental light
tank troops, and each squadron was reduced by one line troop.
As a new and more democratic German nation developed, along with its own police force, there was less need for the
Constabulary's police mission so it began to transform into a more defensive combat force. By 1948, German police assumed
the Constabulary's old police and border missions, while the remaining constabulary regiments were strengthened for
possible combat by adding reconnaissance, rifle, and weapons platoons to each line troop. The Army also inactivated the
15th Constabulary Regiment and reorganized three more (2d, 6th, and 14th) into armored cavalry regiments [The U.S. would
keep at least two ACRs in Germany until the end of the Cold War]. The HQ, U.S. Constabulary was inactivated on 24 Novembe
1950, and most of its elements subordinated to the concurrently activating Seventh Army. The 2d Constabulary Brigade, with
the 15th and 24th Constabulary Squadrons, were the last operational units and continued until their inactivation in
December 1952.
The U.S. Constabulary: 1946 Organization and Equipment
a. The three mechanized troops were equipped with
jeeps and M8 or M38 armored cars. Each troop had three platoons with three reconnaissance sections. There were 10
armored cars (each mounting a 37mm gun in its turret) in each troop (three per platoon, one per section, and one for
the troop HQ). Other weapons included the .30-caliber light machine guns mounted on the armored cars and jeeps. The
typical reconnaissance section had thirteen men who carried five .45-caliber machine guns, seven .30-caliber M1
rifles, and thirteen .45-caliber pistols as individual weapons.
b. Two motorized troops utilized trucks (of various sizes but mostly 1 ½ ton) mounting a single .30-caliber
light machine gun on each vehicle.. Heavy weapons authorized in the troop TOE included three 57 mm recoilless rifles
and three 81 mm mortars. Like the mechanized troops they were also organized into three motorized sections, but only
twelve men served in each section They were individually armed with seven M1s, five .45 machine guns, and twelve
pistols.
Prepared by DAMH-FPO / Apr 2000