Europen Occupation & Nuremberg Trials:
UPDATED - Technical Sergeant, 1 INF. DIV. 16th INF. RGT., at the end of WWII, Western Germany:
So, I now have a number of 1st Division uniforms in the collection now, I’ll take the story I had for the one and spread it over a couple of uniforms.
The First Infantry Division as its first combat of WWII in North Africa landed at Oran and took part in the initial fighting, 8-10th November 1942. Then elements of the division took part in the seesaw combat at, Medjez el Bab, then Kasserine Pass, Gafsa, Beja, And Meteur, 21 January-9 May 1943, helping to secure Tunisia.
The First was the first ashore, during the invasion of Sicily on 10 July 1943; it fought in a series of short, fierce battles on the island’s treacherous terrain. After the campaign was over, the division returned to England for a bit of rest and refitting and to train up for the Cross Channel Division.
The “First Division” as it is often referred to, assaulted the French Coast, at Normandy on the 6th of June 1944 with some of the units losing 30% casualties in the first hour. But they secured Formigny and Caumont in the Beach Head. The division followed up the St. Lo break-through with an attack on Marigny, on 27 July 1944, then drove across France in one continuous offensive, reaching the German Border, at Aachen in September. The division laid siege to the ‘Fortress’ city, taking the city after a direct assault, on 21 October 1944. From Aachen the division attacked eastward through the Hurtgen Forrest, Driving on to the Roer, they moved to a rest area on the 7 December, their first real rest in 6 months, combat, when the Rundstedt offensive suddenly broke loose, 16, December 1944.
The uniform represents well the end of the war, everyone, by this time, was wearing Dress OD’s but in the 4-pocket cut, most of the ‘Ike’ jackets were privately purchased, items. His ribbons show, that he was wounded and received the Purple Heart, he was captured and has the POW Medal, which was years later issued to him, The American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Ribbon, followed by the EAMC-ribbon with multiple campaign stars on it, and the Occupation Duty Ribbon.
His service stripes sow 2 enlistments of service depending on the contract they represent 2 to 4 year hitches and 2 1/2 years at least in battle bars. On the right pocket, he has the rifleman, qualification badge, and basic badge, with 3 qualification bars hanging from it. He also carries the CIB, and the DUIs for the 16th Infantry Regiment, as he may have looked while stationed in Germany after the war.
“Upgraded” Enlisted Man, 1st Infantry Division, 16th Infantry Regiment on Occupation Duty.
Updated (3rd Time in a Week!) - Private, 1st Infantry Division, 18th Infantry Regiment, “Ike Jacket” Occupation Duty:
Continuing with the 1st Infantry’s WWII Story with this uniform, The Germans who had been thought to be almost depleted, hit back in the Winter of 1944, And the Allies were caught off guard. And the division raced to the Ardennes, continuously fighting lasted from 17 December 1944 to 28 January 1945, helping to blunt the attack, and actually turning back the German offensive. Thereupon, the division attacked and again breached the Seigfried Line, fought across the Roer, 23 February 1945, and drove onto the Rhine River, where they crossed it at the Remagen Bridgehead, 15-16 March 1945.
The Division broke out from the Remagen Bridgehead area, to take part in the encirclement of the Ruhr Pocket, captured Paderborn, pushed through the Harz Mountains, and was in Czechoslovakia, at Kinsperk, Sangerberg, and Mnichov, when the war in Europe came to an end.
The uniform is one of the variants of the famous and very popular ‘IKE’ jacket. It carries on it the French ‘Recognition’ lanyard on the left sleeve. He has ribbons for the Europe / Africa / Middle-Eastern Campaign, a post-war uniform, and now has the WWII Victory medal and the Occupation for his time in Germany following the war. He had the CIB for his battle service, and the DUIs for the 18th Infantry on the lower lapels, under his brass discs, portraying his U.S. ARMY affiliation, and infantry assignment. on the other pocket, he has the Unit Presidential Citation, with 2 oakleaf’s on it (3rd award).
Cross-stitching, something that was popular amongst the troops of the time, have sometimes too much time on their hands it was something to kill some time with. Sometimes called their barracks uniform, or walking out, it was used when the battle uniform was not being used, he would have had matching trousers, bloused into brown polished boots, with a khaki shirt, at this time the blue dress uniforms were used, but not really issued to the men, but this was a dress-class uniform. The piping on his worn overseas cap depicts his assignment now with the Infantry, but it is pretty worn out.
UPDATED - Private, 1st Infantry Division, 18th Infantry Regiment, Nuremberg Prisoner Guard.
While not an MP peruse This 1st Infantry Division Soldier, is from the 18th Infantry Regiment, and carries the DUIs for them. On Assignment the Nuremberg Trials following the War with Germany. He is up for the assignment, as a guard to the prisoners as they were brought into the Trials. He soldier did over a year in battle, as an Infantryman and saw enough battle to have the CIB, his European/Africa Campaign Ribbon, has 2 battle stars, representing several campaigns. He has the American Campaign Medal and National Defence. I guess he’s up to the task of guard duty. He was on duty while actually in the courtroom.
In the top row the ribbons tell us he has been wounded, and was a good soldier, with the Good Medal, a rarity at the time, and the American Defence Ribbon, This was quite a lot for WWII, and most were hard-earned then, Officers they say got breaks, but 1 or 2 ribbons was the norm for soldiers then. He would have had matching trousers and a khaki shirt with a tie. And while on duty he might have a 45 auto pistol on a white web belt, maybe a baton, but again he is not an MP. Polished Boots and some may have had ascots worn with the uniform.
1 INF. DIV., 26 INF. RGT. “Blue Spader’s” Assignment in “Cold War” Germany:
Note: UPDATED 7-6-23
At the beginning of the 20th century, the United States Army was far from being what its become, with more militia than disciplined soldiers. It was small and really still being formed, there were barely enough people to meet its overseas commitments in Cuba, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico. So in 1901, Congress authorized five additional Regular Army infantry regiments: the 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, and 30th Infantry. The 26th Infantry Regiment after it had been formed, went to the Philippines, and they were there for 20 years, constantly deployed to the Southwest Pacific, and then the Mexican and Indian frontiers, and eventually in Europe too. It earned
At Soissons the price of winning the battle was, that of the 3,100 Blue Spaders that started the attack, over 1,500 had been killed or wounded including 60 officers and its commander, a Major, so went the summer of 1918. After the war, there was a short stint on occupation duty in Germany. When the regiment returned to the United States they became a part of a much down-sized peacetime Army. And they went back to chasing Mexican bandits and settling disputes in the Indian Territory. The expeditionary division would later be renamed the First Division and thus began the regiment's long association with the "Big Red One".
Then came 1941, they were called upon to go to war in Europe again. The regiment was again assigned to the 1st Infantry Division and was so throughout the duration of World War II.
Through World War II, the 26th Infantry was in the first-ever American amphibious assault in North Africa, They were at Kasserine Pass, Sicily the Battle of Gela, and invaded France via Normandy, took the German city of Aachen, Crossed the Rhine River and fought all the way to Czechoslovakia by the time the war came to its end in Europe. They had been led by Colonel John F. R. Seitz, had done three amphibious assaults, and earned seven battle streamers, plus a Presidential Unit Citation along with five foreign awards.
The Combat Infantryman’s Badge (CIB) is pinned on above his special ribbons bar, then is a pin-on item, with khaki-cloth backing, it is the American Campaign Ribbon, over the WWII Victory Ribbon, Occupational Duty, National Defense Service Medal, maybe, there is no campaign ribbon (from where he fought), perhaps some paperwork has been overlooked.
Beginning another occupation of Germany, the Blue Spaders bore the United States, National Colors at the Allied Victory in Europe parade, and they served as guards at Nuremberg War Crimes Trials. Thus began a lengthy stay in Germany, first as conquerors and later as friends and allies. Called again to serve in the United States after a re-organization of the army, the unit was redesignated 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry, in the United States.
In February 1963 2nd Battle Group, 26th Infantry was activated (with assets of the 1st Battle Group, 5th Infantry) & assigned to the 1st Infantry Division at Ft. Riley, Kansas. 2nd Battle Group, 26th Infantry participated in Operation Long Thrust VII, reinforcing the U.S. Berlin Brigade in the summer & autumn of 1963 before redeploying to Ft. Riley where it was inactivated in January 1964.
The soldier’s Shirt, Khaki - winter shirt, seems appropriate, for operations in Germany, but I cannot tell you the official name...probably-Shirt, Winter, Khaki! right, I don't know, but it would seem the thing to have on for office or behind-the-desk work, perhaps something outside on the base, on a decent day. The uniform depicts I think the times of 1945 to 1946-48 with the 26 Infantry Regiment Prisoner Guards detachment. Note: here the helmet does carry the 26th infantry regiments DUI, and had a picture with an insignia on the front- but it won’t load onto the site?
“UPDATED” Enlisted man, of the “Blue Spaders”, Nerumberg Prisoner Guard:
Note: I’m working on getting a dress helmet that would work with this uniform as well. The green helmet liner used here is the same as used with the prior uniform of the 26th Infantry, the Khaki Shirt, I could use another one of these, but it seems quite unobtainable. and out of reach, I may try to make a copy of this one myself.
“NEW” 1 infantry division khaki Shirt with white helmet Liner (Guard Helmet):
UPDATED - 1st INF. DIV., 18th INF. RGT., Nuremberg Trials Guard, Germany:
Now you've heard a little, but the Big Red One, but not likely about being guards, more for battle stories, and they’re far from done writing their story. They've been fighting for us since the first overseas war, and the second, and were still around afterward. and they’re still doing it, They have become one of the 'On-Call' units, like the 101st and the 1st Cavalry Division, these outfits just must be ready to go to work at any time.
Some of the troops were dispersed along with British Army Troops, to learn the ropes from the Brits, and more about their trade, killing Germans, and so they did They fought their way east across Algeria and into Tunisia along with the Tommys. The Division got their nose bloodied for the first time in this war and learned tough lessons in fighting the disciplined German Soldiers at the Battle of Kasserine Pass where they were outmaneuvered.
18th Infantry Regiment, their motto “In Omnia Paratus" This uniform is that of the type worn at the end of the war with Germany, a Man serving in Berlin with one of the outfits seen in Germany was the
The Infantry Regiment. was attached to the First Infantry Division. The Big Red Ones (as the Division was nicknamed) was organized on June 8, 1917, to serve on the Western Front in World War I, This was the first permanent division of the regular Army and it fought all American wars since 1917, except in the Korean Conflict.
The Division was commanded by MG Terry de la Mesa Allen. His1st Division was the first American division sent to Europe and was sent to England, in July of 1942. The Big Red One would lead the invasion of then-French North Africa, landing near Oran, Algeria, on November 8, 1942.
They were re-assembled and under Allen’s command, the Big Red One defeated the Germans, 10th Panzer Division, at the Battle of El Guettar in 1943. They had learned from their mistakes, The British had thought the US Soldiers soft, but the Americans learned quickly and had become hardened.
July 10, 1943, the 1st Infantry Division was involved in the second amphibious landing of the invasion of Sicily. The Infantrymen had naval gunfire support that played a big role in their success. The Big Red One, nicely sewn in place with some extra effort obviously a very proud soldier.
The division repelled multiple assaults on the Sicilian beachhead by Italian formations and then the Well trained, and well equipped, German "Luftwaffe Ground Forces known as the Hermann Goering Panzer Division,
Note: The 'In Country' made Blue Presidential Citation, This Soldiers Uniform, has the unit’s citations, and divisional decorations-showing what the unit had gone through, and the typical ribbons, of a typical soldier who had survived the battles, and now at the end of his tour of duty. These are some of the most common ribbons a soldier could have for his WWII service, the Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign ribbon, the WWII Victory Ribbon, and the Occupational Service Ribbon, it does nothing to say of the hell this soldier may have gone through, of what he saw, felt, or lived through, what condition he lived under, but- he has the CIB above them, so one can assume-he saw plenty enough.
The division fought across the central part of Sicily fighting many battles, eventually fighting the German forces at the Battle of Troina. Where Private James W. Reese would win the Medal of Honor. This shows the 1st Division’s honorary red shoulder Cord.
When Sicily was liberated, General Eisenhower had selected the 1st ID. for a slot in Operation Overlord, the invasion of France, via England, this would be a cross-channel Maritime Operation. MG Clarence R. Huebner, who had served with the division in the First War, became the new Commander.
The new Commander trained his med hard, and knew their biggest test yet was still to come, The division had been sent back to England in November 1943, for the buildup for the cross-channel operations that were clearly in the works.
By September 1944, the 1st Infantry Division was moving into the muddy, wet, German frontier advancing to the Siegfried Line, threw the rows of anti-tank Dragon Teeth obstacles, and machine-gun bunkers.
The soldiers of the division went into and took the city of Aachen, It would be the first German "Fortress City" to fall to Americans and the first where the German Commander did not follow Hitler's Direct Orders to destroy the city.
Through heroic, individual initiative, and good leadership, the 1st Infantry Division overran the enemy forces and moved inland into a quagmire of hedgerows. They fought on and bled through Normandy's, cities and fields, and in the breakout during Operation Cobra, in a leap across northern France, sometimes led by overwhelming air support pushing the Germans out of France.
The Day of Days came, The Division had been reinforced with two more regiments, the 29th Infantry Division and the 1st Division led by "Force O" in the assault on Omaha Beach, at Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944. It would be known as "Bloody Omaha" after they had charged the intensive, well-built beach defenses.
The 1st had a lot of battling under its belt, it had three amphibious assaults in North Africa, Sicily, and Normandy on record. And had successfully beaten the enemy in those theaters of operations, It proved it had what it takes to beat down the Nazis. (Note: This helmet has been re-done by a friend of mine- and he is just an expert at this, The helmet has some marks on it, and a couple from shipping but that is my fault, I have two fellows that could wear it- and did not mark which one it went on this guy or the next I guess).
(Note: The Cap here does not have a DUI on its left front, I'm not sure if one wasn't kept by the original owner, or it went on when regulations moved them back onto the shoulder boards. or how that works with the lapel holding the DUIs on them- or due to his particular position at the time.
The War (In Europe) ended on May 8, 1945, then the 1st Infantry Division made it to Czechoslovakia and liberated the Nazi labor camp at Falkenau, confirming why the men had fought as they did, yet some would wonder just how mankind could go so far as killing its own people like this.
The next blood bath would be in the Hurtgen Forest, It was a stalemate, and in the frozen, horrible conditions, a huge loss of life, was washed over by the news of a bigger event of the Battle of the Bulge; and then the big push into central Germany.
The division had 16 Medal of Honor recipients, And the soldiers had an unequaled record, fighting more than any other American division. He has obtained one of these popular style jackets to return home in. Not a lot of extra flash- but anyone who had served with this fine outfit had tremendous pride and was just happy to get back home. The jacket soon came off and then hung in the closet for 70 years.
International Military Tribunal:
I had to throw a couple of pictures in here with the white helmet (Liner) in use at the trials, and I believe they were only used here, what happened to them afterward- well I would suppose, they went into the stockpile and repainted green. I don't know this though, and it's not a fact. But some may have made their way into museums.
While many of the high commands took their own lives at or near the end of the war, some of the hierarchy of Hitler's Germany couldn't do that then, and were caught, and put on the stand for trial. Goring, Rudolf Hess, Albert Speers, Karl Doenitz, and several Field Marshals, Generals, etc. Would get their day in court.
Hermann Goring tried to outthink the tribunal and make a mockery of the trial. He befriended a couple of Americans in the process, and in the end commonly believed- that one must have given him back his coincide pill, hidden in a hand cream jar...and he would cheat the hangman's noose.
Although the uniform carries no ribbons, nor citation ribbon, the troop has served threw one term, 3-4 years as seen by his hash mark, so he's not exactly a newbie either, so he may have been assigned to the unit from another, for guard duty assignment, or something too, being 1946-7 for the trials, with his training and perhaps he was in limbo for the last year of the war-than stationed in Germany to finish his contract with the 18th, while they earned 3 presidential unit citations, and Presidential Unit Citation (Army) for BEJA, TUNISIA, NORMANDY, and for AACHEN, GERMANY, and all the troops in service at the time would have, had the big blue ribbon boxed in a brass edging, and would have had 2 oak leaves on it the uniform is missing it, someone removed them.
The International Military Tribunal: Nuremberg Tribunal Trial Manuel. This was made to be used with all the country's languages. To confirm with each of these countries’ laws, and/or become part of them. And it would change international law forever. I what is and what is just not acceptable to the human race, setting down common rights and wrongs...into law.
The Allied Soldiers at the trials were all issued ID cards, for the duration of the trials.
The uniform is but one variant of these “Trail Uniforms” In the collection, and this took a long time to sort out, and try and get right after moving several times and website rebuilding, etc. And often updating like here when a helmet comes along.
1 Inf. Nuremberg Trials, Service Jacket:
Note: UPDATED 7-6-23
End of War in Europe:
Now with the ending of hostilities in Europe, 1000's of enemy soldiers surrendered, some went on the lamb but most of these were eventually cough and put in a POW camp, 1000s already in camps. and most all had seen the horrors of war and were now defeated-they were also starving, some of their leaders in hiding.
They came down the autobahn and marched through the cities into detention, in the east they would be marched all to Siberia, with 1000's dying well before they even got to the Gulags, where most would spend the rest of their lives, a small percent came home many years later. In the West began a lot of sorting and searching for those accused of war crimes.
German Prisoners:
The Allies agreed that Nazi war criminals had to be tried and held responsible for these hideous crimes. While some never made it, shot on the spot out of passion, and in the East, this was likely the way they ended it, some of the political, and military commanders did get captured and were held in prisons. They knew they had to try and show that we can still be civilized, the Nuremberg trials were a series of 13 trials that took place between 1945 and 1949. Unfortunately, Nazi leader Adolf Hitler (1889-1945) did not have the guts to stand up to the enemy and committed suicide, along with several of his loyal group of political and military leaders, who never got to go to trial.
Judge, Lawyers, and accused meet:
It came down to several dozen high-ranking individuals who would end up having to explain their actions but as so many would-be repeatedly saying - I was only following orders! the defendants, who included Nazi Party officials and the living high-ranking military officers, as well as several German industrialists, lawyers, and doctors, were all indicted on such charges as 'Crimes against peace and crimes against humanity. A few got to feel the weight of many responsible.
The legal justifications of the trials, as well as the new procedural innovations, were quite controversial at the time. We must remember computers as we know them did not exist, not like today. And they had invented a method of instantly showing what a defendant said and translated each language to the judges and lawyers in the facility.
The Nuremberg trials are considered a milestone in the establishment of a permanent international court, It was a huge step in World Acknowledgment and the Criminal State of Hitlers, there had to be international law, they did and it still is having to deal with later instances of genocide and other crimes against humanity.
The Trial:
The American chief prosecutor, Robert H. Jackson was the associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Each of the four Allied powers supplied two judges, there would be the main judge and an alternate. And there were a lot of people doing research and acquiring information that was hard at work too in the background.
The introduction of a new technological innovation that could instantaneously translate into all the languages used at the Trial. IBM had provided the technology and corralled up men and women from various international telephone exchanges, and when they all got together, they made an on-the-spot translation possible, through their headphones they could listen in English, French, German, and Russian.
1st Infantry, T-Staff Sergeant, at Trials:
When Adolf Hitler became the chancellor of Germany way before World War II, back in 1933, The 'Nazi' government, grabbed control...of everything quickly. Soon their policies focused their hate on the German-their own people, the Jewish people their perceived enemies, and every problem blamed on them, by the Nazi state.
For the next ten years, their policies grew, they became very violent, threw out the war period, systematic, state it's estimated about 6 million European Jews and up to another 6 million non-Jews were systematically murdered in very refined methods of termination of these people, it would remain a dark note on German history, many cares not even think about anymore, it very disturbing people can voluntarily do this to each other.
In December 1942, the Allied leaders of Great Britain, the United States, and the Soviet Union issued the first joint declaration officially noting the mass murder of European Jews and prosecuting those responsible for the violence against civilians. Joseph Stalin Russia’s Leader proposed the execution of 50,000 - 100,000 German staff officers Winston Churchill England's Prime Minister, had discussed the possibility of summary execution (Without a Trial) of the Leading Nazis, and Military Officers, but then the American leaders persuaded Stalin, that a criminal trial would be far more effective. And the criminal proceedings would be documented, and the crimes got written down and file on individuals brought out, charges against the defendants would prevent later accusations that the defendants were condemned without evidence and facts.
There were many legal and procedural difficulties to overcome in setting up the Nuremberg trials. First, there was no precedent for an international trial of war criminals.
Note the DUIs observed on this uniform, are some of the rarest you can find for the US, WWII Era uniforms, The insignia has at the to-a broken swastika on the end of a branding-iron type key, above the scale of law, above the flames, of the crushed and broken German Military Eagle, I am lucky to have a set here to show, as there were a couple 3 versions of these I have seen.
There were earlier instances of prosecution for war crimes, such as the execution of a Confederate army officer Henry Wirz (1823-65) for maltreatment of Union prisoners of war, during the American Civil War (1861-65); and the courts-martial held by Turkey in 1919-20 to punish those responsible for the Armenian genocide of 1915-16 but never had there been a trial of this size-or of the actual political prisoners, and their leaders.
At the Nuremberg trials, four powers, (France, Britain, the Soviet Union, and the U.S.) with complacently different political systems, and different legal traditions and practices for the first time agreed on what would accept and not, to become international laws. On the left sleeve, he has the 'Big Red One, 1st Infantry Division's insignia, over the Technical / Staff Sargent, a high rank for a technician.
The 'Allies' eventually agreed on the laws that would be. And they had to agree on procedures for the Nuremberg trials, all agreeing on the London Charter of the International Military Tribunal (IMT), issued on August 8, 1945. I think there was an effort to have a non-partial trial, and not to have in the courtroom people who had fought the enemy. So, this is interesting this soldier fought for over 2 1/2 years, of his over 3-year hitch…I would assume he had some feelings against the accused eh...but he was the guard, so the prisoner would be less likely to mess with the guard too.
It was at this time it was determined that civilian officials, as well as military officers, could be accused of war crimes.
Note: On the uniform here, he has a Combat Infantry Badge, a (Backwards) Occupation Ribbon, likey it fell off-and I put it on wrong-before the photoshoot! WWII Victory, and his European, African, and Middle East Campaign Ribbon with 4 Campaign Stars on it. Also, a Rifle Qualification Badge, The French Forager hanging from his shoulder strap, few, but important decorations.
Among other things, the charter defined three categories of crimes: crimes against peace (including planning, preparing, starting, or waging wars of aggression or wars in violation of international agreements), war crimes (including violations of customs or laws of war, including improper treatment of civilians and prisoners of war) and crimes against humanity (including murder, enslavement or deportation of civilians or persecution on political, religious, or racial grounds).
The cap carries the blue piping in use at the time and threw the 50s, the squared tips at the front and back, sometimes called 'The PX style" I think-just different manufacturers did it differently and one used what he was issued. The cap carries the 'IMT' Metal insignia on his cap as well.
Now several of these fellows had helmets, they have gone in for refurbishing, and I'm sure they’re going to be beautiful, this is something I no longer have time to wait for, so I just put the uniforms on the site. but these things take time, this collection is something like a 12–15-year process, longer if we include the collecting of insignia before they were shown here......
This cap is odd that it is bright yellow inside, which would make more sense if he was a cavalryman and may identify the maker or a tailor’s work. The uniform of course would have a khaki shirt underneath, and a matching trousers blouse with brown boots, I would think worn with it. perhaps a web belt with a holster and magazine pouch and aid kit.
Trial Guards:
Every Cell has its own guard, and every cell could be watched day or night. Occasionally they were let outside to talk to each other.
The Cells were small, a window on the far end, a small table a toilet, and a bed...the prisoners had lots of time to think about what they might say.
UPDATED* (MP) Nuremberg Trial Prisoner Guard, 1st INF. DIV. Sergeant:
The Nuremberg trials was the Trial of Major War Criminals, held from November 20, 1945, to October 1, 1946.
This was a trial made up like no other kind before, It had most of the same American and English manner, But the Russians were involved too and had their say on how to handle it, and they used parts of each legal system’s traditions. One can assume some would want some very harsh sentences too, and this would have to be agreed on.
Cut from the story, and back to the uniform for a second. Now these "Nuremberg Trials DUIs" are not real, and they were bought as such but were anything but cheap, and the other ones that were bought as real, and I paid threw my teeth for, and are probably the most expensive insignia of the collection, by far, there are reproductions that-well there obvious to me-these are not that, quite different, but- here the other day-one flashed, and just after it sold for a dollar- mine were many, hundreds of times more than that...so there you go.
There were prosecutors and defense attorneys as one would expect, according to British and American law, but all the decisions and all the sentences were to be imposed by a tribunal (a panel of judges) rather than a single judge and a jury. One can see how decisions could be complicated to make.
In the big picture, twenty-four individuals were indicted, with six different Nazi organizations that were determined to be criminal institutions, like the Gestapo, (secret state police) and the Wehrmacht, (Army, Navy, and Air Force), I can guess the SA, the general SS for that matter... One of the indicted men was deemed medically unfit to stand trial, and a second man killed himself before the trial began.
Of course, Adolf Hitler, Heinrich Himmler, and Joseph Goebbels, all had committed suicide in the spring of 1945 so they could not be brought to trial or the humiliation of one. They were not alone however-months before when there was a bomb plot against Hitler, several had killed themselves rather than get shot by Hitler- and as the war ended - Officer’s units getting wiped out, and did not want to surrender to the Russians, or the other allies, and shot themselves, etc.
Each of the defendants was able to pick their own lawyers, the most common defense strategy was that the crimes defined in the London Charter were examples of ex-post-facto-law; that is, they were laws that criminalized actions committed before the laws were drafted.
Another defense was that the Allies as the winners of the war, would be just taking their aggression out on the accused, and the Trial couldn’t be fair because of what a few people did, etc. Most would use the excuse of 'I was following orders and of course, the orders were never in writing.
All but three of the defendants were found guilty by their international tribunal. Twelve got the death sentence, one in absentee, and all the rest were given prison sentences ranging from 10 years to life in jail. Ten of the condemned were executed by hanging on October 16, 1946. Hermann Goring had become the commander of the Luftwaffe, he mysteriously committed suicide the night before his execution having a cyanide capsule, he had hidden in a jar of skin medication, He had bitten onto the capsule breaking it and instantly killed himself, he wanted to be shot-the tribunal had said no.
With this uniform, I have an MP, assigned to the Tribunal, a Sergeant is committed to the Tribunal, and opposed to the 1st Infantry Division, or Brigade, I assume to guard the Judge may and/or Lawyers. He wears a variant of the popular Ike Jacket, some were straight in the front others had a square or round button flap at the bottom, the flaps being the latter style.
Nuremberg Trials:
There were the MPs and Guards, and Judges and Prisoners, and there were the clerks and stenographers, and the guys doing the paperwork. there must have been investigations-perhaps that all started before the war ended even. And then there were witnesses called, consultants, etc. and they all had to be interviewed as well.
*Note: This unforms helmet liner, is getting fixed up, and will be photographed and added to the website soon.
Captain, Judge Advocate, Assigned to the Nuremberg Trials:
The Germans surrendered the now famous excuse of (I was following orders), was just being recognized. But they were never written, verbal orders cant be proven well. Politics came to play, as well as those that wanted vengeance or retaliation in the Nuremberg Trials, addressing war crimes in Europe, someone was going to have to pay for it, or try to, some claiming it was their duty still in their heart, others got away with it, or received light sentences. So the saying is the Winner writes the history, and no one person was going to pay for it. The War was so bad, costly in lives, land, and everything in the world had paid something and it was vastly overwhelming to comprehend the damage to all. Some never did any time, others had to be hung, and some wanted to explain, but really, we just wanted it to be over and behind us, but some really bad things and the Allies wanted answers, they wanted an explanation of how these terrible crimes could have happened, of how come it had to come to this point, and it did, and God help us should the World erupt in war again.
This (to me) is one of the types - of uniforms. Just so powerful a statement, yet, completely plain to someone not recognizing the patch or lapel brass.
The patch is that of the Nuremberg Trial Group, assigned directly to the individual German Prisoners of War, taking place following WWII, in the judgment of war crimes, against the people.
This uniform ended up costing me a small fortune.... therefore, must be shown, but also because of the story it tells, of a trial that tried to right, with powers beyond them making other plays the decisions that affected them, but they had to be done, and though they were not perfect, also showed humanity still existed in the decision making. In some cases, overly so, but there were hangings that took place as well, examples made, that justice will prevail.
The collar tells us he is an office (U.S. Brass), a Captain's rank on his shoulder, an Attorneys Rank, and he wears the (MOS) Badge of the 'Judge Advocate General aka JAG). his lower sleeve shows around 12 years or something in military service, the bar- means maybe he started his 'War Crimes' work - 'Overseas’ and was there for at least 6 months. The privilege of opening the first trial in history for crimes against the peace of the world imposes a grave responsibility.
The wrongs which we seek to condemn and punish have been so calculated, so malignant and so devastating, that civilization cannot tolerate their being ignored, because it cannot survive they're being repeated. The US. Chief Prosecutor was Robert H. Jackson.
The trials started with the leading German officials before an International Military Tribunal (IMT), opened in Nuremberg, Germany, on November 20, 1945, six and a half months after Germany surrendered.
I think the captain here, I know absolutely nothing about.... but we got the story-and where he was assigned is a fair representation so to speak of one of these fellows would appear tough, worn, and a bit tired, in need of some attention, but a good example Soldier working as the Judge Advocate General, maybe one of the lower ranks in the position. I think the captain here, I know absolutely nothing about.... but we got the story-and where he was assigned is a fair representation so to speak of one of these fellows would appear tough, worn, and a bit tired, in need of some attention, but a good example Soldier working as the Judge Advocate General, maybe one of the lower ranks in the position.
This is the thing.... right here, likely one of the top three of the rarest uniforms I have I would say. The patch here is real-no doubt to me, rather it was matched to a uniform, you are possible, so what-great way than to use it, I say, works for me, I like this better than having it under glass... though it is a lot easier to store I must say...
The collar DUI's for the Nuremberg Guard- Duty Detachment are the same as on his cap, these have the swivel mount, less than desirable on the lapel, but one used what one got, still, an excellent example of the badge, showing all the details of the over-head key with the swastika on the end in its broken form, and on the lower side, the Smashed German Wehrmacht Symbol.
The brass collar disc displays his Military Police Assignment in the Army, its style is for the Enlisted only. it’s odd that the two-collar bass and DUI should point at each other- as per regulations, as I understand it, maybe another reason for it, or just got that way hanging in the closet for so many years... I may adjust them back at some point, I think without the DUI's-they would be correct.
The insignia on the sleeve is a good example, and partially why this is such an expensive investment, it is an exultant example indeed.
It could be argued, that in the courtroom the officer’s visor cap would have been more appropriate - I don’t know about that really. But have one sitting here so hence the option is possible, this is a nice example, and works for me.
Staff Sergeant, 4 Cavalry Regiment, Constable Assignment:
The US. Constable (Mechanized):
The Constabulary was also issued the M-8 Greyhound 'Armored car', even some M-24 Chaffee Light tanks. While less than what was really needed, they could be used the cross country as well and used for roadblocks. This M-8 Armored Car, with side panels removed to clear mud. These vehicles were getting a bit long in the tooth as well, and dependability would start to be a problem.
The Constabulary was in a constant struggle to overcome deficiencies in its transportation. The vehicles originally issued to the Constabulary, numbering approximately 10,000, were taken from large concentrations of old-used combat motor vehicles left behind the military, as they rotated home.
Many of these vehicles were already worn out, the rest had not been maintained in disuse. The original condition of the vehicles placed a severe test upon the Constabulary, having started out, old and obsolete, now got beat up and tired vehicles. Here the Constable Forces are using Half Tracks.
Constabulary (from 4th Cav.) Post War:
When the 15th Constabulary Regiment deactivated, they reorganized the 2nd, 6th, and 14th, making them armored cavalry regiments. But the Constabulary's mission had been done, and pretty well they had taken up the slack when the regular army changed their mission, and the situation of the world was changing.
Then the HQ of the U.S. Constabulary was inactivated, on 24 November 1950, most of the Constabulary would then be subordinated to the newly activated Seventh Army. That would be the point of time these uniforms represent, the later part of the operations.
The 2nd Constabulary Brigade, with the 15th and 24th Constabulary Squadrons, were the last operational units and continued until their inactivation in December 1952. Their motto had been "Mobility, Vigilance, Justice.
The Headquarters and Headquarters Troop of the U.S. Constabulary had been set up as a conventional corps headquarters but also had some special troops trained in various communications and intelligence training, criminal investigation, and some counterintelligence assets) these were needed for its security force.
A signal squadron's job was to keep headquarters informed and in touch with the individual constabulary units and various posts. There was even an air liaison squadron, given 32 spotter planes, with each regiment using nine aircraft.
Three mechanized troops were issued jeeps an M-8 and some M38 armored cars. They had three platoons with Reconnaissance sections.
There had been 10 armored cars with the 37mm gun mounted on them. I think this may be what one of the fellows who operated with them, in the Reconnaissance role along the borders, and at roadblocks.
The Staff Sergeant sits in a good position, it's sometimes very good to be an NCO, and Officers tend to go easier on them, especially if they had been in service during the war. Note the helmet has the Constable “C” Identification applied directly to the Hard Shell, rather than the Helmet Liner as per the norm for a dress helmet, and later MP Helmets, but this implies they were used when expecting and/or prepared for trouble, and thus perhaps assigned to one of the M-8 or M-20 Armored Car detachments. I don’t recall, but the M-1 liner on this one I want to say had the markings applied to it as well. And photos of the time show dark green and polished, as well as white liners in use with the various Constable units.
Note - Information From various places one was: https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/constab-ip.html
Corporal, Constable-MP:
The Constabulary Uniform was designed to make him recognizable and stand out as an elite force. The Yellow and Red "Lightning Bolt" on a circular shoulder patch with a Blue "C" in the middle. Yellow, blue, and red combined the colors of the cavalry, infantry, and artillery.
The Constabulary of the reconnaissance group wore US Cavalry bright golden yellow scarves, brightly shined-up combat boots, and helmets or liners bearing the Constabulary insignia. Note: The last 2 pictures show the DUIs of the 4th Cavalry Regiment.
It's been said that the Constables were sometimes called a "circle C cowboy" by regular army personnel. It is also said that the Constabulary was so-called the Circle C Cowboys as they had approximately 300 horses issued to them for duty in Berlin. They were also used in Austria, as well as two veterinarians treated them.
The mission of the United States Constabulary was to maintain general military and civil security and to help accomplish the objectives of the United States government in Germany. Note here the cap has retained its green and yellow piping in reference to his MP Branch.
The Constabulary would patrol throughout the region of Germany and Austria and search along the borders. The patrol area was over 40,000 square miles, including nearly 1,400 miles of international and inter-zonal boundaries.
The Occupation Forces of Germany had their hands full, it was a very large area, very populated areas, and large industrial areas, to farmland planes and hills, rivers, and woods, all of it had been used to run the German war machine, and had to be refocused in is used, it would take some time to earn the peoples trust and be able to work together on rebuilding Germany along with the rest of war-torn Europe.
The uniforms here represent the Army's standard dress of the time used into the mid-'50s when it was phased out to Dress Green as opposed to the OD's. Often officers wore it with khaki trousers called 'Pinks' and Greens then. The EM had the OD trousers unless wearing summer khakis, Constables always looked sharp-like MPs of the regular Army. This helmet has a bit different paintwork than the prior uniform, more of a mass-produced look to it, both good paint jobs.
While the prior helmet retained its liner only, I figure if the steel cove was not painted up and used for more serious work, this uniform had the steel pot painted up and was intended to be were with the liner both are in near excellent condition. Both uniforms are of the 4-pocket dress type.
The US. Constable Force: The Kasserine where the Constables lived, some with their families was considered a good duty, and when not on duty the men had stuff to do like movies and restaurants, and the like to help morale, they were held to a high standard though, and there was plenty of studying and paperwork to do. All the members of the Constabulary could travel throughout Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Italy.
The Constabulary did make raids, known officially as "check and search operations, looking for displaced persons and refugees in camps as well as in the German population. And standard PT and field training continued, as seen by this Constable in the field jacket.
The Constabulary worked with the military in the re-fabrication and training of the 'New' German police force. The obvious transition for German police to eventually take over and take care of the job of the constable over time. They would work with the German police officers, needed to bury the images of the Gestapo, the SD, and Kripo images in the minds of the civilian population, and help give a positive look at this very needed personnel, who would take over completely to Police Job of the country, inevitably.
This uniform and liner really deserve some better pictures, I’m anything but a good picture taker I realize, but one picture just won’t cover it well but you get the just of it with the first photos of the uniform. Some are beautiful, but many are so old the webbing tears apart, they are old and fragile, and many I have been able to re-create, or all-out update but this gets spendy fast.
