“Forgotten Peacekeepers” is an interesting read through a critical and historical time. It would make a perfect educational piece for family discussion of all ages for around the dinner table.”
Subject Matter: Following WWII, Germany was in complete disarray. The U.S. Constabulary, through structure and commitment, brought stability, security, hope, and restored law and order to the American Zone of Occupation. The U.S. Constabulary was created specifically to assist the American military government to restore law and order to a war torn country and provide for the security of the German population.
In the words of then Secretary of State James F. Byrnes, “It is the view of the American government that the German people … be given the primary responsibility … to manage their own internal affairs in a democratic way, with genuine respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and win their way back to an honorable place among the free and peace loving nations of the world”.
In its newfound role as an occupying force, the U.S. Constabulary brought stability and security to the American Zone of Occupation and enabled Germany to emerge as a democracy. They helped to win the peace. They were the Forgotten Peacekeepers.
I was six and a half when my father was stationed at Lenggries (with the 2nd). We lived halfway down the hill from the Kaserne, looking up at it. The house, in the 70s I think, was Gasthaus Fraunhofer. My brother and I went to school in Bad Tolz by jeep with an armed driver every day. The school had 21 students, as I recall.
We were later transferred to Deggendorf (with the 66th), and lived in Nussdorf. That was 1947-8. We went to two school. The first was in Tolz, on top of a hill overlooking the kaserne, which I only found out a few years ago was an SS training facility. Later we went to a school in Nussdorf.
I remember a lot from those days, and have lived in Europe twice since – in Italy, and in North Holland and France. I loved almost all of it.