CONTROL OF CIVIL LIFE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 193, 13 May 1944, Page 7

CONTROL OF CIVIL LIFE

Post-Invasion Plan NEW BRANCH OF H.Q. STAFF (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 11. A new section at General Eisenhower’s Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Force has been formed to help continental Europe back on to its feet, writes a military correspondent. It is named “Civil Affairs,” and it is a staff division several thousand strong, made up of highly-quali-fied officers and enlisted men of the American, British and Canadian forces. Its military title is “Go,” and its task is unparalleled in military history. In the coming invasion of Europe the job of Go will be, first, in the liberated areas, to assist and advise the national Governments in restoring normal clvnian life and to represent to the restored Governments the views on civil affairs of the Supreme Commander; and, secondly, in Germany, to establish a military government to administer civil affairs in those areas which fall within the responsibility of the Supreme Commander during the period of military occupation. The correspondent says that this newly created force, for which personnel have been training for many months in secret in a special school in Britain and the United States, will not only .play a very important part in the operations in Europe but also in the settlement of Europe after they are ended. It will make a valuable contribution toward preventing another war. ’ Many Complex Problems.

Manifold and complex problems will confront the men at the head of G 5. They are well equipped to meet them. These soldier diplomats have been big business men, college presidents, professors, governors, mayors, journalists, doctors and lawyers. Their training has included physical conditioning, languages, civil affairs, and lectures by experts bn Europe under Hitler. They have been trained as soldiers, for they will accompany the combat forces. Before invasion each detachment of officers and men will be told what village, town, city or area is its destination. All available information about the place will be given to them so that when a detachment arrives the men will know the names of the local officials, where they live, the location of police stations and other useful facts. As soon as an area is occupied by the Allies a team of these men will get to work. The mission of the civil affairs detachments is identical with that of any other branch of the armed forces —to help to bring the war to a successful conclusion. They will see that civilian problems do .not interfere with the operations of tactical units. They will mobilize civilian resources to aid the Allies. Civilian wishes will be met as operations permit. Theirs will be military control —a very different thing from military government, or Amgot, as it Is called in Italy. Military control will continue only as long as operations make it essential. General Eisenhower’s policy is to restore these countries to their own chosen Governments at the earliest possible opportunity. Civilians of liberated countries, of course, will be worked through their own local authorities, and the civil courts will continue to hear their civil' cases. Relation with U.N.R.R.A. The difference between Go and U.N.R.R.A. is roughly that Go is responsible for the military period, while U.N.R.R.A. will gradually merge in afterward, taking over without any embarrassing halt where G 5 leaves off. In Germany, the work and policy of G 5 will be totally different. There they will ex; ercise complete domination and control in the form of military government. It will not be called A.M.G.0.T., but the working will be similar. In 'short, the situation in Germany will be command instead of advice and agreement. Nazis will be removed as soon as tne Allies enter. This will ■ inevitably mean a great gap in the ranks eof public and cisvil servants directing civil administration. Their replacement will be difficult, but it is hoped to find many public servants who had become members of the Nazi Party only for the sake of expediency in order to hold down their jobs and live. Officials of this kind, where they are found genuine, will be allowed to continue temporarily in their jobs, but there will be most searching investigation to prove beyond any shadow of doubt where their sympathies lie.

POLICY OF CONTROL

Early Self-Government _ LONDON, May 11. The chief of G 5 under General Eisenhower is a Canadian-born Briton, Lieut.General A- E. Grassett. Next in command are two Americans who did this sort of job in Tunisia and Italy. Briga-dier-Generals J. C. Holmes and F. J. McSherry. Plans have already been worked out for what G 5 will have to do in each liberated country, taking into account all possible difficulties such as disease on a large scale, shortage of food, and floating populations. Here is a rough idea of how the plans will be put into work in the various countries:—

France: It is intended that she shall govern herself as soon as possible, but while fighting goes on there will have to be military control. During this phase, what General Eisenhower says, goes; and every unit of G 5 will have a French liaison officer with it to sec that things go smoothly. These liaison officers have been nominated by the French National Committee.! and are being trained for the job. All Vichv men in France will have to go, and all decisions as to who will go and who will take their place will be in the hands of the French National Committee. Holland. Belgium, Luxemburg and Norway: In all these countries the plan will be much the same. All will take over t?-w own Government as soon as possible.

Denmark: Though they have never been our allies, the Danes have shown so great a will to resist the Germans that their country will be treated on the same basis as though they were allies. Germany: While the Allied countries will be under military control, Germany will he under military government. There will be no question of any collaboration with any existing Nazi officials, and in the fullest possible sense General Eisenhower will bo the military governor of the conquered Reich.