Commandant's Service

Red shield arm patch of the soviet commandant's Service

Commandant's Service was the name for the military police of some Warsaw Pact[1] armies. Its principal duties were providing garrison security and traffic control. It is not to be confused with a similar organization called Traffic Regulators operated by the Transport Troops of the Rear Services.

Soviet Union/Russia

GAZ Sobol Commandant's Service van

The Komendantskaya sluzhba (Ru:комендантская служба) or 'komendatura' (Ru:комендатура) in the Soviet and Russian militaries were designated by a red shield on one or both arms bearing a yellow letter "K", plain red shoulder boards and a white helmet bearing a red star and broad red circumferential stripe.[2] These helmets were generally painted at the unit level [2][3] The komendatura are being replaced by the newly established Military Police (Ru:Военная полиция России or Voennaya politsiya or VP).

At one time the komendatura officers wore a black cloth or leather uniform with white helmets and gloves, and belts and holsters.[2][4][5]

East Germany

The East German Army Commandant's Service was called the Kommandantendienst or KD, in addition to traffic control and military police duties it performed courier services.[1] The Kommandantendienst wore a white stripe on their helmet and a white cross strap, belt, holster and gloves.[6]

Notes

  1. 1 2 Warsaw Pact Ground Forces, Gordan Rottman, Osprey Publishing Elite 10, p 49 Coprwyrite 1987 ISBN 0-85045-730-0
  2. 1 2 3 Békési, László (2011) [2000]. Soviet Uniforms and Militaria 1917 - 1991 in Colour Photographs (illustrated ed.). Crowood Press. pp. 102, 148. ISBN 978-1-84797-260-6. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  3. ↑ Russian Helmets:from Kaska to Stalshlyem 1916-2001 by Robert W Clawson, pgs 115 - 117, R. JamesBender Publishing Copyright 2002 ISBN 0-912138-90-4
  4. ↑ Galeotti, Mark (August 20, 2013). Mark Galeotti, eds. Russian Security and Paramilitary Forces since 1991. Osprey Publishing. pp. 43–4. ISBN 978-1-78096-107-1. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  5. ↑ THE SOVIET ARMY: Specialized Warfare and Rear Area Support 'Field Manual 100-2-2 pgs 13-23, Headquarters Department of the Army Washington. DC, 16 July 1984
  6. ↑ Warsaw Pact Ground Forces, Gordan Rottman, Osprey Publishing Elite 10, Color plate A Coprwyrite 1987 ISBN 0-85045-730-0

See also


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