German Civil Labor Organization
The German Civil Labor Organization (GCLO) (German translated: German civil work organization) was an organization of the British occupying power in Germany from 1947 to 1950 , in which German civilian personnel were active.
history
The GCLO was created on August 1, 1947 after the official dissolution of the former Labor Service units in the British occupation zone, which had been formed from parts of the German Wehrmacht after the end of the Second World War . The members of the former Labor Service had the status of Surrendered Enemy Personnel . They were given the choice of either joining the GCLO or being sent to a prisoner of war camp until they were regularly released into civilian life. The GCLO's staffing ranged between 35,000 and 60,000 members.
Although the GCLO was considered a civil organization, its members wore a kind of uniform and were incorporated into a structure that conformed to military principles. After a large number of former Wehrmacht members had left the GCLO over time, new unserved members were hired by the employment offices. The occupying power made use of its right to forcibly recruit staff if necessary.
On October 21, 1950, the GCLO was transferred to the German Service Organization (GSO).
organization
The units of the GCLO could be deployed mobile throughout the British occupation area including Berlin. For example, they were used to load supplies during the Airlift to Berlin in 1948 .
The GCLO was organized in units that were attached to parts of the British Army or Air Force . Many units were taken over from the former Labor Service. Most of them were transport or repair units and had a staff of between 220 and 475 men. They had names like GCLO Transport Service Group or GCLO Artizan Group .
literature
- Heinz-Ludger Borgert, Walter Stürm, Norbert Wiggershaus: Service Groups and West German Defense Contribution - Preliminary Considerations for Arming the Federal Republic of Germany. Boppard am Rhein 1982, ISBN 3-7646-1807-8 .
- Heiner Wittrock: Wunstorf Air Base, Part 2 (1945–1998). Publisher: City of Wunstorf.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ A b c Heinz-Ludger Borgert, Walter Stürm, Norbert Wiggershaus: Service groups and West German defense contribution - preliminary considerations for arming the Federal Republic of Germany. Boppard am Rhein 1982, ISBN 3-7646-1807-8 , p. 112 ff.