Logistics Matters: the Growth of Little Americas in Occupied Germany

Abstract

The U. S. Army's presence in Germany after the Nazi regime's capitulation in May 1945, required pursuit of two stated missions: (1) to secure German borders, and (2) to establish an occupation government within the U. S. assigned occupation zone. Both missions required logistics support, an often unstated but critical mission. The security mission, provided largely by the combat troops, declined between 1945 and 1948, but grew again, with the Berlin Blockade in 1948, and then with the Korean crisis in 1950. However, the occupation mission grew under the military government (1945-1949), and then during the Allied High Commission era (1949-1955). The build-up of U. S. Army infrastructure during the early occupation years has stood forward-deployed U. S. military forces in Europe in good stead throughout the ensuing years. The United States military force, predominantly the U. S. Army, was the only U. S. Government agency possessing the ability and resources needed to support the occupation mission. Furthermore, U. S. Army logistics support underpinned not only the U. S. military occupation mission between 1945 and 1949, the U. S. presence on the Allied High Commission until its official retirement in 1955, but also the U. S. security forces on the ground throughout the entire period and for decades later. The objectives in this study are threefold. First, to validate that U. S. Army logistics in the U. S. Zone of Occupation in Germany between 1945 and 1949 laid the foundation for the long-term presence of the U. S. Army in Germany. Second, to analyze the rationale for the build-up of logistics during this period. Third, to analyze the impact of U. S. Army soldiers, aspects of their logistics support mission, and family members on the German population.