Handling POWs
Handling POWs
Handling POWs
u..- ~~
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~ \ .. ~ J'1"'iJ
HANDLING
PRISONERS
OF WAR
AOO 18~
Colonel Howard S. Levie
Collection
Charlottesville, Virginia
FM 19-40
f HANDLING
PRISONERS
OF WAR
Washington: 1952
DISTRIBUTION:
Active Army:
Tech Svc (1) ; Admin & Tech Svc Bd (2) ;
AFF (5); AA Comd (2); OS Maj Comd
(5); Base Comd (2); MDW (5); Log
Comd (2); A (2); CHQ (2); Div (2);
Brig (2); Regt (1); Bn 19 (2); Co 19
(2) ; FT (1) ; Sch (10) except 19 (300);
PMS & T 19 (1); RTC (3); POE (1),
OSD (1); Mil Dist (8); T/O & E: 19
500 AA thru AE, KA thru KM, MA
thruMH.
NG: Div (1) ; Brig (1); Bn 19 (1) ; Sep Co 19
(1).
ORO: Div (1); Brig (1) ; Bn 19 (1); Sep Co
19 (1).
For explanation of distribution formula, see
SR 310-90-1.
iI A.GO 138GC
FOREWORD
APPENDIX TRAINING_____________________
88
NDEX______________________________________
104
AGO 1385C v
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
,J
Section I. GENERAL
1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this manual is to serve as an opera
tional guide for military police and other officer and
enlisted men in active theaters of operations in
handling, processing, interning, and utilizing for
labor purposes enemy prisoners of war. It should be
recognized, however, that in active theaters of opera
tions where the Army is serving as a part of an allied
command, compliance with operational instructions
other than or in addition to these herein specified
might be required. .
2. SCOPE
This manual covers pertinent aspects of the Geneva
Conventions of 1949 that pertain to the treatment
of prisoners of war. It covers operations of cap
turing troops; collection; interrogation; evacuation;
handling prisoners of war in division, corps, army,
• and communications zone areas; disciplinary meas
ures; utilization of prisoner-of-war labor; and
operations and functions of the' military police
• prisoner-of-war processing company and the mili
tary police guard company.
AGO 1385C 1
3. ARMY RESPONSIBILITY
a. In accomplishing its mission with respect to
prisoners of war, the United States Army is charged
with, but not limited to:
(1) Evacuation from receiving points.
(2) Internment.
(3 ) Medical care.
(4) Treatment.
~ -----t5) Education.
(6) Employment and compensation.
(7) Repatriation.
(8) Operation of prisoner-of-war information
bureaus.
(9) Maintenance of an appropriate office of
record.
o. Prisoners of war captured by the Navy or Air
Force will be evacuated as expeditiously as possible
to designated Army receiving points.
5. GENERAL
a. The United States is a party to the Geneva
(Prisoners of War) Oonventions of ~7 July 19~9
and is a signatory to the Geneva Oonventions of 12
August 1949. The 1949 Geneva Conventions will re
place the 1929 Geneva Conventions in the relations
between the United States and the other parties to the
Geneva Conventions when th.ey are ratified by the
United States Government. These Conventions con
sist of the following:
(1) Geneva Oonvention for the Amelioration of
the Oondition of the Wounded and Sick in
Armed Forces in the Field.
(2) Geneva Oonvention for the Amelioration of
the Oondition of Wounded, Sick, and Ship
wrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea.
AGO 1385C 200476°-52-2 3
(3) Geneva Oonvention relative to the Treat
ment of Prisoners of War.
(4) Geneva Oonvention relative to the Pro
tection of Oivilian Persons in Time of WaT.
b. The handling of prisoners of war as discussed in
this manual is concerned primarily with the 1949
Geneva Oonvention relative to the Treatment of
Prisoners of War. The discussion and the references
to articles in this manual pertain exclusively to that
Convention unless otherwise cited.
c. Such Geneva Conventions as are binding on the
United States in a conflict are binding on all United
States troops in the same manner as the Constitution
and laws of the United States.
d. All members of the United States Armed Forces
should have a general understanding of the contents
of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the imple
menting Department of the Army rules and regula
tions regarding the treatment and handling of
prisoners of war (see DA Pam 20-150).
6. PRISONERS OF WAR
. AGO 1385C 5
legiance to that country, even though the
occupying power has originally liberated
them while hostilitieS were going on out
side the '~erritory it occupies.
(8) Person belonging to one of the categories
enumerated in this paragraph who have
been received by neutral or nonbelligerent
powers on their territory and have been in
terned as required by international law.
o. Should any doubt arise as to whether persons,
having committed a belligerent act and having fallen
into the hands of the enemy, belong to any of the
categories listed above, such persons shall enjoy the
protection of the Geneva Oonvention relative to the
Treatment of Prisoners of War until such time as
their status has been determined by a competent
tribunal.
7. RETAINED PERSONNEL
6
AGO' 13811C
(2) Staff personnel exclusively engaged in the
administration of medical units and estab
lishments.
(3) Chaplains attached to the armed forces.
(4) Staff personnel of National Red Cross So
cieties and of other voluntary aid societies
duly recognized and authorized by their
governments who may be employed on the
same duties as the personnel mentioned
above, provided that the staff of such socie
ties are subject to military laws and regu
lations.
b. Such retained personnel who fall into the hands
of the adverse party are retained only so far as the
state of health, the spiritual needs, and the number of
prisoners of war may require. Personnel thus re
tained are not deemed prisoners of war. Neverthe
less, they at least benefit by the provisions of the
Geneva Oonvention relative to the Treatment of
Prisoners of War. Although retained personnel are
subject to the internal discipline of a camp, they are
not required to perform any work outside their medi
or religious duties.
c. In no circumstances may retained personnel be
deprived of the insignia or identity cards that estab
lish their right to protection under the Geneva -Oon
vention for the Amelioration of the Oondition of the
W o'11lJ7.ded and Sicle in Armed F Drees in the Field and
the Geneva Oonvention relative to the Treatment of
Prisoners of War.
d. Members of the armed forces specially trained
for employment, should the need arise, as hospital
orderlies, nurses, or auxiliary stretcher-bearers, in
AGO-13Blle 7
the search for or the collection, transport, or treat
ment of the wounded and sick are likewise respected
and protected if they are carrying out these duties at
the time when they come into contact with the adverse
party or fall into its hands. Such personnel are
classified as prisoners of war, but they are employed
on their medical duties so far as the need arises.
8 AGO 1385l'l
f. No form of coercion may be inflicted on prison
ers of war to obtain from them information of any
kind whatever. Prisoners of war who refuse to an
swer may not be threatened, insulted, or exposed to
unpleasant or disadvantageous treatment of any
kind.
9. PRISONER-Of-WAR INfORMATION BUREAUS
f
a. GeneraZ. The Geneva Convention provides
that upon the outbreak of a conflict and in all cases
of occupation each of the parties to the conflict shall
institute an official information bureau for prisoners
of war who are in its power, and that a central
prisoner-of-war information agency shall be created
in a neutral country.
b. Prisoner of War Information Bureau.
(1) The United States Enemy Prisoner-of
War Information Bureau operates under
the jurisdiction of The Provost Marshal
General, Department of the Army. (See
SR 10~310-1.) Branch prisoner-of-war in
formation bureaus may be established over
seas. Where branch information bureaus
have been established, all reports and infor
mation, such as are enumerated in (2) be
low, are channeled through the oversea
branch bureaus.
(2) The Enemy Prisoner-of-War Information
Bureau is informed within the shortest
possible time of every capture of prisoners
of war effected by United States forces. All
available pertinent information regarding
the prisoner is transmitted to the bureau
AGO 1385C 9
where an individual record is maintained
for each prisoner. Most of the data are
obtained at the prisoner-of-war camp. The
bureau, in turn, immediately forwards such
information to the power concerned through
the protecting power and the Central Pris
oner-of-War Information Agency. (See
par. 10.) This information includes, so
far as'available to the bureau, the name and
other identifying data of each prisoner, the
names of the prisoner's parents, the name
and address of the person to be informed of
his capture, and the address to which cor
respondence for the prisoner may be sent.
The bureau also receives from the various
agencies concerned, such as camps or cages,
information regarding transfers, releases,
repatriations, escapes, hospitalization, state
of health of prisoners who are seriously ill
or seriously wounded, and deaths. Failure
to transmit this information speedily to the
enemy power through the channels pro
vided may encourage retaliation in kind.
(3) The bureau is responsible for replying to
all inquiries sent to it concerning prisoners
of war, including those who have died in
captivity.
(4) The bureau is also charged with collecting
all personal valuables left by prisoners of
war who have been repatriated or released,
or who have escaped or died, and with for
warding such objects to the powers con
cerned, or storing the same until proper
disposition can be made.
10 AGO 1385C
c. Oentral Prisoner-oJ-War Information Agency.
The International Committee of the Red Cross is
authorized by the Convention to propose to the pow
ers concerned the organization of the Oentral Pris
oner-oJ-War Information Agency. The function of
the agency is to collect through official or private
channels all the information it may obtain relative
to prisoners of war, and to transmit this informa~
tion as rapidly as possible to the country of origin of
the prisoners of war or to the power on which they
depend.
12 A.GO 1385C
Section III. DISCIPLINARY MEASURES
12. GENERAL
AGO 1385C 13
e. The use of weapons against prisoners of war, es
pecially against those who are escaping or attempting
to escape, constitutes an extreme measure, and is al
ways preceded by warnings appropriate to the cir
cumstances. Upon recapture, prisoners may be placed
under additional guard or strict surveillance to pre
vent further attempts at escape. If necessary, an
organized attempt to escape may be quelled by force
of arms. The principles set forth in FM 19-15 may
be used as a guide in planning for and the preparation
of standing operating procedures for the control of.
riots among prisoners of war.
14 AGO.1385C
The period between the pronouncing of an award of
disciplinary punishment and its execution shall not
exceed one month.
b. As a disciplinary measure, prisoners may be re
quired to perform fatigue duties not exceeding two
hours daily. This punishment is not applicable to
officers. Noncommissioned officers may only be re
quired to do supervisory work as a disciplinary
measure.
c. Designated leaders, including officer and non
commissioned officer prisoners, who fail to perform
properly the duties of supervision of the personnel
under them or any other duty with which they may
be entrusted, may be punished under the summary
punishment power of the camp commander.
d. Prisoners who have made good their escape and
who are recaptured are not liable to any punishment
for having effected their escape. Prisoners of war
who are recaptured before making good their escape
are liable only to a disciplinary punishment in re
spect of this act. Prisoners of war who commit
offenses with the sole intention of facilitating their
escape are liable to disciplinary punishment only
provided that such offenses do not entail any vio
lence against life or limb. In like manner, prisoners
of war who aid or abet an escape are liable to dis
ciplinary punishment only provided that the offenses
committed in the giving of such assistance do not
entail any violence against life or limb.
e. Prisoners of war undergoing confinement as a
disciplinary punishment are permitted certain privi
leges, such as daily exercise in the open air, medical
attention, and permission to read and write. Par-
AGO 1385C 15
eels and remittances of money, however, may be with
held from them until the completion of the pun
ishment.
16 AGO 1383C
d. Every prisoner of war has the same right of
appeal or petition from any sentence pronounced
upon him as the members of the Armed Forces of
the United States.
e. For a complete discussion of the penal and dis
.. ciplinary sanctions applicable to prisoners of war,
see articles 82-108 of the Geneva Oonvention rela
tive to the Treatment of Prisoners of TVar.
Section IV. INTERROGATION
15. GENERAL
AGO 1335C 17
... LlTT'~
CAlEB" \
FRONT LINES
NONWOOIIDED AND
WAI.KING WOUNDED
ARe: DISARMED AND
pn
SEARCHED BY OAPTURING
TROOPS AND EVACUATED
TO REITL OOLL PT
+
) ~ ~COLL
R••LLY on PlRST 'N·
TERROUnON (USUALLY
CO~DUOn:D BY IPW TEAM)
TAOTICAL INFORMAJ'tO. &I
BGUlHt'HEaf
-jllLGOLL X.
I fZJ
\
8
.. eou•
IPW TEAM AT THIS
LEVEL [NTERROOATEI
SELEOTED PWI
~ ""~'"
is:,JN~I~~~C3~A5E~ J---."~
~!'!!'~ !.N!.:;:*:;;~O.- '!,~%'~"
...SONN'L TlON N '" _
OON'UOT+" OUI ____ _
...
xxx X
(
...RMY D,ut
xxxx.... IPW TEAM rNTI!:RROGATI!!:'
+
,ROO.SS.. , • ')NTER....TIOII FOR ADDITIONAL TACTIOAL
AND STRATEGIO INfORIIATIOII
fURTHER
INTERROGAnON\
... ;t-
011' SELEOTED
~
PW 001 (LAl08)
PORT OR OTHER DONTAOL POINT
1•• t'NPI
Figure 1. Evacuation ana interrogation of prisoners of war.
18 AGO 1385C
as used in this manual refers to his army, regimental,
or personal number as assigned by the Power which
he serves. Servioe number is not to be confused with
internment serial number. Servioe number refers to
the combination of numbers, or letters and numbers,
assigned to each individual by the military service of
the country he serves as a means of positive personal
identification. The internment serial number refers
to the number assigned by the military police pris
oner-of-war processing company to each prisoner of
war.
d. If, because of his physical or mental condition,
a prisoner is unable to identify himself, he shall be
turned over to the medical service.
e. If the prisoner of war wilfully infringes the rule
of giving the necessary information, he may render
himself liable to a restriction of the privileges ac
corded to his rank or status.
f. For a detailed discussion of the interrogation of
the prisoners of war, see FM 30-5 and FM 30-15.
16. PRrNCIPLES
20 ,l.GO 1385C
terrogated by specially trained psychological warfare
officers, for the purpose of developing intelligence of
special value in preparation of propaganda. This
interrogation usually takes place at an army prisoner
of-war cage, at a prisoner-of-war camp, or as directed
by the theater commander.
AGO 1385C 21
CHAPTER 2
COMBAT ZONE
Section I. CAPTURE
18. GENERAL
22. AG'O'13830·
by its forces until such time as they are delivered to
designated Army receiving points.
19. SEARCH
a. When interrogation teams are employed with
• units, from battalion up, which are in contact with
the enemy, the detailed search of prisoners of war
is conducted under the supervision of team personnel.
b. When no interrogation team personnel are at-
o tached, the regimental or battalion intelligence of
20. DOCUMENTS
An enemy document is any written, printed, en
graved, or photographic matter which may contain
information relative to hostile armies or countries.
Enemy documents are both of a personal nature,
such as letters, pay cards, diaries, and pictures found
- on prisoners of war or enemy dead, and of an official
nature, such as maps, orders, manuals, records, of
ficial photographs, and sketches (FM 30-15) •
AGO 1385C 23
21. PERSONAL EFFECTS
AC!lO 1885C
(2) Personal effects that may be taken from
prisoners of war temporarily for intelli
gence purposes, but that are to be returned
as soon as practicable, such as personal
registration cards, organizational member
ship cards, passports, letters of introduction,
passes, ration books, political party cre
dentials, photographs, diaries, and other
personal documents of military value.
Personal effects in this category are re
moved as items of military value and re
ceipts are given to the prisoners.
(3) Person&1 effects that prisoners of war are
not permitted to retain for reasons of secur
ity. Articles of value may be taken from
prisoners of war only for reasons of security.
When such articles are withdrawn from
prisoners, the procedure laid down for sums
of money impounded applies. The pris
oners are given itemized receipts, and the
particulars are recorded in a special prop
erty register. The articles are placed in
safekeeping and returned in their initial
shape to the prisoners at the end of their
captivity.
(4) Articles that prisoners of war are not per
mitted to retain at any time and which are
confiscated. These articles include military
documents and military equipment, such as
arms and vehicles or animals used for trans
portation. Confiscated articles are turned
over to G2 in the case of items of intelligence
value, or to the appropriate technical serv-
AGO 1385C 25
ice for action and coordination with G2 if
necessary.
22. SEGREGATION
a. N onwounded and W alking Wounded Prisoners.
As soon as possible, enemy officers, noncommissioned
officers, privates, deserters, civilians, and women are
segregated, and are delivered to the division or
equivalent collecting point. Further segregation is
made according to nationality. Segregation is main
tained throughout evacuation to rear areas.
b. Litter Oases. Nonwalking wounded prisoners
of war are searched, taken to the nearest aid station
for treatment, and evacuated through medical chan
nels. It is the responsibility of the medical officer
to bring such prisoners to the attention of intelligence
personnel for interrogation and to request the neces
sary guards. When practicable, and when such duty
of itself will not expose them to danger, nonwounded
and slightly wounded enemy prisoners are used as
litter bearers for enemy and United States severely
wounded personnel; United States slightly wounded
military personnel may be used for prisoner-of-war
escorts or guards when feasible. Whenever possible,
the segregation of wounded prisoners is maintained
as for other prisoners of war. (See Fig. 1.)
25. GENERAL
Prisoners of war are assembled at collecting points
to-
a. Relieve the capturing units quickly.
b. Be held until they can be evacuated to the rear
by higher headquarters.
c. Conserve guard personnel.
d. Expedite evacuation of prisoners of war to the
rear.
26. INFANTRY DIVISION
a. One division collecting point is normally estab
lished for each division.
b. The infantry division prisoner-of-war collect
ing point is usually located in the vicinity of the
28 AGO 1385C
division command post. It should be accessible by
road to trucks and ambulances from the rear and
the front, near water, protected as much as possible
against enemy observation and fire, and far enough
to the rear to avoid involvement in minor fluctuations
of the front line. If a regular cage is not available,
• a partially fenced-in area, inclosed courtyard, or
similar place that facilitates the maximum security
of prisoners with a minimum of guards should be
• chosen, if possible. In the absence of a regular cage,
the limits of the colle<:ting point are stipulated, and
the prisoners ,of war are required to remain within
the area defined.
c. At the division collecting point, division mili
tary police relieve the escort troops of the re
sponsibility for guarding prisoners of war. The
prisoners are counted and a detailed search of the
prisoners is conducted under the supervision of in
telligence personnel. Segregation is maintained.
Documents and selected personnel are also examined.
All documents and other personal effects of intelF
gence value are marked so that they may be identi
fied with the prisoners on whom they were found,
and are placed in envelopes for transmission to the
proper intelligence agency.
d. Prisoners of war are normally issued rations
and water at the division collecting point and aid is
~ given to the wounded and sick. Retained personnel,
including medical personnel and chaplains assist in
caring for prisoners of war to the fullest extent pos
sible (par. 7).
~ e. At the ~,QJJ,J~ygtJll:!§'2-W~E.§,.,.~;te,~:g9nn.JJJJy..,j$.;
~a.~g~?[~~tQt-~,"W.~rc~~~ The infQrmation that is
AGO 1385C 29
recorde5L~n ~E}_~~i,~.)~ite~.to the datea!ld pla~e
C~t,.cS~l(U;.),..QL~~I!t!lIe._,~~d the designatioIl .2-t,Q1.e
unit ~~1f.!ng",,!b~_.9lWtMr,!').· Prisoners of war are
warn(:ia:not to mutilate, destroy, or lose their tags.
f. Few reports regarding prisoners of war are re
quired at the division level other than the listing of
the number of prisoners in each group. If practica- •
Qle, rosters,of p:risoIl~rs of war, listingnameLgrade,
service number, date and place of capture, unitmak
i~~~,.S~i>.~~E~,~·,~~~.'ili~9§hh!l of, ·P~~S2.!l~:i;,:::~;e ,for- _
wa~1,~(t tp ,..,JI:le~,,_g~'Vi.?i9I1._ heaClqllf1rt~:r:~" JroIl1 the
divisIon collecting point.
"'"'------.-~,.
30 AGO 138GC
lecting point is situated in the most suitable location,
- close to the landing field. The military police com
pany of the airborne division performs all normal
functions in connection with the handling of pris
oners of war.
d. If the airborne division makes a penetration
deep into hostile territory, and if a link-up with
other forces is delayed and an evacuation of prison
ers of war is not possible, it may be necessary to re
tain the prisoners within the airhead. The collect
. ing point operation may then parallel the operation
of a prisoner-of-war cage in the guarding and caring
for prisoners of war.
28. ARMORED DIVISION
AGO 138GC 31
or more collecting points may be established to serve
the combat commands jointly.
c. In a static situation, or'in an infantry-type op
eration, the establishment and operation of an ar
mored division collecting point will resemble that
of an infantry division collecting point.
d. In a rapid pursuit, particularly when the en
emy is demoralized and is surrendering in vast num
bers, the above methods of handling prisoners of
war may prove inadequate. In such extraordinary
circumstances it may be practicable and necessary
to disarm prisoners and order them to march to the
rear without guards or to disarm them and order
them to remain in place without guards.
31. GENERAL
Prisoners of war are evacuated, as soon as possible
after their capture, to camps situated in an area
far enough £rom the combat zone for them to be out
of danger, except those prisoners of war who, owing
to wounds or sickness, would be exposed to greater
risk by being evacuated than by being temporarily
kept where they are. (See fig. 2.) Prisoners of
war are not to be unnecessarily exposed to danger
while awaiting evacuation from a combat zone, and
the evacuation is to be effected humanely. During
evacuation, prisoners of war are supplied with suf
ficient food, water, and necessary clothing and medi
cal attention. 1£ prisoners of war must, during
AGO 1385C 33
w
I' COLLECTING POINTS -, CAGES OR OAMPS 'I
•
AGO 1385C 37
35. AMPHIBIOUS OPERATIONS
.An early evacuation of prisoners of war by water
may be necessary during the initial phases of an
amphibious operation. Prior to the establishment
of division control ashore, prisoners of war are nor
mally evacuated by the various landing or combat
teams to their respective collecting points, under con- •
trol of the amphibious support brigade. The prison
ers may either be held at the beach until interrogators
from the higher echelons come ashore, or evacuated
to ships designated for interrogation. In this type
of operation, the handling of prisoners of war may
cover three phases:
a. Initial Phase. Immediate evacuation by water,
and no processing on the beachhead.
b. Intermediate Phase. While awaiting trans
portation for evacuation, initial processing on the
beachhead by military police attached to the am
phibious units.
c. Final Phase. Minimum evacuation, completion
of processing, and employment of prisoners on
authorized labor projects by the amphibious and
follow-up forces.
38 AGO 188[)C
37. CORPS
Prisoners of. war are normally not .evacuated
through corps; they are usually evacuated directly
from division collecting points to army prisoner-of
war cages. However, if a corps is operating inde
pendently, or if the situation requires evacuation
through corps, or if it is necessary for corps to inter
rogate certain prisoners of war, such prisoners are
evacuated from division to a corps prisoner-of-war
cage by corps military police. Where a corps is
operating independently, the processing and han
dling of prisoners of war at the corps prisoner-of
war cage will closely parallel the processing and
handling at the army prisoner-of-war cage.
38. ARMY
a. Prisoner-of-war cages are established in army
areas for the temporary detention and interrogation
of prisoners of war pending further evacuation.
Shelter, usually of a temporary nature, is provided
at prisoner-of-war cages. Existing facilities are
used whenever possible. Dependent upon the dis
tance from the army and corps cages to the com
munications zone and the method of evacuation, it
may be necessary to establish cages along the line of
march for food, rest, and overnight stops (fig. 3).
o. Prisoners of war are counted and receipted for
immediately upon arrival at the army cage. A re
ceipt for the prisoners and any accompanying cap
tured documents is given to the commander of the
guard.
o. At the army cage, a thorough search is made of
prisoners of war for any previously undiscovered
AGO 1385C 39
documents of intelligence value, or any other un
authorized possessions.
d. Sanitary measures are taken to prevent the con
traction or the spread of diseases. The sanitary
measures include bathing, delousing, and the disin
festation of clothing. Prisoners of war suspected of
having communicable diseases are isolated and placed
under medical observation.
e. If necessary, clothing is issued to prisoners of
war. (See par. 47.)
f. Food is provided prisoners of war, but the prep
aration of such food, if required, is accomplished by
the prisoners.
g. Within one week after arrival at a camp or
cage, even if it is a transit camp or cage, prisoners
are to be permitted to notify the Central Prisoner of
War Information Agency and their families of their
capture if they have not been enabled to do so prior
to arrival (par. 51).
h. Interrogation at army prisoner-of-war cages
is selective; that is, only certain prisoners are
interrogated.
i. When the evacuation of prisoners of war is de
layed, such as during an island operation, the prison
ers may be retained within the army cage for some
time. When there is such a delay, as complete a
processing as possible is accomplished and prisoners
of war may be used for labor not prohibited by the
Geneva Convention within the army area.
j. Prisoners of war are guarded at cages and dur
ing transfer to and between cages by military police
guard companies, when available, or by other troops.
40 AGO 13811e
39. EVACUATION TO COMMUNICATIONS ZONE
Prisoners of war are evacuated from the combat
zone to the communications zone as quickly as pos
sible. Military police from the communications zone
normally escort the prisoners from the army cages.
The number of guards required for escorting prison
ers of war from army cages to communications zone
cages or camps is variable, but usually is dependent
upon the number of prisoners to be evacuated, the
means of evacuation, and the morale or attitude of
the prisoners; i. e., resigned or belligerent.
AGO 1385C 41
CHAPTER 3
TIONS ZONE
42 AGO 1385C
250 F!NAI.ES
UI" III
.10 NOO"
ElBEI
D-UT KITOHENS AND
STORAQE
~ PRQTI!:OTED PERI
LAT
ElBEI
Ddt UT
08 ABI. Ell LAT ~
• A81. I!D
EXllTINa ROAO
44 AGO l8Blle
camps are designed to provide security and living ar
rangements as required by the Geneva Convention
and military needs. Whenever military considera
tions permit, prisoner-of-war camps are marked dis
tinctly so as to be readily identifiable from the air
(figs. 4, 5, and 6).
b. Prisoner-of-war branch camps are camps that
are established on a semipermanent or temporary
basis in order to fill a definite work need. The ad
ministration of prisoners in these camps is under the
supervision of the prison-of-war camp of which it is
a branch.
c. Quarters in a prisoner-of-war camp must be
provided under conditions as favorable as those pro
vided for United States troops billeted in the same
area. The area of each camp must be sufficient to
provide space for buildings necessary for the housing
of prisoners, and for administration; indoor and out
door recreation, medical care, religious worship, mess
ing, canteen, showers, latrines, and other prescribed
purposes. Prison-of-war camps are usually divided
into compounds by fencing.
a. In any camp in which women prisoners of war,
as well as men, are accommodated, separate dormi
tories and conveniences must be provided.
e. Prisoners of war are interned in camps accord
ing to their nationality, language, and customs, pro
vided that the prisoners are not separated from
prisoners of war of the armed forces with which they
were serving at the time of their capture, except
with their consent.
f. For a typical headquarters and headquarters
company organization designed to administer a
AGO 1385C 45
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AGO 1385C 47
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AECREATKIN AREA
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LATRINE 8H UTILITY SHOPS
.... LAVATORY
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48 A.GO 1385C
30,000 man prisoner-of-war camp, see figure 7. This
type organization is intended for use as a guide only
and may be modified to meet the existing situations
and conditions. It must be supplemented by at
tachment of the required number of such supporting
guard and service units as are necessary for camp
maintenance and security and to provide proper care,
treatment, and administration for the prisoners of
war.
Section II. ADMINISTRATIVE CONSIDERATIONS
44. GENERAL
AGO 1385C 49
'"o TYPE HEADQUARTERS AND HEADQUARTERS COMPANY ORGANIZATION
FOR A 30.000-MAN PW CA~P
15o
....:<>
00
(')
'" Figure 7. Typical headquarter8 and headquarter8 company.
b. Oommand Responsibilities. Every prisoner
of-war camp is placed under the command of a com
missioned officer of the armed forces. A copy of the
Geneva Convention and its annexes and special
agreements must be posted in every camp in the lan
guage of the prisoners of war. Copies must be sup
plied, upon request, to those prisoners who cannot
have access to the posted copy. All regulations,
orders, and notices must be issued or addressed in a
language which is understood by the prisoners.
c. Reoords and Reports. Personnel reports and
records at prisoner-of-war camps and other prisoner
of-war installations include reports and records
required for pay, clothing, equipment, hospitaliza
tion, transfers, punishment, and similar matters.
d. The initial processing that is accomplished
upon arrival at the communications zone prisoner
of-war processing station or camp will include all
appropriate steps set forth in paragraph 38. After
this preliminary processing has been completed, ad
ministrative processing will be accomplished as soon
as possible.
(1) In processing prisoners of war, an intern
ment serial number is assigned to each pris
oner for the purposes of identification,
classification, and reporting. The intern
ment serial number of a prisoner of war
consists of several components separated
by dashes. The various components indi
cate the command in which the prisoner
was captured, the name of the enemy coun
try whose armed forces the prisoner served,
and the order in which the prisoner was
AGO 1385C 51
processed. Internment serial numbers are
assigned consecutively to prisoners of war
captured by United States forces in each
command, irrespective of the country the
prisoners served. The commanding general
of the appropriate command, at his discre
tion, may assign blocks of numbers to sub
commands or stations within his command.
For example, internment serial numbers 1
through 2,000 may be assigned to one sub
command, and numbers 2,001 through 4,500
to another subcommand (par. 15). Care
should be taken that all personal effects of
prisoners of war are marked with their
names and internment numbers, and re
corded in the special property register (par.
72), so that the effects may be returned to
them upon repatriation. The prisoner-of
war personnel record for each prisoner is
completed in duplicate by the military po
lice prisoner-of-war processing company
(par. 76).
(2) In processing, the completed record will
contain the name of the prisoner of war;
his internment serial number, photograph,
and fingerprints; an inventory of his per
sonal effects; other personal data; and the
prisoner's signature. One copy of the rec
ord is forwarded to the Branch Prisoner
of-War Information Bureau; one copy of
the record always goes forward with the
prisoner of war. Prisoners of war who
have been captured by other United States
52 AGO 18850
Armed Forces or by allied forces and have
been transferred to the custody of the
United States Army are permitted to re
tain their previously assigned internment
serial numbers. If they have not previously
been processed, such prisoners are processed
in the same manner as prisoners of war
who have been captured by the Army.
(3) Processing companies are assigned to cages
on the basis of the number of prisoners of
war to be processed. A prisoner-of-war
processing company comprises three pla
toons and is capable of processing fourteen
hundred and forty (1,440) prisoners in
eight (8) hours (par. 67).
e. After the prisoners have been processed, they
are assigned to a prisoner-of-war camp and are then
further assigned to a compound, battalion, and com
pany within the camp. Although the number of
prisoners of war assigned to a camp, compound, bat
talion, or company may vary, the organizational
framework as set forth in figure 8 should be adhered
to in each prisoner-of-war camp. Prisoners of war
will be utilized to the fullost extent in the internal
administration of their assigned units.
f. Frisoner-of-War Representatives. At all camps
where there are no officers, prisoners of war freely
elect spokesmen by secret ballot to represent them
before the military authorities, the Protecting Pow
ers, the International Committee of the Red Cross,
and any other organization which may assist them.
In camps for officers and persons of equivalent status,
or in mixed camps, the senior officer is recognized as
AGO 1385C 53
TYPE PW ORGANIZATION FOR A30,000 MAN CAMP
'"""
CAMP HEADQUARTERS
r----'
• 18TH rI &ATTALIOI
I 8TH--'I
I .ATTALIOI :
L____ J I I,""'" 1'".. I L____ J
I
~
o
.......
~ Figure 8. Prisoner-of-war camp or-ganization.
(1
the representative. In officer camps, he is assisted
by one or more advisers chosen by the officer prison
ers. In mixed camps the assistants are elected by the
prisoners who are not officers. Every representative
elected must be approved by the camp commander
before he has the right to commence his duties.
46. COURTESIES
AGO 1385C ss
e. When an officer of higher rank enters a mess
hall, unless otherwise directed, prisoners of war re
main seated, continue eating, and do not converse.
f. When entering a room where an officer of higher
rank is present, a prisoner of war uncovers and
stands at attention.
g. Before addressing an officer of higher rank, a
prisoner of war salutes. He also salutes upon the
termination of the interview.
h. United States military personnel are not re
quired to salute prisoners of war nor to assume the
position of attention when addressing them. How
ever, officers of the United States Armed Forces re
turn the salutes of prisoners of war.
56 AGO 13S5C
o. Rations. The basic daily food rations for pris
oners of war must be sufficient in quantity, quality,
and variety to keep them in good health, and to pre
vent loss of weight or nutritional deficiencies. The
habitual diet of the various national groups must be
taken into consideration. The use of tobacco is per
mitted. Prisoners of war who work must be sup
plied with such additional rations as are necessary
for the labor on which they are employed.
c. Miscellaneous. Materials for bedding and fuel
are issued to prisoners of war as required. Cob
bler's, tailor's, barber's, and other tools and mate
rials necessary for repairing clothing and equipment
or for essential needs are made available in order to
help prisoner-of-war camps to meet many of their
own requirements. Clothing, equipment, and other
supplies for prisoners of war are issued in accord
ance with the instructions of the Department of the
Army and th3 theater commander.
d. Oanteens. Canteens are established at all pris
oner-of-war camps, where prisoners may procure
foodstuffs, soap, tobacco, and ordinary articles of
daily use.
AGO 1385C 57
b. The personal effects of deceased enemy person
nel are not sent to the United States. The list of
the effects is reported to the theater enemy prisoner
of-war information bureau. The effects are stored
within the theater of operations wherever practi
cable.
58 AGO 13850
fullest extent in caring for their own sick and
wounded. 1£ adequate facilities are not available
for the type of medical care required, prisoners of
war are to be admitted to military or civilian medical
installations where the required treatment can be
given. The costs of medical treatment for prisoners
of war are borne by the United States.
c. 1£ prisoners of war are admitted to an Army
medical facility, the commanding officer of the hos
pital is responsible for their security and for ad
ministrative procedures, such as reporting the neces
sity for medical evacuation, deaths, escapes, and daily
or other fixed interval strength data. Additional
guards may be requested by him to provide adequate
security.
60 AGO 1885C
ments made abroad, subject to financial or monetary
restrictions deemed necessary by the detaining power.
When such payments are addressed to dependents,
they are given priority.
A-GO 1885C 61
e. Chaplains who have been retained and prison
ers of war who are ministers of religion are free to
correspond, subject to censorship, on matters con
cerning their religious duties with the ecclesiastical
authorities in the country of detention and with in
ternational religious organizations. Letters and
cards which they send for this purpose are in addi
tion to any other quotas imposed on prisoner-of-war
mail.
f. Mail will be conveyed by the most rapid method
at the disposal of the detaining power and may not
be delayed or retained for disciplinary reasons.
64 AGO·· 1385C
vided that arrangements have been made with the
country concerned to receive them. However, no
sick or wounded prisoner of war who is eligible for
repatriation may be repatriated against his will dur
ing hostilities. Throughout the duration of hostili
• ties, the countries concerned may make arrangements
for the accommodation in neutral countries of sick
and wounded prisoners of war.
b. All appropriate decisions regarding sick and
" wounded prisoners of war are to be made by mixed
medical commissions which are to be appointed upon
the outbreak of hostilities. A mixed medical com
mission is to be composed of three members. Two
of the members are to belong to a neutral country
and are to be appointed by the International Com
mittee of the Red Cross. The third member is to be
appointed by the detaining power.
57. ESCAPE
AGO 1385C 65
a sufficient period of time has elapsed to make im
mediate recapture appear improbable. Notification
of recapture is promptly forwarded to each agency
previously notified of the escape.
58. DEATH
a. Prisoners of war who have died in captivity,
regardless of the cause or manner of death, are hon
orably buried, if possible according to the rites of ,
their religion. Their graves are respected, properly
maintained, and identified with appropriate markers.
b. Death certificates, or lists certified by a respon
sible officer, of all persons who die as prisoners of
war are forwarded as rapidly as possible to the En
emy Prisoner-of-War Information Bureau. The
death certificate or list must identify the individual
and state the date and place of death, the cause of
death, the date and place of burial, and all data
necessary to identify the grave. 'When a body is
cremated, this fact, together with the reasons for
this procedure, must be stated in the death certificate.
c. The burial or cremation of a prisoner of war
must be preceded by a medical examination of the
body. Bodies may be cremated only for imperative
reasons of hygiene, on account of the prisoner's re
ligion, or upon his request for cremation.
a. If the cause of death is unknown, or if a death
or serious injury of a prisoner of war was caused or
suspected to have been caused by a sentry, another
prisoner of war, or any other person, an official in
quiry should be made and a report of the findings •
sent to the Office of The Provost Marshal General.
e. Enemy identification media, such as identifica-
66 AGO 1385C
tion tags, are forwarded to the Enemy Prisoner-of
War Information Bureau. Duplicate identification
media if any, or copies of originals, remain with the
body.
59. LABOR
AGO 1385C 67
c. Restrictio'M. The Provost Marshal General,
acting for the Army, normally designates the type
of labor in which prisoners of war may be employed.
Limitations governing prisoner-of-war labor include
the following:
(1) No prisoner of war may be employed at
work for which he is physically unfit. All
prisoners of war are given a physical ex
amination before being assigned to work,
and are examined periodically, at least once
a month.
(2) Noncommissioned officers may be required
to do only supervisory work. Officers and
noncommissioned officers may be permitted
to work if they request it.
(3) The duration of the daily labor of a pris
oner of war, including the time of the jour
ney to and from work, must not be exces
sive, and must in no case exceed the time al
lowed for civilian workers employed at the
same work in the same district. A prisoner
of war must be allowed definite rest periods,
including not less than one hour in the
middle of the day's work; 24 consecutive
hours weekly, preferably on Sunday or the
day of rest in his country of origin; and
eight paid consecutive days, if he has
worked for one year.
(4) In addition to work connected with camp
administration, installation, or mainte
nance, prisoners of war may be compelled
to do only such work as is included in the
following classes: agriculture; domestic
70 AGO 1385C
(4) When prisoner of war labor is requested by
units of the Army or by other services for
labor by the day, the requesting unit or
service is responsible, only during the hours
of employment, for the security and proper
employment of the prisoners. Adminis
tration remains the responsibility of the
camp commander.
AGO 1385C 71
postal address in sufficient time to permit them to
pack their luggage and to notify their next of kin
(par. 51).
c. Prisoners of war are allowed to take with them
their personal effects, the weight of which may be
limited, if circumstances so require, to the amount
each prisoner can reasonably carry, which is not to
exceed twenty-five kilograms (approximately 55
pounds) per person.
72 A.GO.188~
c. Prisoners of war are assembled in inclosed or
otherwise secured areas at the port of embarkation,
are divided into groups, and are searched before they
board ship. Prohibited items are impounded or con
fiscated. After the search, each group is escorted
under guard, to the gangplank according to the order
of embarkation, and is conducted to its assigned area
aboard ship. Wounded and seriously ill prisoners
are loaded first, and then officer prisoners and other
groups. Head counts are made upon boarding and
at appropriate intervals thereafter. The segrega
tion of prisoners is maintained throughout the as
sembling, the boarding, and the quartering on ship.
Each prisoner carries his own clothing and other
possessions; however, the possessions of the wounded
or the ill and of high ranking officers are carried
aboard by special prisoner-of-war details. When
required, prisoners are deloused prior to embarkation.
d. Safety and hygienic conditions aboard ship
should conform to the requirements of the Geneva
Convention. Life belts should be provided, and fire
and boat drills conducted. Adequate latrine facili
ties as well as sufficient ventilation and air space to
maintain health standards should be made available.
Wounded and seriously ill prisoners of war should be
separated and prisoners with communicable diseases
should be isolated from other prisoners. Adequate
medical facilities, potable water, food, and clothing
to maintain health should be provided. In addition,
instructions should be given to the prisoners with re
gard to restricted areas, light regulations, smoking
privileges, and other prohibitions or privileges. Ade
quate confinement facilities should be provided for
A.GO .1385C 73
prisoners who violate regulations. Signs should be
posted in the languages of the prisoners.
e. Aboard ship, prisoners of war serve as cooks;
as food handlers; as kitchen police; and as clean-up
details for decks, latrines, showers, and bunk or sleep
ing areas.
f. If sleeping facilities are inadequate, provision
is made to rotate the prisoners of war, by roster or
shift, among the available hammocks, bunks, or pal
lets.
g. If meSs facilities are inadequate, it may only
be possible to provide two meals per day per prisoner,
or the prisoners may be divided into several groups,
each group eating at a different time.
h. If a prisoner of war dies aboard ship, the com
mander of the escorting unit completes and forwards
the required certificate or authentication to the
Enemy Prisoner-of-War Information Bureau (par.
58). If circumstances require the burial of a pris
oner of war at sea, the latitude and longitude of the
place of burial are given in the report.
74 AGO la811e
CHAPTER 4
PROCESSING COMPANY
64. ORGANIZATION
The military police prisoner-of-war processing
company is organized under T/O & E 19-237. The
company consists of a company headquarters and
three platoons. The company headquarters provides
for the internal administration and mess of the com
pany. Each platoon is capable of operating inde
pendently, and is composed of a platoon headquarters
and five specialized sections, which are designated as
the receiving, processing, photographic, fingerprint,
and record sections. Each platoon is capable of
processing at least one prisoner of war per minute.
65. MISSION
The mission of the military police prisoner-of
war processing company is to receive, search, and
process prisoners of war. Processing includes mak
ing and maintaining permanent reports and records,
assigning internment serial numbers to all prisoners,
and furnishing pertinent information to the Enemy
Prisoner-of-War Information Bureau.
AGO 1385C 7S
66. ASSIGNMENT
Prisoner-of-war processing companies are as
signed to field armies and the communications zone
as required. Platoons from the company may be
attached to task forces.
67. COMPANY OPERATIONS
a. The prisoner-of-war processing company nor
mally operates by platoons. When the company is
operating as a unit, the platoons should be sepa
rated sufficiently to permit efficient operations.
b. The physical arrangement of a platoon for
processing is determined by the physical layout of
the building or tent used. In processing, provision
should be made for the continuous movement of
prisoners of war from one section to another, and for
sufficient space between the sections to allow for the
efficient functioning of each section. (See fig. 7.)
c. In processing prisoners of war, speed and
smoothness of movement are primary considerations.
To prevent monotony and to insure the continuous
functioning of the platoon in the event of losses,
each member of the platoon is trained to handle at
least one additional processing assignment. Changes
of personnel between sections are made as neces
sary to insure the continuous processing of the pris
oners. Each unit determines through practice the
most economical arrangement of personnel.
d. When the company operates as a complete unit,
the continuous processing of prisoners of war may be
maintained over a twenty-four hour period by as
signing an eight hour shift to each platoon. In the
event that the sudden receipt of a large number of
76 AGO 1385C
~
o
....t.-----~--- - -'!.6 I! :=-J
....... ~ O· '\ (.~-- - -••_ - - ' ) , \
CO / E:::J E:::J 0
on _ ~, \. I I ,...--"1------.....
n
'-~..-_/ x {f .'\ :>. :
l 'I'. '" ~":'G
1 I ". I
RECEIVING SECTION ~6I 1
~& FINGERPRINT SECTION
", ... _ ....,,' RECORD SECTION
I • l \ .......- _______________J
Ktv TO 1nIB019
X REeavER UNTERPR£TER FROII tI PROenSING I!OTION P PHOTOQRAPIiEII '1 FH.le:ERPRINT INICER
I'ROCESSINO IEOTIONJ SERGEANT, AP ASatSTANT PttOTOGRAPHtR .. FIItGERPRIHTER
o GLERK IN INTERPRETU o DEVELOPER RO R~RD IECTION CURIC
"Step on scale."
"Wait."
"That is all."
AGO 1385C 81
paper and pencil available; prisoners can frequently
assist interpreters by writing unusual names.
74. PHOTOGRAPHIC SECTION·
a. FWlUJtioning. The members of this section
should be qualified photographers. Each member of
the section should be trained to perform the work
of every other member so that the duties can be ro
tated during the actual processing. To maintain a
high standard of work, developers and printers must
receive relief at frequent intervals.
b. Identification Board Group. Theidentification
board group receives the prisoners of war from the
processing section, prepares the boards on the basis
of the information contained on the personnel rec
ords, and shows the boards to the prisoners for verifi
cation. At least three men are needed to prepare the
boards. Men temporarily relieved from developing
and printing may be used for this work. The boards
are prepared in accordance with Department of the
Army directives.
c. Oamera Group. This group consists of the
photographer and his assistant. The assistant re
ceives each prisoner of war and the identification
board, directs the prisoner to the spot designated, has
him face the· camera, and places the board. After the
picture is taken, the assistant turns the prisoner of
war for a profile view. It is good practice to have
the prisoner of war stand, rather than sit, during
the photographing.
d. Special Instructions.
(1) Before beginning the processing, a few
photographs should be taken and developed
to insure proper lighting and exposure.
82 AGO 1385C
(2) Members of the photographic section should
know such words and phrases in the prison
er's language as
"Come with me."
"Face me."
"Turn around."
"Stand still."
"Stand here."
.. "That is all."
"Wait."
"Next."
84 AGO l381le
are disposed of in accordance with Depart
ment of the Army instructions (par. 21).
(3) The record section also prepares and trans
mits to appropriate officials such other iden
tification records as may be prescribed by the
theater commander.
d. Special Instructions. Members of the record
section should know such words and phrases in the
prisoners, language as
" "Is this your name 1"
"Wait."
"Stand over here."
"That is all."
"Go out that door."
77. ORGANIZATION
There are two types of military police guard com
panies: military police guard company (mobile) and
military police guard company.
a. The military police guard company (mobile)
is organized under TjO & E 19-47. The company
consists of a. company headquarters and three
platoons.
b. The military police guard company is organized
under TjO & E 19-247. The company consists of a
company headquarters, three guard platoons, and a
machine gun section.
79. CAPABILITIES
TRAINING
1. GENERAL
2. PURPOSE OF TRAINING
The main objective of all military training is
success in combat. Training in the handling of pris
oners of war furt!1ers the accomplishment of the
military mission through the proper disposition and
88 AGO 138CiC
advantageous utilization of prisoners of war in ac
cordance with the Geneva Oonvention of 1~ August
1949 and pertinent directives.
3. STANDARDS TO BE ATTAINED
AGO 1385C 89
(m) Information bureaus and relief societies
for prisoners of war.
(2) Know their jurisdiction and authority over
prisoners of war.
(3) Be familiar with military regulations as to
degTee of force to be used in the control
of prisoners of war.
(4) Know how to search prisoners of war.
(5) Know the disposition that is to be made of
confiscated and impounded effects, includ
ing all material of intelligence value.
(6) Develop a practical working knowledge of
the language of the enemy.
b. Military Police Prisoner-o f- War Proce88ing
Oompany. In addition to attaining the standards
for all personnel handling prisoners of war, person
nel of the military police prisoner-of-war processing
company should
(1) Be able to operate independently in indi
vidual platoons, each platoon capable of
processing one prisoner of war per minute
on an eight hour basis.
(2) Maintain all necessary individual records
with regard to prisoners of war.
(3) Furnish pertinent information compiled to
the Enemy Prisoner-of-vVar Information
Bureau.
(4) Be proficient in more than one of the spe
cialist skills required in the prC!cessing com
pany, so that personnel may be rotated to
insure continuous, complete, and uninter
rupted processing.
c. Military Police Guard Oompany. In addition
to attaining the standards for all personnel handling
90 AGO 1385C
prisoners of war, personnel of the military police
guard company should:
(1) Be able to evacuate prisoners of war, main
tain segregation, eriforce discipline, prevent
escapes, and protect documents or material
of intelligence value.
(2) Know how to tag prisoners of war.
(3) Know how to guard prisoners of war.
AGO 1385C 9T
of the five sections, personnel assigned to
the sections are trained to become proficient
in the following:
(a) Receivin,q section.
1. Recording names.
AGO 1385C 93
GENERAL ALLOTMENT OF TIME
Hours
Subject
Total hours_____________________________ 48 82
94 .AGO 1385C
t"
to Hours
...eo
00 .0
""n Method Subjeot References p.,
0 ~
p.,
0
p., p.,
::;! ::;!
--
Introduction
C_________________
General and special staff officers' responsi Pars. 1-4_________ (1) (1)
bilities in relation to prisoners of war.
Geneva Convention8 4 5
C and D __________ The Geneva Conventions; definition of Pars. 5-7_________ (1) (2)
prisoners of war; definition of protected
personnel.
CJ D, and PE______ Resum6 of rules for the general protection Par. 8 ____________ (1) (1)
of prisoners of war.
·MllItary Pollee Guard Company.
··Milltary Poliee Prlsoner·of·War Processing Company.
00
VI
00
0
Hours
Geneva Conventions-Continued
Disciplinary Measures 5 3
C, D, and PK _____ I Enumeration of permissible disciPlinarY'1 Pars. 12,13 _______ 1 (3)1 (2)
punishments.
C, D, and PK ____ -I Judicial proceedings _____________________ Par. 14__________ -' (2)1 (1
b
e
o Interrogation
....co 1 2
00
f.) c, D, and PE Purpose of interrogation; staff responsi- Par. 15_: _________ 1___ -1 (1
~ ,
l>
e:> bility; information supplied by prisoners
o of war upon capture.
,...
(X)
C________________ -' Principles of interrogation; _phases of in- Pars. 16, 17_______ 1____ 1 (1)
'"
C11
() terrogation.
C!)'ptuTe 6 6
C, D, and PK _____ I Explanation of action of capturing troops; I Pars. 18-2L ______ 1(2) 1(4)
search of prisoners of war; documents;
personal effects.
C, D, and PE _____ -' Segregation of prisoners of war; movement I Pars. 22-24 _______ 1 (4) I (2)
to division collecting point; duties of
escorts.
Collection I 4 I 2
C, D, and PE______ I Staff responsibility; location of infantry I Pars. 25-26_______ 1 (2) I (1)
division collecting point; responsibility
of military police; operations at division
collecting point.
C________________ -' Airborne division collecting point; armored I Pars. 27-30 _______ 1 (2) 1 (1)
division collecting point; collecting points
in arctic areas; collecting points in desert
areas.
°Milltary Police Guard Company.
00
.... o·Military Police Prisoner·o!·War Processing Company•
00
CD
Hours
C, D, and PE.
Cages and processing stations: duties and I Pars. 41-43 _______ 1 (1)1 (1)
<¥J
""""
()
"" functions of prisoner-of-war cage repre
sentatives; prisoner-of-war camps; de
scription of camps; requirements of camps.
C, D, and PE. Administrative considerations in the opera- I Pars. 44-46 _______ 1 (1)1 (1)
tion of camps; command responsibilities;
records and reports; processing; organiza
tion of prisoner-of-war companies; selec
tion and duties of representatives; cour
tesies and salutes.
C, D, and PE. Supplies and equipment at prisoner-of-war I Pars. 47-49 _______ 1 (1)1 (1)
camps; canteens at prisoner-of war camps;
·disposition of personal effects; sanitation
and medical care.
'0, D;andPK Pay and allowances for prisoners of war; I Pars. 50-52_______ I (1) I (1)
mail and censorship; relief shipments.
C, D, and PE. Religious, intellectual, and physical activi- I Pars. 53-55_______ 1 (1)1 (1)
ties of prisoners of war; complaints;
treatment of officer prisoners.
·Military Pollee Guurd Company.
~
a
a
-
Hours
C, D, and PE.
Repatriation of sick and wounded; action 1 Pars. 56-58 _______ 1 (1)1 (1)
upon escape of prisoners of war; procedure
upon death of prisoners of war.
C, D, and PE.
Employment of prisoners of war in the 1 Pars. 59, 60_______ I (4) I (1)
communications zone; restrictions; com
pensation; labor units; injured and
diseased prisoners.
C, D, and PE. Provisions for transferring prisoners of war; I Pars. 61-63 _______ 1 (2)1 (1)
~ evacuation of prisoners of war by water;
o evacuation from communications zone .
00
....,.....
n
~
"'.
~
Q Military Police Prisoner-of- War Processing 1 I 50
o Company
....
~
011
n C, D, and PE______ I The organization of the military police 1 Pars. 64-70-- _____ 1____ 1 (4)
prisoner-of-war processing company; its
mission and assignment; company opera
tions; treatment of prisoners of war; use
of signs; carrying of firearms.
C, D, and PE______ Platoon operations; operations and function 1 Pars. 71,72-------1----1 (9)
Iof the receiving section.
0, D, and PK _____ Operations and function of the processing 1 Par. 73 ___________ 1____ 1 (9)
section.
C, D, and PK _____ Operations and function of the photographic 1 Par. 74___________ 1____ 1 (9)
" section.
C, D, and PK _____ Operations and function of the fingerprint 1 Par. 75___________ 1____ 1(10)
section.
C; D,"and'PE~ ___ ~~ ()perationsand functionofthereoordsec-I·Par.7{L~ __ ~ __ ~-___ I____ 1(9)
tion.
·Military Police Guard Company.
··Military ~olice Prisoner-of-War Processing Company•
...
....o
..
o
~
Hours
C, D, andPE______ The organization of the military police Pars. 77-SL ______ (2) (1)
guard companies; mission and assign
ment; capabilities; operations with army
or separate corps; operations with logisti
cal command.
lI
I<.)
o
.......
(»
ell
n
6. ADDITIONAL TRAINING
In addition to the training required for handling
prisoners of war, personnel of the military police
prisoner-of-war processing company and the mili
tary police guard company should receive training in
such subjects as the following:
a. The physical training required for dismounted
ground combat consistent with the maximum capa
bilities of the unit.
o. The principles of concealment and camouflage,
cover, and movement. "
c. Security consciousness that will assure detec
tion and action against subversive activities;' de
fense against infiltration, guerrilla warfare, and en
emy partisan activities.
d. Control of traffic and circulation of individuals.
e. Protection of property to include assistance to
civil authorities when specifically authorized.
f. The operation of the unit including adminis
tration, motor maintenance, communication,' and
supply functions.
g. Prescribed standards for the maintenance of
all organization equipment.
h. Other duties normally assigned to military
police.
7. TRAINING CONSIDERATIONS
Training should simulate as closely as possible
the actual problems that will be encountered in the
field. Ingenuity should be exercised in presenting
problems and situations that will stimulate interest.
Realistic training and realism in maneuvers and
field exercises appropriate to the unit's function and
mission should be stressed.
AGO-1385C 103:
INDEX
Para~
UTaph
Paue
Activities, POW:
IntellectuaL ________________________ 52, 53b 62,63
PhysicaL ___________________________ 52, 53b 62,63
Religious___________________________ 52,53b .,
62,63
Administrative considerations:
])eath______________________________ 58 66
Escape______________________________ 57 65
General_____________________________ 44 49
Labor:
Compensation __________________ _ 59d 70
GeneraL _______________________ _
59a 67
Restrictions ____________________ _
59c 68
Supervisors_____________________ _
59b 67
Policies ____________________ - _- - - - - -_
45 49
47a 56
Miscellaneous___________________ _
47c 57
Rations ________________________ _
47b 57
Transfer of prisoners of war __________ _
61 71
Agency, Central POW Information ________ _
9c 11
Allowances, pay and_____________________ _
50 59
Boundary, rear, forward displacemenL ____ _ 40 41
Cages, Figure 3 _________________________ _ 38, 41 39,42
Camps, POW, Figures 6,7,8_____________ _ 43 44
Capture:
I>ocuments__________________________ 20 23
Escorts_____________________________ 24 27
l' Evacuation to collecting point_________ 18b 22
GeneraL __ __ ______ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ _____ _ ___ 18 22
Interrogation at collelting point________ 18b 22
Movement to division collecting point_ _ 23 26
• Responsibility for POW_______________
Search, immediate___________________ 18a, 19
18c 22
22,23
Segregation__ _______ _ __ __ _ _ ____ _ __ _ __ 22 26
Censorship, mail and ____ ________________ 51b 61
7
Principles oL _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ 32 35
Procedures__________________________ 34 36
By vehicle __ __ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ 34c 36
By wateL_______________________ 62 72
Search______________________________ 16d 20
Speed_______________________________ 16b 19
Fingerprint section:
Protected personnel:
Employment of specialist~_________ 7d 7
Rights_ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ _ 7c
7
",
Protecting powers____________________ 10 11
Welfare organizations:
ApprovaL_______________________ lIa 12
,.
Red Cross __________________"_ _ _ _ _ lIb
12
11 ci AGO 1385C
Para Page
graph
Military police processing company-Continued
Operations:
Definition__________________________ _
o 4
Escorts ____________________________ _
24 27
Information Bureaus __________ ~ _____ _ 9 9
Interrogation ____________________ 15-17,38h 17,40
Judicial proceeding~ ___ _ _ __ ___ _ ___ ____ 14 16
Labor:
Compensation_ ___ __ __ __ __ _ ___ ___ 59d 70
General_________________________ 59a 67
Injury while engaged iII. ___ __ _____ 60 71
Restrictions_ _____ _ _ _ __ __ __ ___ ___ 59c 68
Supervisors_____ __ __ __ __ _ __ __ ____ 59b 67
Litter cases______ ___ _ ___ _ ___ __ _ ______ 22b 26
Movement to division collecting point.. _ 23 26
Officer prisoner~_____ __ __ __ __ __ ___ ____ 55 64
Orderlies_______ ___ ___ _ _ __ __ __ _ _____ _ 55b 64
Organization oL __ _____ __ _ __ ___ ___ ___ 45e 53
Proceedings, judicial. __ ___ _ ___ __ __ ____ 14 16
Processing company_____________ (;4 -70, App. 75, 88
Processing platoon, Figure 9__________ 67b,71 76, 78
Processing section____ ___ _ _ __ __ __ _____ 73 81
Protection_____ __ ___ ____ _ _ ____ __ ___ __ 8 8
112 AGO 1385C
Para
Ilraph Palle
Prisoper of war-Continued
Relief shipments_ _____ __ __ __ ___ __ __ __ 52 62
Representative ______________________ 42, 45/ 43, 53
Search oL____ _____ __ ___ __ ___ ___ 18a, 19, 38c 22,23,
39
45, 73