Commandant's Service

Commandant's Service was the name for the military police of some Warsaw Pact[1] and other 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.

Red shield arm patch of the USSR’s Commandant's Service

Soviet Union/Russia
GAZ Sobol Commandant's Service van

The Komendantskaya sluzhba (Russian: 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.[4][2][5][6]

Bulgaria

The Commandment Service is part of the Ministry of Defence, located in Sofia and is in charge of real estate management, transportation, library services, documentation publishing and communications support for the central administration of the MoD, transportation support to the immediate MoD personnel, classified information, cryptographic, and perimeter security for the MoD administration buildings.

East Germany
Main article: Commandant's Service (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 and belt, handgun holster and gloves.[7]

Notes
  1. Warsaw Pact Ground Forces, Gordan Rottman, Osprey Publishing Elite 10, p 49 Coprwyrite 1987 ISBN 0-85045-730-0
  2. 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. "Sword of the Motherland Historical Foundation".
  5. Galeotti, Mark (August 20, 2013). Mark Galeotti (ed.). Russian Security and Paramilitary Forces since 1991. Osprey Publishing. pp. 43–4. ISBN 978-1-78096-107-1. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  6. 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
  7. Warsaw Pact Ground Forces, Gordan Rottman, Osprey Publishing Elite 10, Color plate A ISBN 0-85045-730-0

See also
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