Civilian labor units assigned to US military in Germany WW2

Displaced Persons records have been found, sometimes, among the Civilian Personnel Records at the National Archives in St. Louis. This would occur if they were employed at the Displaced Persons camp by the Department of the Army/Air Force or Labor Service. We also have the Official Personnel Folders of the Displaced Persons Commission (DPC), however this does not imply that it includes those forced laborers. The goal of the DPC was to eventually repatriate if possible, and therefore records on individuals and their “employment” were rarely kept.

There are also records of the Displaced Persons Commission kept in Washington. A description of them can be found at; https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/278.html and https://www.archives.gov/research/military/ww2/refugees.html#iro .

My Polish father was a POW in Germany and he too worked for the US army for a couple of years after the war ended. It was my understanding that this happened frequently. I have in my possession a certificate which gives him clearance as an employee of US Army but I have yet to find any files or records of his in any official capacity. He was in Bensheim Germany. Good luck with your research, I hope my information helps a little.

MaryAnne Melbourne, VIC Australia