THE WATCH BATTALIONS AND THE UNITS FOR ADMINISTRATION OF POW

After the liberation of Belgium, September 1944, the Government badly needed manpower
for the reconstruction of the coalmines, and for their exploitation.

The monthly output was 1.500.000 tons of coal, with a labour force of 114.000 men.

One of the primary objectives of the new Belgian Governement was to augment
the output with 700.000 tons a month.

In May 1945 the Belgian Government received 15.000 German POW's from the Allied High Command.

A few months later this number was already insufficient, and the Belgian Government requested
the "delivery" of a new considerable contingent of German POW's.

The Allied High Command agreed to deliver an additional 30.000 POW's on condition
that sufficient lodging could be provided.

31 POW camps were build : 7 in the Povince of Limburg, 9 in the Province of Liège,
6 in the area of Charleroi, 3 in the centre of the country, and 6 in the Borinage.

6 additional POW Camps were build in the Ardennes
for lodging the POW's working under the supervision of the Forestry units.

On January 1947 35.750 German POW's worked in the Belgian Coalmines
and an additional 4.000 POW's worked as woodcutters.

To control and administrate this army of POW's, a High Command, 6 Regional Commands,
4 Watch Battalions and some small units were raised.

The High Command was called "Commandement Supérieur des Camps de Prisonniers" C.S.C.P.

The Regional Commands were called "Commandement Régional des Camps de Prisonniers" C.R.C.P.

The Regional Command for the Forestry Units was called
"Commandement Régional des Camps de Prisonniers Forestiers" C.R.C.P.F.

The Bomb Disposal POW Camps were called "Commandement des Camps de Prisonniers" C.C.P.

The last German POW's were liberated in the Spring of 1948,
and the last POW units were disbanded on June 30 1948.

NAME	RAISED	DISBANDED	C.P.'s under command	COMMANDING OFFICERS
C.S.C.P.	July 9 1945	?	All	Major-General BRABANT Colonel DESOIL Major-General PLISNIER
C.R.C.P. Limburg	May 12 1945	June 30 1948	Beringen Zolder Houthalen Winterslag Waterschei Zwartberg Eisden	Major SIMON
C.R.C.P. Liège	August 6 1945	June 30 1948	Ans Vottem Jemeppe Tilleur Chératte-Wandre Fléron-Micheroux Seraing Bois d'Avray Poix Saint-Hubert (1) Vielsalm (1) Elsenborn (1)	Colonel RÖHRS
C.R.C.P. Charleroi	August 29 1945	June 30 1948	Fontaine l'Evêque Marchienne Lodelinsart Marcinelle Fleurus Châtelineau Couvin (1)	Major SAFFRE
C.R.C.P. Centre C.R.C.P. Centre-Borinage	August 29 1945 September 16 1947	June 30 1948	Maurage Ressaix Mariemont + C.P.'s Borinage from Sep 16 1947	Lieutenant-Colonel WEVE from Sep 16 1947
C.R.C.P. Borinage	September 30 1945	September 16 1947	Tertre Boussu Heussies-Pomeroeul Wasmes Flénu Erbisoeul	Lieutenant-Colonel WEVE
C.R.C.P. Marche-en-Famenne	May 1 1946	November 15 1947	Forestier Andenne Couvin (2) Poix Saint-Hubert (2) Vielsalm (2) Elsenborn (2)	Colonel ROBA
C.R.C.P.F.	May 1 1946	?	POW Camps near Forestry Units	?
C.C.P. Kalmthout	October 15 1945	November 15 1947	Kalmthout	?
C.C.P. Wenduine	August 10 1945	November 15 1947	Wenduine	?
Territorial Battalion Namur	February 12 1945	July 16 1945	-	?
Territorial Battalion Limburg Watch Battalion N° 1	May 3 1945 July 7 1945	March 31 1946	-	Senior Captain EBBERECHT
Watch Battalion N° 2	July 16 1945	March 31 1946	-	Major DEPREZ
Watch Battalion N° 3	June 16 1945	August 10 1945	-	Major HERMAN
Watch Battalion N° 3	October 19 1945	March 31 1946	-	?

(1) Until June 1 1946. From then under the command of the C.R.C.P. Marche-en-Famenne.
(2) Comes from an other C.R.C.P.

As far as known only the 3 Watch Battalions wore some kind of a Formation Badge.


Formation Badge of the 2nd Watch Battalion		Private from the 1st Watch Battalion wearing the Formation Badge.