The Forstschutzkommando des Reichsforstmeisters was ordered to be formed in February 1940 and tasked with carrying out and protecting forestry works in occupied Poland. It was manned with German forestry officials and wood-workers and also ethnic Germans from Poland. Apart from their experiences with wood working they also received some military training and from 1943 onwards their work was heavily affected by partisan activities. As the German withdrawals continued some elements of the FSK also saw front line service. It was also involved in the capture of Jews hiding in the forests.
The average strength of the organization was about 2000 men. The uniforms were provided by the Luftwaffe and those with a leadership function wore a cuff-title with the text "Forstschutzkommando".
It was renamed the Forstschutzkorps in September 1943.

Commander

Landsforstmeister Ernst Boden

Organisation

Abteilung
Hundertschaft
Zug

Ranks of the non-forestry service officials

Obertruppführer
Truppführer
Oberscharführer
Scharführer
Oberrottenführer
Rottenführer
Forstschütze

Sources used

John R. Angolia - Belt buckles & brocades of the Third Reich
Wolfgang Benz, Hermann Graml & Hermann Weiß - Enzyklopädie des Nationalsozialismus
Wilhelm P.B.R. Saris & Mathieu de Wolf - Forstschutzkommando: A sub organization of the Reichsforstmeister (in The Military Advisor, Vol 19, No 2)

Reference material on this unit

- None known at this time -