United States Army and Navy Manual of Military Government and Civil Affairs - FM 27-5 War Department Field Manual

a. Military Government. The term "military government" is used in this manual to describe the supreme authority exercised by an armed force over the lands, property, and the inhabitants of enemy territory, or allied or domestic territory recovered from enemy occupation, or from rebels treated as belligerents. It is exercised when an armed force has occupied such territory, whether by force or by agreement, and has substituted its authority for that of the sovereign or a previous government. Sovereignty is not transferred by reason of occupation, but the right of control passes to the occupying force, limited only by international law and custom. The theater commander bears full responsibility for military government. He is, therefore, usually designated as military governor, but may delegate both his authority and title to a subordinate commander.

b. Occupied Territory. The term "occupied territory" is used to mean any area in which military government is exercised by an armed force. It does not include territory in which an armed force is located but has not assumed supreme authority.

c. Civil Affairs. The term "civil affairs" is used to describe the activities of the government of the occupied area and of the inhabitants of such an area except those of an organized military character. "Civil affairs. control" describes the supervision of the activities of civilians by an armed force, by military government, or otherwise. The term "civil affairs officers" designates the military officers, who, under the military governor, are engaged in the control of civilians.

Contents
Section ParagraphSection ParagraphSection Paragraph
Republished by Liber Copia LLC for convenient study and reference on any device.