Occupation? How is it done...

[Behind The Mask]

Now, recently as I've begun writing more and what not, and the stories have taken a militaristic them or sorts, I have begun to wonder how one army occupies the city or settlement of another.

It seems like a pretty simple concept; they take the city, leave behind a garrison (if major?) then march on... but what becomes of the city and the population under the new rule?

How does it effect the faiths and religions of the city?
What restrictions are levied on the population?
If its a port city are the facilities immediatly sent back to work?
In the case of a seige, the city was starved out, how does the army maintain itself (besides other supply lines?)
What repairs are done?
How is it administered?

All that and more; it seems so complicated, I was hoping some of you could inform me on the issue or perhaps suggest some reading.

Could I have some help then comrades?

[hellheaven1987]

Wait, just what period and region you are looking for??

[Poach]

Basically:

A military government is usually set up, with a staff officer working somewhat like a local mayor/head of administration.

Heavy restrictions are often placed on the populace to prevent, or hinder atleast, partisan activity. For example, curfews are almost a certainty. Assembly (protests, meetings, gatherings) is commonly suspended in a further attempt to hinder partisan activity.

Any facilities useful to the occupation are usually comandeered and operated by the military, using the existing local labour if required. If the port was needed for supplies, basing for ships or anything of the sort, a heavy military presence is usually established quickly to prevent sabotage and civilian labour used is often heavily supervised.

Faith and religion should probably remain undamaged unless the occupiers are looking for you (eg, Jewish populations in Nazi occupied cities in the Second World War), though they probably fall foul of the suspended rights of assembly and curfew, Partisans could just as easily secretly meet in a Church/Mosque/what-have-you disguised as members of the faith.

Repairs to anything the occupiers consider vital would be overseen by military engineers, perhaps using the local populace as labour. Non-essential repairs are often not done or, atleast, not done under military administration. Local businesses, unless heavily damaged, would likely make the effort to continue running so most of them would likely re-open.

The attacking army maintains itself off it's own logistics network and food would likely be rationed to the populace if the city is important enough to be occupied in the first place.





Note: I have assumed for this whole post we're discussing modern warfare (at the earliest First World War, but I was thinking along the lines of Second World War period)

[DAVIDE]

Military occupation and Occupied territories