Loewenstein took great interest in the drafting of the Civil Service Law. He was worried that the Civil Service Law forced Germans to proclaim their loyalty only to the German state, as opposed to a specifically democratic government.
OMGUS’s goal was to ensure that at least 90% of German Civil Service personnel had not been Nazis. Prior to the first German elections, no one could join the civil service without the approval of the Military Government (MG).
After the elections, the MG had the ability to remove civil servants, but the accused were now subject to an investigation and disciplinary hearing prior to dismissal. The Municipal Code was designed to integrate democratic principles into the smaller towns and communities throughout the American zone. OMGUS retained the authority to overrule local governments and remove former Nazis from local positions of power, but for the most part was content to allow Germans to self-govern. The municipal code forced German communities to maintain a democratic administration, and ensured that local governments provided its citizens with adequate welfare and services.
Box 46, Folder 32, Karl Loewenstein Collection, Amherst College Archives & Special Collections.