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- he restoration of democratic self-govern-
ment at municipal, county, and state
levels was completed in the US Zone by the
end of the 1946, climaxing some 18 months
of instigating democratic procedures in Ger-
many. The process involved both legislation
and elections. In the fall of 1945, new mu-
nicipal government codes (Gemeindeordnun-
gen) were drafted by the German Land
governments and approved by Military Gov-
ernment. In February 1946, county govern-
ment codes (Kreisordnungen) were similarly
put into effect. Under these codes, represen-
tative councils were elected - the municipal
A view of the assembly which drafted a
new constitution for Wuerttemberg-Baden.
(Gemeinde) councils in January, the councils
of the rural counties (Landkreise) in April,
and the councils of the larger cities (Stadt-
kreise) in May. (A Stadtkreis is a city which
is at the same time a county. In general, all
cities with more than 2uw  hhabaan'ts are
Stadtkreise or city-counties). These munici-
pal and county councilt in turn ieeited their
principal executive 6officers such as Buerger-
meister or Oberbuergermeister i4th6 case 'of,"'
Gemeinden and St4dtkreise, and Laendrat in
the case of Landlrpise.  a
The restoration of democratic state (Land)
governments was a more eodmplicated matter.t
Signal Car s"'Ahto
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ne