Police in action 1939-1945: photos of a time or racism, riots, murder and joy

Police attempt to break up an incident as race rioting flared in the downtown area of Detroit on June 21, 1943. Troops were called in at the request of Michigan Governor Harry F. Kelly when police were unable to stop the fighting. (AP Photo)

A policeman searches an African American for weapons after rioting broke out in Detroit on June 21, 1943 between whites and African Americans. Troops were called in at the request of Michigan Governor Harry F. Kelly after police were unable to quell the riots. (AP Photo)

Young Arab recruits and volunteers from the British army are now undergoing intensive training at the Palestine Police Force barracks in Jerusalem. An important part of the training for the young Arabs is with small arms and for the British, Volunteers, specialized instruction in the types of weapons used by the Terrorists€. This series of pictures made this month show scenes during the training of the force. Young Arab recruits tom the Palestine Police Force underground rifle drill, on the roof of their barracks in Jerusalem on Nov. 15, 1945. They are being taught to present arms for ceremonial purposes. (**Caption information received incomplete) (AP Photo)

Owney Madden, left, owner of the Cotton Club during prohibition, is escorted by an unidentified detective as they leave police headquarters for questioning on May 4, 1940. (AP Photo)

Bridget Hitler, wife of Adolf Hitler’s half brother Alois, does housework at her home in Highgate, London, Jan. 20, 1939. Bridget, the daughter of an Irish farmer, has been summoned to appear in police court to face a non payment of taxes charge of 30 after taking in boarders. (AP Photo)

German police detachments standing before the ruins of the Warsaw main station on Sept. 30, 1943, which burned down some months before the war. (AP Photo)

With most of his audience lying on the ground to get away from the smoke of police bombs, this iron lunged speaker, center, keeps his feet and continues to exhort his hearers to “follow the Gandhi line,” Aug. 9, 1942 Meeting was in a park in Bombay three hours after Gandhi had been arrested. (AP Photo)

The epidemic of liquer poisoning among allied soldiers has brought to light a Belgian bootleg industry run by peasants in tradition of the prohibition days in the U.S. a number of soldiers were poisoned by so called cognac. Investigation by excise officials and Military police exposed many small distilleries hidden in peasant cottages, farm attics and stables. By evading the high tax on spirits these bootleggers were collecting as much as 600 francs for a quart of this dangerous faked brandy. Discoveries also revealed that this hooch was often made in conditions of filth, with sugar beet and methylated spirits, and in one instance fermented with manure. The bottles bear five stars instead of the usual three for good brandy. American M.P’s Hunting hooch racketeers stop all traffic on a lonely road near Tongres, Belgium on March 20, 1945. (AP Photo)