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Art Provenance and Claims Research
Microfilm Publications
M1782:
OSS Art Looting Investigation Unit Reports, 1945–1946 
On the single roll of this microfilm publication, M1782, are reproduced the Detailed Interrogation Reports, Consolidated Interrogation Reports, and the Final Report of the Office of Strategic Service's (OSS) Art Looting Investigation Unit (ALIU). The ALIU distributed copies of these documents to numerous Government agencies. In order to produce the highest quality microfilm image, the best physical copy of each report was selected for inclusion in M1782.
On the 14 rolls of this microfilm publication, M1921, are reproduced records relating to monuments, museums, libraries, archives, and fine arts of the Cultural Affairs Branch, Education and Cultural Relations (ECR) Division, Office of Military Government, U.S. Zone (Germany) [OMGUS] during the period 1946-1949. These records pertain to the restitution of artworks, investigations of crimes involving art objects, conditions of archives and libraries in the American Zone and their holdings, problems encountered in reopening museums, libraries, and archives and the exchange of experts and exhibits.
M1923:
OMGUS Finance Division Records Regarding Investigations and Interrogations, 1945–1949
On the 8 rolls of this microfilm publication, M1923, are reproduced bank investigation reports, interrogations of Nazi financiers, and related records of the Office of the Finance Division and Finance Advisor during the period 1945-1947.
On the 156 rolls of this microfilm publication, M1926, are reproduced the individual claims processed by and general records of the Reparations and Restitutions Branch of the United States Element, Allied Commission for Austria (USACA) Section, 1945–1950. The claims represent assembled information that was used to determine if the claimants deserved restitution of property or that property's value.
On the 14 rolls of this microfilm publication, M1927, are reproduced the individual claims processed by and general records of the Monuments and Fine Arts Branch of the United States Element, Allied Commission for Austria (USACA) Section, 1945–1950.
On the 132 rolls of this microfilm publication, M1928, are reproduced reports on businesses with German affiliations and information on the organization and operations of the German External Assets Branch of the United States Element, Allied Commission for Austria (USACA) Section, 1945–1950.
M1933:
Safehaven Reports Of The War Crimes Branch, 1944–1945
On the nine rolls of this microfilm publication, M1933, are reproduced the Safehaven reports received by the War Crimes Branch during the period 1944-1945. These materials are part of the records of the War Crimes Branch in Records of the Office of the Judge Advocate General (Army), Record Group (RG) 153.
On the six rolls of this microfilm publication, M1940, are reproduced approximately 6,000 property cards and accompanying survey reports regarding German repositories that stored Nazi-confiscated works of art.
On the 45 rolls of this microfilm publication, M1941, are reproduced the general records, activity reports, and
restitution and custody receipts of the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFAA) Section as distributed to the
Headquarters of Office of Military Government, U.S. Zone (Germany) (OMGUS). These records consist of intelligence
reports, interrogation reports, captured documents, and general information regarding German art looting.
On the 13 rolls of this microfilm publication, M1942, are reproduced the records of the Offenbach Archival Depot. These consist of administrative records, cultural object restitution and custody records, correspondence relating to restitution claims, monthly reports, and photographs of library bookplates and markings.
M1943: ERR (Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg) Card File and
Related Photographs, 1940–1945
On the 40 rolls of this microfilm publication, M1943, are reproduced the card file, interpositives, and photographic prints from the Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg (ERR), 1940–1945. The card file and photographic materials are part of the Records of United States Occupation Headquarters, World War II, Record Group (RG) 260.
On the 187 rolls of this microfilm publication, M1944, are reproduced the Records of the American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in War Areas (The Roberts Commission). This publication contains all the series in Record Group 239 except for two series in original microfilm format: “Card File of Japanese Works, Collections, Sites, and Installations Requiring Protection, 1946” (NARA Microfilm Publication A3383), and “Microfilm Copies of Reports from the Mediterranean and European Theaters of Operations Received from the Allied Military Government, 1943–1946” (NARA Microfilm Publication A3380). While most of this publication consists of textual records, a large number of maps, photographs, and aerial photographs are included.
On 117 rolls of this microfilm publication, M1947, are reproduced the administrative records, photographs of artworks, and property cards from the Wiesbaden Central Collecting Point during the period 1945-52. The Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFAA) Section recovered Nazi-looted works of art and artifacts from various storage areas and shipped the objects to one of four U.S. central collecting points, including Wiesbaden. In order to research restitution claims, MFAA officers gathered intelligence reports, interrogation reports, captured documents, and general information regarding German art looting. The Wiesbaden records are part of the "Ardelia Hall Collection" in Records of United States Occupation Headquarters, World War II, Record Group (RG) 260.
On the 28 rolls of this microfilm publication, M1948, are reproduced the records of the Marburg Central Collecting Point, 1945–1949. They consist of general administrative records, Marburg Central Collecting Point property accessions, the directory of Marburg Central Collecting Point property released to the Wiesbaden Central Collecting Point, and photographs.
On the 43 rolls of this microfilm publication, M1949, are reproduced the records of the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFAA) Sections of the Reparations and Restitution Branch, Office of Military Government, U.S. Zone, (Germany) (OMGUS). These records consist of intelligence reports, interrogation reports, captured documents, and general information regarding German art looting.
The indexes below refer to Cultural Property Claim Applications found on rolls 8–26:
On the 3 rolls of this microfilm publication, A3380, are reproduced reports, lists, and card files that consist of selected pages of reports received from Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFAA) officers in the European and Mediterranean Theaters of Operations; information on private art collections; and extracts of card files related to war damage, art looting, and auctions. These records are part of Records of the American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in War Areas, Record Group (RG) 239.
A3383: Card File of Japanese Works, Collections,
Sites, and Installations Requiring Protection, 1946
On the 9 rolls of this microfilm publication, A3383, are reproduced records prepared by the Education Ministry of the Imperial Japanese Government in 1946 that identify cultural and historical sites in Japan requiring protection. These records are part of Records of the American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in War Areas, Record Group (RG) 239.
On the 76 rolls of this microfilm publication, A3389, are reproduced an original set of microfilms consisting of selected files from the restitution records of the central collecting points, along with a number of documents and manuscripts temporarily in State Department custody after the central collecting points of the Office of Military Government, U.S. Zone (Germany) (OMGUS) were closed. A copy of the original microfilm was transferred to the National Archives from the State Department with the central collecting point files. The microfilm and additional records of the central collecting points are located in the Records of United States Occupation Headquarters, World War II, Record Group (RG) 260.
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