Military Agency Records
Theaters of Operations
Records of U.S. Occupation Headquarters, World War II (RG 260)
Office of Military Government, U.S. Zone (Germany) (OMGUS)
OFFICE OF THE FINANCE ADVISER AND THE FINANCE DIVISION
Foreign Exchange Depository Group
The Foreign Exchange Depository (FED), located in the Reichsbank Building, Frankfurt am Main, was the successor organization to the Currency Branch, SHAEF, which had been created by Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force on September 7, 1944. The primary function of the Currency Branch was the receiving, holding, and supplying of occupation currency for Allied Armed Forces and for Military Government operations, but it was also empowered “to act as required as depository for and/or to exercise control over assets seized or impounded by Allied Military authorities.”
The Currency Branch/Depository was always under the control, supervision, and direction of the Finance Division of the following successive headquarters:
SHAEF G-5 to July 14, 1945
USFET G-5 to October 1, 1945
OMG (U.S. Zone) to April 1, 1946
OMGUS from April 1, 1946
With the termination of operations in other European countries and restriction of remaining operations to Germany, the Currency Branch became a Section of the Foreign Exchange Depository.
The FED was completely organized in April 1946, with Executive, Administrative, Depository, Claims, Currency and Accounts sub-sections.
In the course of its development the FED established its primary functions into five categories:
- Custody, inventory and accounting for assets uncovered in Germany by Allied Forces.
- Custody of assets delivered in U.S. zone under Military Government Law No. 53.
- Investigation of ownership and claims pertaining to assets held.
- Custody, issue, retirement and accounting for Allied Military marks of U.S. Forces.
- Accounting for Military Government Court fines.
Under special authorization additional services were rendered, including:
- Acting as custodian for special jewel collections.
- Acting as custodian for Military Payment certificates prior to their issuance by Disbursing Officers.
- Acting as custodian for valuables seized by G-2 Censorship Division.
- Acting as central clearing agency in processing payments to released German prisoners of war.
In addition to its normal currency operations, the FED, during the early part of 1945, began to receive foreign exchange assets from various sources in Germany. A suitable structure for the latter purpose was found in the Reichsbank Building in Frankfurt, which was taken over and altered in certain respects to provide great vault space and security.
The first shipment of valuables, from the Merkers Mine, was received at the FED on April 15, 1945. FED personnel at Merkers Mine supervised the loading and transport of this enormous hoard consisting of gold bullion, gold and silver coin, platinum, jewelry, a large quantity of “SS Loot,” and various currencies, including 2.7 billion Reichsmarks. Almost 12,000 containers of various types were transported by truck convoys, over a period of several days, guarded by military escort. Before the end of 1945, a total of 76 additional shipments of foreign exchange assets were received. They came principally from the U.S. zone of occupation in Germany, but also from Austria, Czechoslovakia, and other areas into which the Army had penetrated.
In June 1945, a team of gold experts from the Treasury Department arrived in Frankfurt to make a survey of the major precious metal stocks in the FED. They continued their work for some 60 days with the assistance of FED personnel, and at the conclusion submitted a comprehensive report with a total valuation close to $300 million for precious metals, consisting principally of gold bullion and gold coins.
During the next three years the FED received, stored, inventoried, and disbursed well over $500 million worth of loot and other valuables. FED responsibilities were turned over on September 21, 1949, to the Office of the U.S. High Commissioner for Germany, where it was placed under the HICOG’s Finance Division.
Central Files, 1945–1950 (A1, Entry 588)
Boxes 392–466
| Box # | File # | Selected File Title or Subject |
|---|---|---|
| 392 | — | U.S. Concerns in Germany |
| — | U.S. Treasury | |
| — | War Diary | |
| 393 | — | Outgoing Correspondence, 1946 |
| 300.61 | Letters: OMGUS | |
| 394 | 310.3 | Removal of Assets from FED: Authorizations Required |
| 900.10 | Organization and History of FED | |
| 900.11 | Organization and History of Currency Section | |
| 900.13 | Organization and History of Depository Section | |
| 900.14 | Plan for Operation of the FED | |
| 900.151 | Title 16: Finance | |
| 395 | 900.152 | Title 17: Property Control |
| 900.164 | Law 53 | |
| 900.17 | Instructions to Military Government Financial Officers: No. 3 | |
| 900.20 | Government: German Land and Local: U.S. Zone | |
| 900.30 | Joint German Committee for Finance | |
| 900.40 | Investigations: Field | |
| 900.45 | Inspections: IG | |
| 396 | 900.80 | Joint Foreign Exchange Agency |
| 396–397 | 900.10–900.15 | Cables |
| 397 | 900.30–900.37 | Standard Operating Procedures |
| 398 | 910.44 | Memorandums: Currency Section |
| 910.45 | Memorandums: Depository Section | |
| 910.42 | Memorandums: Administrative Section | |
| 910.43 | Memorandums: Claims Section | |
| 910.46 | Memorandums: Executive Section | |
| 910.49 | Memorandums: Others | |
| 910.40 | Memorandums: Numbered | |
| 910.70 | Internal Security: Guard Orders | |
| 910.71 | Internal Security: Key Plan | |
| 910.72 | Internal Security: Vault Entry Regulations | |
| 910.73 | Internal Security: Vault Entry Register | |
| 399 | 910.73 | Internal Security: Violations |
| 910.731 | Internal Security: DP Register | |
| 910.75 | External Security | |
| 910.90 | Reports: Berlin (FD) Trips | |
| 910.910 | Reports: Conferences: Currency | |
| 910.911 | Reports: Conferences: Depository | |
| 910.92 | Reports: Daily Journal, 1950 | |
| 910.92 | Reports: Daily Journal, 1949 | |
| 400 | 910.92 | Reports: Daily Journal, 1948 |
| 910.93 | Reports: Weekly Reports | |
| 910.94 | Reports: Monthly Reports | |
| 910.95 | Reports: Weekly Staff Conferences: FED | |
| 910.96 | Reports: Outgoing Suspense Items | |
| 910.97 | Reports: Monthly for OFA [Office of the Financial Advisor] | |
| 910.98 | Reports: Weekly: FED Status Report | |
| 401 | 920.401 | FED Space and Liquidation |
| 930.31 | Procedures | |
| 401–414 | — | Inventory Forms |
| 415 | 930.72 | General Work Papers |
| 930.73 | (Internal) Audits and Examinations | |
| 930.91 | Reports: Monthly, 1944 | |
| 930.91 | Reports: Monthly 1945–1946 | |
| 930.92 | Reports: Special | |
| 940.01 | Claims: General | |
| 415–416 | 940.002 | et al Claims: Belgium |
| 416 | 940.01 | et al Claims: France |
| 940.006 | Claims: Britain (Securities) | |
| 940.12 | Claims: France (Rothschild Jewels) | |
| 940.21 | Claims: Hungary | |
| 940.0241 | Claims: Italian (Platinum) | |
| 940.0242 | Claims: Italian: Gold | |
| 940.025 | Claims: Poland (Securities) | |
| 940.026 | Claims: Poland (Precious Metals) | |
| 940.03 | Netherlands Gold | |
| 417 | 940.031 | et al Claims: Netherlands |
| 418 | 940.04 | Claims: Czechoslovakia (Jewelry) |
| 940.04 | Claims: Czechoslovakia: Silver | |
| 940.04 | Claims: Czechoslovakia: Gold and National Property | |
| 940.04 | Claims: Czechoslovakia (Securities) | |
| 940.05 | Claims: Norway: Currency | |
| 940.055 | Claims: Monaco: Silver Goods | |
| 940.07 | Claims: Yugoslavia: General | |
| 419 | 940.075 | Claims: Degussa Silver |
| 940.076 | Claims: I.G. Farben Platinum | |
| 940.76 | I.G. Farben-Owned Stocks of Platinum and Iridium | |
| 420 | 940.08 | et al Claims: Individuals |
| 940.091 | Claims: Yugoslavia: Gold Bullion | |
| 940.10 | et al Claims: Rejected | |
| 940.15 | Restitution: General | |
| 940.15A | Restitution Policy (Paris Conference) | |
| 940.15 | Restitution | |
| 940.151 | Restitution: Currency | |
| 421 | 940.151 | Currency: Merkers Mine |
| 940.151 | Analysis of Currencies Held at FED | |
| 940.151 | U.S. Currency Shipment | |
| 940.151 | Restitution: Currency | |
| 940.152 | Restitution: Numismatic Coins | |
| 940.153 | Analysis of Securities Held by FED | |
| 940.154 | Second Turnover Over to the International Refugee Organization | |
| 940.154 | Restitution: Monetary Gold | |
| 422 | 940.1551 | Monetary Gold: First Distribution |
| 940.1551 | Monetary Gold: Second Distribution [Contains Colonel Bernard Bernstein’s report on SS loot.] | |
| 940.1551 | Monetary Gold: Netherlands | |
| 940.1551 | Restitution: Monetary Gold | |
| 940.1552 | Restitution: Silver | |
| 423 | 940.16 | Reparations: Paris Conference |
| 940.17 | Restitution Control Branch | |
| 940.18 | External Restitution Statements | |
| 940.18 | List and Evaluation of Assets Restituted or Released by the FED | |
| 940.30 | Investigations and Inquiries | |
| 940.302 | Investigation: Helmuth Maurer | |
| 940.303 | Investigation: Foreign Missions | |
| 940.304 | Bruno Melmer | |
| 940.304 | Investigation: Melmer | |
| 940.304 | Melmer Deliveries | |
| 940.304 | SS Loot Melmer | |
| The 940.304 files contain information about the Melmer SS account at Reichsbank; statement by Albert Thoms [Note 57]; information on the distribution of looted SS gold; an order of May 16, 1939, for Jews to give up their possessions; list of individual savings account records from concentration camp victims; and detailed interview with Emil Puhl. | ||
| 940.3061 | Hauphreuhandstelle Ost | |
| 940.306 | ROGES File | |
| 940.306 | Investigation: ROGES | |
| 940.307 | Investigation: Devisen Schutzkommando | |
| 424 | 940.309 | Precious Metals |
| 940.31 | Field Trips | |
| 940.32 | Liaison | |
| 940.32 | Liaison Visits | |
| 940.34 | Assets Held by French Authorities | |
| 940.35 | Reichsbank Gold Transactions | |
| 940.36 | Assets Held by British Authorities | |
| 940.37 | Records: Precious Metals Department of the Reichsbank | |
| 940.38 | PCIRO: General | |
| 940.40 | Shipments: General | |
| 940.401 | Joint Inventory: Schedule “A” | |
| 940.401 | Joint Inventory: Schedule “B” | |
| 940.401 | Joint Inventory: Schedule “C” | |
| 940.401 | Restitution of Silver to Yugoslavia | |
| 940.401 | Shipment No. 1 | |
| 940.401 | Outgoing Shipment No. 1 | |
| 425 | 940.401 | Merkers Mine [Includes information on looted art.] |
| 940.401 | Gold List “A” | |
| 940.401 | Gold List “B” | |
| 940.401 | Gold List “D” | |
| 940.401 | Gold List “E” | |
| 940.401 | Cage Sheets | |
| 426–428 | Shipping tickets and related records, including Hungarian silver. | |
| 429 | 940.4020 | Outgoing Shipment: Hungarian Gold |
| 940.4020 | History of the Hungarian Gold | |
| 940.4020 | Photographs of the Hungarian Gold Shipment | |
| 940.4020 | Shipment 20 Book I | |
| 430 | Shipment records, including Dutch diamonds. | |
| 431 | 940.4022 | Netherlands Diamonds Restitution |
| 940.4022 | I.G. Farben Platinum and Iridium | |
| 431–439 | 940.4022 | et al Shipment Records |
| 439 | 940.55 | Valuables Not Located in Reichsbank |
| 940.5601 | Interrogations of Karl Friedrich Wilhelm | |
| 940.5602 | Interrogations of Karl Graupnet | |
| 940.5603 | Interrogations of Karl Jahnke | |
| 940.5604 | Interrogation of Emil Puhl [September 18, 1945] | |
| 440 | 940.60 | Howard [Note 58] Report Concerning Gold, Silver and Platinum |
| 940.60 | Overall Gold Report | |
| 940.60 | Gold Report and Original Work Sheets | |
| 940.60 | General Papers on Gold Study | |
| 940.60 | Gold Report Work Sheets | |
| 940.60 | Gold Report (Work Papers) Shipment Summaries Gold Report Work Sheets | |
| 441 | Gold report worksheets used to generate the Howard Report inventory of gold at FED, Summer 1945. Provides detailed information on gold bars. | |
| 442 | 940.601 | Gold: Belgium |
| 940.602 | Gold: Turkish | |
| 940.603 | Gold: Rumania | |
| 940.604 | Gold Found in Austria | |
| 940.605 | Gold: Luxemburg | |
| 940.606 | Work Papers: Italy Gold Report | |
| 940.606 | Gold: Italy | |
| 940.606 | Monetary Gold: Italy | |
| 940.6015 | Gold: Spain | |
| 940.6025 | Gold: Yugoslavia | |
| 443 | 940.607 | Czechoslovakia: Gold |
| 940.607 | Czechoslovakia Gold Report | |
| 940.608 | Gold: Netherlands: General Correspondence | |
| 940.6081 | Netherlands Gold | |
| 940.6082 | Netherlands Gold | |
| 444 | 940.61 | Gold: Bank for International Settlements |
| 940.62 | Work Papers | |
| 940.63 | Gold: Neither Monetary Nor Non-Monetary | |
| 940.64 | Gold: Tripartite Commission | |
| 940.65 | Gold: German Foreign Office | |
| 940.6096 | Transactions Between Reichsbank and Swedish Riksbank | |
| 940.6096 | Gold Transaction: Swedish Riksbank | |
| 940.62 | Gold Stocks: Reichsbank Berlin | |
| 940.62 | Gold Reserves of Reichsbanks | |
| 445 | 940.65 | German Foreign Office Records |
| 950.0 | Cash: General | |
| 950.011 | Cash: Inventory | |
| 950.02 | Cash: In Reserve | |
| 950.03 | Banks: General | |
| 950.035 | Banks: FFM.1922-B: General | |
| 446 | 950.280 | POW Payments: Instructions |
| 950.2831 | et al Correspondence: OMG, Hamburg, Bremen, Greater Hesse | |
| 447 | 950.282 | et al Lists of Military Payment: Orders Paid |
| 448 | 950.2834 | et al Correspondence: OMG: Greater Hesse, Württemberg-Baden, Bavaria |
| 449 | 950.2837 | Correspondence: OMG: Berlin Sector |
| 950.284 | Correspondence: Central Disbursing Officer | |
| 950.2838 | Correspondence: French Zone | |
| 450 | 950.285 | Correspondence: L.C. Banks |
| 950.286 | Correspondence: OFD | |
| 950.287 | PW Payment Expense Bills | |
| 950.2871 | et al Correspondence: Berlin, Bremen, Hesse | |
| 451 | 950.2874 | et al Correspondence: Württemberg-Baden, Bavaria |
| 950.29 | Disbursement: War Crimes Commission | |
| 950.3 | Currency: General | |
| 950.31 | Currency: Counterfeit, 1945 | |
| 950.311 | Currency: Counterfeit Investigations | |
| 452 | 950.32 | Currency: Invalid |
| 950.33 | Currency: Mutilated | |
| 950.349 | Currency: Destruction: AMM Notes | |
| 950.34 | Currency: Destruction | |
| 950.35 | Currency: Exchanges | |
| 950.37 | Currency: Worthless | |
| 453 | 950.36 | Currency: 1000 Mark Notes |
| 950.38 | Currency: Printing | |
| 950.39 | Currency: Russian | |
| 950.391 | Currency: Photostatic | |
| 950.932 | Currency: Military Payment Certificates | |
| 950.4 | Funds: General | |
| 950.40 | Funds: Currency Made Available | |
| 454–455 | 950.401 | Funds: AM Marks |
| 456 | 950.402 | Funds: AMM Currency Register |
| 456-457 | German Marks: Shipments | |
| 457 | 950.41 | Funds: Military Government Current A/C |
| 950.404 | Funds: RM General | |
| 950.420 | Funds: General: Captured and Confiscated | |
| 950.421 | Funds: Receipts: Captured and Confiscated | |
| 950.422 | Funds: Claims: Captured and Confiscated | |
| 950.42 | Funds: Captured and Confiscated | |
| 950.43 | Funds: POW | |
| 950.430 | et al PW Funds | |
| 458 | 950.433 | PW Funds |
| 950.45 | Funds: Sale of Materials | |
| 950.460 | Funds: Unclaimed: Owner Known | |
| 950.461 | Funds: Unclaimed: Owner Unknown | |
| 950.470 | Funds: Special Deposit: Account A/C CDO | |
| 459 | 950.471 | Funds: Special Deposit: Monthly Statement |
| 950.480 | Funds: Special Deposit: Suspension | |
| 950.5 | et al Vouchers | |
| 950.522 | MG: Court Confiscations | |
| 950.52 | MG: Court Collections | |
| 950.521 | MG: Court Fines | |
| 950.55 | Sub-Accountants | |
| 950.60 | Personnel: German: Currency Section | |
| 460 | 950.61 | Personnel: Other: Currency Section |
| 950.70 | Correspondence Out: IRS | |
| 950.71 | Correspondence In | |
| 950.720 | OFD Correspondence | |
| 950.721 | OFD: Reports | |
| 950.75 | Postage Stamps: Germany | |
| 950.760 | Austrian Currency Section | |
| 950.761 | Belgium and Luxembourg Currency Section | |
| 950.762 | Netherlands Currency Section | |
| 950.763 | Denmark Currency Section | |
| 950.764 | France Currency Section | |
| 950.765 | British Currency Section | |
| 950.90 | Reports: Semi-Monthly: Cash | |
| 461 | 950.90 | Reports: Semi-Monthly: Cash, 1946 |
| 950.90 | Reports: Semi-Monthly: Cash, 1947–1948 | |
| 950.91 | Reports: Monthly Finance Division, 1945 | |
| 950.91 | Reports: Monthly Finance Division, 1946 | |
| 462 | 950.91 | Reports: Monthly Finance Division [1947] |
| 950.92 | Reports: Quarterly: Currency | |
| 950.93 | Reports: Audits and Investigations | |
| 950.94 | Daily Progress Reports | |
| 950.990 | Reports: Incoming OFD | |
| 960.10 | Inventory: General | |
| 960.11 | Inventory: Silver | |
| 463 | 960.12 | Inventory: Gold |
| 960.13 | Inventory: Coins and Currency | |
| 960.14 | Inventory: Jewelry | |
| 960.15 | Inventory: SS Loot | |
| 960.16 | Inventory: Securities | |
| 960.17 | Lists of Securities | |
| 960.17 | Master Catalogue: Foreign Securities | |
| 960.17 | Supplemental Catalogue: Foreign Securities | |
| 960.19 | Inventory: Other Assets | |
| 464 | 960.20 | Appraisal: General |
| 960.23 | Appraisal: Coins and Currency | |
| 960.26 | Appraisal: Securities | |
| 960.30 | Property: Incoming | |
| 960.301 | Property: Incoming: Non-Monetary Gold | |
| 960.40 | Property: Outgoing | |
| 960.411 | National Bank of Hungary | |
| 960.50 | Currency: International Rates | |
| 960.55 | Balances and Other Weighing Instruments | |
| 960.60 | Operations | |
| 465 | 960.61 | Security Officer Daily Reports, 1946–1947 |
| 466 | 960.61 | Security Officer Daily Reports, 1948 |
| 960.90 | Reports | |
| 960.901 | Reports of Deposits of Foreign Exchange | |
| 960.902 | Marshaling of Assets in U.S. Zone | |
| 960.903 | Accounting Discrepancies |
Miscellaneous Records Regarding Operations, Payments and Shipments, 1945–1948 (A1, Entry 589)
Boxes 467–471
| Box # | Selected File # and/or Subject |
|---|---|
| 467–468 | Liquidation of SHAEF Currency Section, first custodians of gold, Currency Section inventories and related records. |
| 469 | Currency Section inventories, cables and files, 11/427/11 and 11/427/13 contain standard operating procedures on transfer of non-monetary gold to PCIRO. |
| 470–471 | Files on “Merkers’s Mine Report” including rough inventory of gold, files on restitution by country, and related material. |
Records Relating to Operations “Birdog” and “Doorknob,” 1948–1950 (A1, Entry 590)
Records pertain to efforts to have the American Bank Note Company and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing produce German currency. Within the files is very specific information about the shipments of uncovered/looted monetary and non-monetary gold and other valuables to Frankfurt, 1945. Note: the first two boxes in this series appear to be a continuation of the Miscellaneous records. Box 472 contains “vouchers” containing detailed inventories of every shipment of valuable received by the FED. Box 473 contains the end of the previous section of file. Included are “Inventories of Shipments,” which are inventories for the first 64 shipments of valuables received by the FED; and “Statements of shipments,” which includes a register of shipments received by the FED. Box 483 contains a Prussian Mint gold bar list.
Boxes 472–483
Records Relating to Shipments of Gold and Silver, 1945–1947 (A1, Entry 591)
Boxes 484–488
| Box # | Selected File Title |
|---|---|
| 484 | Delivery of Gold: France |
| France: Monetary Gold | |
| Italy: Set Aside | |
| Schedule of Monetary Gold Coins | |
| Gold Delivery: Netherlands | |
| Gold Delivery: Luxembourg | |
| Gold Deliver: Belgium | |
| 485 | Austria: Monetary Gold |
| Austria: Good Delivery: Bars | |
| Gold Set Aside: Coin: Austria | |
| Italy: Coin List | |
| Italy: Prussian Mint | |
| Monetary Gold Coin Inventoried by FED | |
| Tallies: First Movement | |
| Bar List | |
| Coin List | |
| Coin List: Netherlands | |
| Luxembourg Coin List | |
| Weight List | |
| Distribution of Gold Bars and Coin | |
| Gold Bar Control Sheets | |
| Location Charts | |
| Analysis of Gold [Reconciliations of Howard Report with actual gold count by the Foreign Exchange Depository.] | |
| 486 | Miscellaneous Lists |
| 487 | Netherlands Delivery |
| Austria Coin List | |
| SOP: First Distribution | |
| Operation SOP’s Original Location Sheets | |
| Belgium Coin List | |
| Austria Set Aside | |
| Gold Delivery: Luxembourg | |
| Gold Delivery: Netherlands | |
| 488 | Gold Delivery: Belgium |
| History of Gold Pot Delivery No. 1 | |
| Inventory Shipment #1 Working Papers | |
| Banding Officers Report | |
| Bar List | |
| Worksheets of Inventory Completed 29 August 1945 |
Records Relating to Tabulation and Classification of Deposits, 1945–1949 (A1, Entry 592)
Includes inventory worksheets, gold and diamond lists, currency and coins records, records relating to securities, and shipping records.
Boxes 489–559
| Box # | Selected File Title |
|---|---|
| 531 | Daily Volume Report |
| Weekly Progress Report: Depository Section | |
| Vault Transfer Record Forms | |
| 532 | Tally In |
| Lists of Gold Bar Numbers | |
| Bar List: Prussian Mint | |
| Bar List: Prussian Mint: Alloy Bars | |
| Bar List: No Melters Stamp | |
| Bar List: Good Delivery | |
| Bar List: Russian Mocksa | |
| Bar List: Norddeutsche | |
| Bar List: Jugoslavian B.O.R. | |
| Bar List: Italian Lab | |
| Bar List: Degussa | |
| Miscellaneous Gold: Summary of Page Totals | |
| 533 | Gold Lists |
| 534 | Tally In |
| 535 | Gold Lists |
Inventory Forms of Assets Released, 1945–1947 (A1, Entry 593)
Boxes 560–563
Miscellaneous Registers, 1945–1949 (A1, Entry 594)
Boxes 564–567
Records of the Currency Section, Financial Branch, G-5 Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Forces
(SHAEF), 1944–1945 (A1, Entry 595)
Boxes 568–574
Records of the Currency Section, 1944–1945 (A1, Entry 596)
Includes records pertaining to Reichsbank safe deposit (Box 578) and records pertaining to Eva Braun (Box 580).
Boxes 575–582
EDUCATION AND CULTURAL RELATIONS DIVISION
Cultural Affairs Branch
Records Relating to Monuments, Museums, Libraries, Archives, and Fine Arts, 1946–1949 (A1, Entry 622)
This series consists of reports, memorandums, correspondence, questionaires, photographs, and other records pertaining to the restitution of art works. Subjects include 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.
This series is available on NARA Microfilm Publication M1921, Rolls 1–14.
OFFICE OF MILITARY GOVERNMENT, BAVARIA (OMGBY)
Land Director
Central Office Records, 1945–1949 (A1, Entry 629)
Boxes 12–178
| Box # | File # | Selected File Title or Subject |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 000.5 | War Criminals, 1945–1946 |
| 004.2 | Banks and Banking, 1945–1946 | |
| 007 | Fine Arts | |
| 35 | 383.7 | Displaced Persons; Refugees (Directives), 1945–1946 |
| 36 | 386 | Property Rights, 1945–1946 |
| 42 | 000.5 | War Criminals, 1947 |
| 000.5 | War Criminals Directives, 1947 | |
| 45 | 00.4 | Banks and Banking, 1947 |
| 45–46 | 007 | Fine Arts, 1947 |
| 82 | 383.7 | Displaced Persons, 1946–1947 |
| 87 | 386 | Property Rights, 1947 |
| 96 | 000.5 | War Criminals, 1948 |
| 100 | 004.2 | Banks and Banking, 1948 |
| 100–101 | 007 | Fine Arts, 1948 |
| 132 | 386 | Property Rights Directives, 1948 |
| 133–137 | 386 | Property Rights, 1948 |
| 144 | 000.5 | War Criminals, 1949 |
| 152 | 004.2 | Banks and Banking, 1949 |
| 007 | Fine Arts, 1949 | |
| 172–174 | 386 | Property Rights, 1949 |
Intelligence Division
Predecessor Intelligence Offices
Office of Strategic Services Research and Analysis Branch Reports, 1944–1945 (A1, Entry 892)
Boxes 95–103
Finance Division
Finance Branch
Blocking Section
General Correspondence and Other Records, 1945–1949 (A1, Entry 978)
Boxes 84–86
Records Pertaining to Blocking and Unblocking Accounts, 1946–1948 (A1, Entry 979)
Boxes 87–88
Investigation and Enforcement Branch
General Records of Investigations of Individuals and Firms, 1945–1948 (A1, Entry 987)
Boxes 113–122
| Box # | Selected File Title or Subject |
|---|---|
| 113 | Deutsche Bank Gold and Silver |
| 118 | BMW Karlsfeld, Germany |
| 120 | Rothschild’s Family |
| 121 | Siemens |
Records of the Investigation of the Messerschmitt Firm, 1945–1948 (A1, Entry 988)
Boxes 123–124
Reports and Correspondence Concerning the Investigation of Dr. Kurt Weigel, 1945–1946 (A1, Entry 989)
Box 125
Financial Records of Private Individuals, 1944–1948 (A1, Entry 990)
Boxes 126–135
Finance Division Field Team in Nuernberg
Records Concerning the Supervision of Insurance Companies in Nuernberg, 1945–1946 (A1, Entry 995)
Boxes 143–147
Records of the Supervision of Banks in Nuernberg, 1945–1946 (A1, Entry 996)
Boxes 148–156
Records of the Investigation and Enforcement Branch in Nuernberg, 1945–1948 (A1, Entry 997)
Boxes 157–158
Office of the Financial Adviser
General Records, 1946–1950 (A1, Entry 998)
Boxes 159–167
General Correspondence and Related Records, 1945–1949 (A1, Entry 1000)
Boxes 171–192
Records Relating to the Bavarian Mint, 1932–1946 (A1, Entry 1002)
Box 196
Property Division
Reparations and War Potential Branch
Records Relating to Industrial Plants, 1945–1948 (A1, Entry 1109)
Boxes 1–2
General Records, 1946–1949 (A1, Entry 1110)
Boxes 3–10
Restitution Branch
General Records, 1945–1949 (A1, Entry 1111)
Boxes 11–18
Property Control and External Assets Branch
General Records, 1945–1949 (A1, Entry 1113)
Boxes 20–35
BERLIN SECTOR (OMGBS)
Finance Branch
Investigation Reports of Bank Employees, 1948 (A1, Entry 1298)
Box 624
Report on the Investigation of the Deutsche Bank, 1946 (A1, Entry 1300)
Boxes 626–628
Report on the Investigation of the Reich-Kredit-Gesellschaft, 1946 (A1, Entry 1301)
Box 629
Property Control Branch
Records Pertaining to Property Under Control 1945–1949 (A1, Entry 1307)
Boxes 653–659
Property Control Case Files 1947–1950 (A1, Entry 1309)
Boxes 661–848
OFFICE OF MILITARY GOVERNMENT, BREMEN (OMGBR)
Economics Division
Industrial Management Branch
Reparations and Restitutions Section
General Records 1945–1949 (A1, Entry 1364)
Boxes 357–369
Records Concerning Restitution Claims (A1, Entry 1365)
Boxes 370–383
OFFICE OF MILITARY GOVERNMENT, HESSE (OMGH)
Finance Branch
Correspondence and Other Records 1945–1948 (A1, Entry 1418)
Boxes 365–456
Property Division
General Records, 1945–1949 (A1, Entry 1500)
Boxes 1237–1293
| Box # | Selected File Title |
|---|---|
| 1252 | Duress Property |
| Decontrol: Allied and Neutral Nations, 1947 | |
| Decontrol: Allied and Neutral Nations, 1948 | |
| Decontrol, 1949 | |
| 1253 | Foreign Exchange Depository: Frankfurt |
| 1254 | I.G. Farben |
| 1256–1257 | Lists of Properties’ Owners |
| 1261 | Netherlands Property Interest |
| Former Jewish-Owned Property | |
| 1263 | Reich-Owned Property |
| 1264–1272 | Reports |
| 1273 | SS Companies |
| Wehrmacht Properties | |
| 1274–1275 | Reparations |
| 1278 | Restitution and Releases |
| 1279–1282; 1284 | Restitution Claims |
| 1283–1284 | Correspondence: Restitution |
| 1285–1286 | Reparations |
| 1289 | Reports |
| External Restitution | |
| 1290 | Restitution |
| Restitution Successor Organization | |
| 1291–1292 | Polish Property |
| 1293 | Export of Cultural Objects: Claims Under Military Government Law No. 52 |
OFFICE OF MILITARY GOVERNMENT, WUERTTEMBERT-BADEN (OMGWB)
Economics Division
Office of the Financial Adviser
General Correspondence, 1945–1949 (A1, Entry 1744)
Boxes 1204–1208
Property Division
Restitutions Branch
General Records, 1945–1949 (A1, Entry 1764)
Boxes 1287–1289
Restitution Claim Files, 1945–1947 (A1, Entry 1765)
Box 1290
U.S. Element of Inter-Allied Organizations
U.S. ELEMENT, ALLIED CONTROL AUTHORITY
Subject Index to General Records, n.d. [Note 59]
(A1, Entry 1789)
Box 1
General Records, 1945–1949 (A1, Entry 1790)
Boxes 2–89
| Box # | File # | Selected File Title or Subject |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1005 | Potsdam Agreement |
| 4 | 1005/1 | Potsdam Conference |
| 5 | 1020 | Functions of the German External Property Commission |
| 6 | 1025 | POWs and Displaced Persons |
| 1044 | Archives Committee | |
| 9 | 2003/7 | Funds Left on Deposit in Germany During the War by Yugoslavians and Displaced Persons |
| 13 | 2006/4 | Inventory of War Material in Neutral Countries |
| 22 | 6003 | German Records, Use of By Occupation Forces |
| 24 | 7023 | Plans for Reparations |
| 25 | 7024/1 | Iron and Steel Industry |
| 7024/3 | German Chemical Industry | |
| 7027 | Report of the I.G. Farben Committee | |
| 26 | 7027 | I.G. Farben |
| 7047 | Letter From the Netherlands Military Mission Concerning Restitution of Metals | |
| 30 | 7090 | Decartelization |
| 35 | 9001 | German External Property Commission: Vesting and Marshaling |
| 36 | 9001/1 | Allied and Neutral Property in Germany: Industrial Property |
| 9001/3 | Czech Property in Germany | |
| 9001/5 | Return to Allied and Neutral Countries of Property Belonging to Ex-War Criminals | |
| 9001/6 | Greek Property Seized by Germany: ROGES | |
| 9001/7 | Disposition of Property, Securities, Accounts, etc., Belonging to Certain Organizations | |
| 9001/8 | Disposition of Heirless Property | |
| 9001/10 | Confiscated Property: Poland: Immovable | |
| 37 | 9030 | Banking Decentralization |
| 9034 | Exploitation of Former German Reichsbank Records | |
| 9036 | German Mortgage Bank | |
| 39 | 9040 | Insurance: Termination of German Insurance Companies Abroad |
| 9040/1 | Insurance: Foreign Insurance Company Control and Operation of | |
| 40 | 9040/7 | Insurance: Decentralization of the Insurance Industry |
| 9046 | Denazification of Finance | |
| 9047 | Central Finance Ministry: Power of Former Reich Finance Minister | |
| 41 | 9049 | Decentralization of German Public Finance |
| 9063 | Banking: Blocking (Non-German Securities) | |
| 9065 | Claims Against Germany and the Occupying Powers | |
| 9065/1 | Unpaid Wages in Germany Due to Czech Citizen Labor | |
| 42 | 9080 | Foreign Securities: Investment |
| 43 | 9082 | Registration of Securities |
| 43–51 | 10007 | Reparations |
| 51 | 10007/28 | Inter-Allied Reparation Agency |
| 10007/29 | Inter-Allied Reparation Agency | |
| 63 | 12004 | Major War Criminals |
| 12004/2 | Central Registry of War Criminals and Security Suspects (CROWCASS) | |
| 64–65 | 12004 | War Criminals |
| 71 | 13023 | Refugees |
| 13025 | POWs and Displaced Persons | |
| 72 | 13201 | Refugees: Denmark |
| 13022 | Refugees | |
| 13027 | Repatriation of Germans From Sweden | |
| 13027 | Repatriation of Germans From Neutral Countries | |
| 74 | 13057 | Central Tracing Bureau |
| 86 | 15039 | German External Property Commission Monthly Report |
United States Forces, Austria (USFA)
CIVIL AFFAIRS – UNITED STATES ELEMENT, ALLIED COMMISSION FOR AUSTRIA (USACA) SECTION
The U.S. Allied Commission for Austria (USACA) Section was responsible for civil affairs/military government administration. It was organized concurrently with the establishment of Headquarters, United States Forces Austria (HQ USFA), July 5, 1945, as a component of U.S. Forces, European Theater (USFET). The single position of Commanding General USFA and U.S. High Commissioner for Austria was held successively by General Mark Clark, July 5, 1945–May 16, 1947; and Lieutenant General Geoffrey Keyes [Note 60], May 17, 1947–September 19, 1950. USACA Section provided the U.S. element of organizations comprising the Allied Commission for Austria, the name of four-power occupation administration established by a U.S., British, French, and Soviet agreement, signed July 4, 1945, and made effective July 24, 1945 [Note 61]. USACA Section also administered occupation government in U.S. zone of Austria and U.S. sector of Vienna. USACA Section was abolished following transfer of U.S. occupation government from military to civilian authority, marked by the Presidential appointment of Walter J. Donnelly as Envoy (later Ambassador) to Austria and U.S. High Commissioner for Austria, effective September 20, 1950. Donnelly was succeeded by Ambassador Llewelyn E. Thompson, Jr., July 17, 1952. U.S. occupation government in Austria officially terminated July 27, 1955, the date of the entrance into force of the State Treaty for the Re-establishment of an Independent and Democratic Austria, signed May 15, 1955.
Director of USACA
Files of the Director, 1946–1951 (A1, Entry 1990)
Boxes 1–71 (Box 34 contains, under file number 386, information concerning restitution and other property
matters.)
Decimal Files, 1946–1951 (A1, Entry 1991)
Boxes 1–74 (Boxes 42–43 contain information on restitution.)
Reparations and Restitution Branch [M1926, Rolls 1–156]
Claims, 1945–1950 (A1, Entry 1992) [M1926, Rolls 1–140]
| Roll # | Country Filing Claims |
|---|---|
| 1–6 | Austria |
| 6–8 | Belgium |
| 8 | Britain |
| 9 | Bulgaria |
| 9–23 | Czechoslovakia |
| 24–28 | Netherlands |
| 29–51 | France |
| 51–52 | Germany |
| 52 | Greece |
| 53–92 | Hungary |
| 92 | Iran |
| 92–111 | Italy [For lists of factories taken over by Germans, see M1926, Roll 110.] |
| 112 | Luxembourg |
| 112 | Miscellaneous |
| 112 | Norway |
| 112–122 | Poland |
| 123 | Rumania |
| 123–124 | Russia |
| 125–138 | Yugoslavia |
| 139–140 | United States |
General Administrative Records, 1945–1950 (A1, Entry 1993) [M1926,
Rolls 141–156]
| Roll # | Selected File Title or Subject |
|---|---|
| 143 | Reports: Restitution by USFA |
| 144 | Fine Arts: Miscellaneous |
| Austrian Letter re Return of Fine Arts from CCP [Central Collecting Point] Munich | |
| Manfred Weiss Concern | |
| Field Reports | |
| 145 | Field Reports |
| 147 | Miscellaneous Loot: Origin Unknown |
| Linzer Kunstmuseum List (Only Partly) | |
| Kremsmunster Depot | |
| 148 | Tapestries |
| Schloss Kogl: Art Depot | |
| Final Status Reports on Art Restitutions | |
| List of Unidentified Paintings Stored at Residenz: Depot Salzburg | |
| 149 | Benedictine Abbey |
| CCP [Central Collecting Point]: Austrian Group Claims | |
| Salzburg Art Depot | |
| Alt-Aussee Salt Mine [Note 62] | |
| 150 | Alt-Aussee Salt Mine |
| Intelligence Cases: Fine Arts | |
| Art Depot (Old) | |
| 151 | MFAA Field Reports (Miss Tucker) |
| MFAA Field Reports, 1945 | |
| Official List of Monuments and Other Buildings, Sites and Archives in Austria | |
| Cultural Looting of the “Ahnenerbe,” March 1, 1948 | |
| 152 | Austrian Shipments from CCP [Central Collecting Point] |
| 152-155 | Paintings: Restituted |
| 156 | Semi-Annual Reports, 1946–1948 |
| History of R&R Branch: Semi-Annual Report, June 30, 1948 | |
| Semi-Annual Report, December 31, 1949 |
Monuments and Fine Arts Branch [Note 63]
[M1927, Rolls 1–14]
General Records of the Monuments and Fine Arts Branch, 1945 (A1, Entry 1994)
[M1927, Roll 1]
| Roll # | Selected File Title |
|---|---|
| 1 | Staatsoper |
| Stefans Kirche | |
| Albertina | |
| Belgian Cultural Material | |
| Belgian List of Cultural Items | |
| Austrian Bells at Isenburg | |
| Views on French Proposal [Requiring from the Austrians a declaration disclosing the presence of stolen or looted goods.] | |
| German Archaeological Institute at Rome | |
| Art Objects and Collections Taken by Germans in France [Aktion Rosenburg] | |
| Art Objects: Linz | |
| Policy Correspondence of the Archives Office | |
| Ministerial Business (Lists of Personnel) | |
| Miscellaneous Correspondence | |
| Tibetan Collection in Castle at Mittersill | |
| Correspondence Relating to Munich and Austria (Buildings and Art Objects) | |
| Correspondence Relating to Project Staatsdenkmalamt | |
| French List of Art Treasures in Austria | |
| List of Art Objects Stored at Schloss Kogle, St. Georgen | |
| Kremsmuenster | |
| Deposits (Locations of Contents) | |
| Correspondence | |
| List of Protected Monuments: Vienna | |
| Correspondence Relating to the Crown Jewels of the Holy Roman Empire | |
| Correspondence Relating to Deposits at Bad Aussee (Churches) and Salt Mines at Alt-Aussee and Lauffen | |
| Various Austrian Maps | |
| Plan of a Tobacco Building | |
| Notes Concerning United States Forces Austria and United States Allied Command Austria Functions | |
| Kardex Equipment | |
| Correspondence Concerning the St. Florian Monastery | |
| Correspondence from Field Office Salzburg | |
| Correspondence Pertaining to Art Objects: Land Salzburg | |
| Vienna: Votivkirche | |
| Art Object List: Salzburg | |
| Correspondence Pertaining to Roman Statue From Salonik | |
| Correspondence Concerning Masterpieces to Be Used for an Exhibition From the Salt Mine at Lauffen | |
| Frick Regional Maps: Austria [Geographical listing of archives buildings.] | |
| Frick Town Plans of Innsbruck, Austria | |
| Correspondence From the Austrian-American Institute of Education | |
| Draft Agenda from Allied Commission for Austria for the Monuments and Fine Arts Meeting of October 1, 1945 | |
| Inventory of Polish Archives at Schloss Fischorn | |
| Correspondence Pertaining to the Return of Cultural and Scientific Libraries to Vienna | |
| Correspondence Relating to the Art Treasures and Archives Looted at Salt Mine Lauffen | |
| Miscellaneous Photos of Austrian Buildings That Were Bombed | |
| Photos of Bomb Damage at the Kunstgewerbemuseum | |
| M-12 to M-28: [Frick regional maps and geographical listings of buildings, archives, libraries, and art object repositories.] |
Claims and Receipts of Property, Monuments and Fine Arts of Various Countries, 1932–1950 (A1, Entry 1995)
[M1927, Rolls 2–9]
Monuments and Fine Arts Lists, Receipts, and Reports of Objects for Restitution to Legal Ownership, 1945–1950
(A1, Entry 1996)
[M1927, Rolls 10–14]
German External Assets Branch
[M1928, Rolls 1–132]
Reports on Businesses, 1945–1950 (A1, Entry 1997)
[M1928, Rolls 1–77]
- For list of businesses or sole proprietors, see Appendix [M1928 ]
General Records, 1945–1950 (A1, Entry 1998)
[M1928, Rolls 78–114]
| Roll # | Selected File Title or Subject |
|---|---|
| 79 | Summary of Nazi Laws on Confiscation of Property |
| 80 | Austrian Laws: General |
| Laws and Decrees Affecting Austrian Insurance | |
| Charts: German Ownership | |
| 81 | Sale of German External Assets |
| Insurance: General | |
| Nazi Laws | |
| Statistical Summary on German External Assets Reports | |
| 82 | Final Act: Paris Conference |
| 83 | German External Assets in Italy |
| German Accounts in Austrian Financial Institutions | |
| 82 | Special Report to Senator George W. Malone on German External Assets in Austria |
| List: Austrian Interests in German Companies | |
| 83 | Washington Accord |
| Patent Rights: Germany (for Austrian Firms) | |
| Property of German Persecutees | |
| IARA [Inter-Allied Reparation Agency] Interests in Austria German Assets in Hungary | |
| 84 | United Nations Nationals File |
| War Booty | |
| United Nations Property in Austria | |
| Tabulation of German External Assets in Austria by OMGUS | |
| German External Assets Statistical Charts | |
| Martin Bormann’s Property | |
| German External Assets Reports to Washington | |
| 85–110 | Files on Companies and Individuals |
| 110 | Laws Passed in Germany by Military Government of Interest to RD&D Division |
| 111 | German External Assets Reading File |
| Summaries of Austrian Laws Affecting RD&D Division | |
| Austrian Laws | |
| Russian Confiscation and Violations of Property Claims by United States Citizens | |
| Blocking and Control of Propery: 1945 | |
| 112 | American Properties in the French Zone of Vienna |
| American Properties in the British Zone of Vienna | |
| American Properties in the British Zone of Austria | |
| American Properties in the Russian Zone of Vienna | |
| 112–113 | American Properties in the Russian Zone of Austria |
| 113 | American Properties in the International Zone of Vienna: Banking Accounts |
| British Properties in the American Zone of Austria | |
| French Properties in the American Zone of Austria | |
| USACA Semi-Monthly Flash Reports, 1948–1949 | |
| 114 | Laws of the Austrian Government |
Miscellaneous Records, 1945–1950 (A1, Entry 1999)
[M1928, Rolls 114–130]
| Box # | Selected File Title or Subject |
|---|---|
| 114 | Foreign-Owned Assets in Austria |
| 115 | MGAX Extracts |
| 117 | German External Assets and the Institution of Insurance in Austria |
| MGAX Extracts | |
| Report of Completed Cases From the German External Assets Branch | |
| 118 | OMGUS Report March 1, 1947: “Report on German Cartels and Combines 1946,” 3 volumes (I: German Economic Decentralization; II: Survey of Germany’s Major Industries; and, III: Germany’s Major Industrial Combines) |
| 119–130 | Computer Printout: Austria: German Property in and Claims Against Foreign Countries |
GEA Reports on Austria Firms Wholly Owned by German Companies, n.d. (A1, Entry 2000)
[M1928, Rolls 131–132]
Property Control Branch
Correspondence and Related Records (P Files) Regarding Pending Claims, 1945–1950 (A1, Entry 2006)
Boxes 1–24
Correspondence Relating to Claims and Queries, 1945–1950 (A1, Entry 2007)
Boxes 1–31
General Correspondence Files, 1945–1950 (A1, Entry 2009)
Boxes 1–11
Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1945 1950 (A1, Entry 2010)
Boxes 1–12
Reports on Property Control and Restitution Claims, 1945–1951 (A1, Entry 2013)
Box 1
Claims: Upper Austria, 1945–1951 (A1, Entry 2014)
Boxes 1–5
Claims and Restitution Reports on Property Administered by the Military Government, 1939–1950 (A1, Entry 2015)
Boxes 1–2
PDF files require the free Adobe Reader.
More information on Adobe Acrobat PDF files is available on our Accessibility page.
