Military Agency Records
Theaters of Operations
Records of U.S. Occupation Headquarters, World War II (RG 260)
Records of the Office of the Military Governor, United States (OMGUS) (Note 27)
The Office of Military Government for Germany (U.S.)[OMGUS] was established, effective October 1, 1945, and was responsible for administering the U.S. zone of occupation and U.S. sector of Berlin, and for functioning as U.S. element of organizations comprising the Allied Control Authority, the name given to the four-power occupation control system. Many OMGUS functions had previously come under the U.S. Group Control Council, Germany (USGCC), which functioned from May 8 to October 1, 1945. (Note 28) OMGUS was formally abolished on December 5, 1949, and its functions transferred to the U.S. High Commissioner for Germany (USHCG) (Note 29) . General Lucius D. Clay commanded OMGUS. (Note 30)
OMGUS was quite active in restitution and reparation matters as the result of various Allied agreements. At the Crimea Conference (February 4-12, 1945), the leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union agreed, among other things, to exact reparations from Germany. In the Crimea Conference Communique the Prime Minister of Great Britain, the President of the United States, and the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics stated that they "recognized it as just that Germany be obliged to make compensation for the damage in kind to the greatest extent possible." In the Protocol of Proceedings of the Crimea Conference it was set forth that "Germany must pay in kind for the losses caused by her to the Allied nations in the course of the war. Reparations are to be received in the first instance by those countries which have borne the main burden of the war, have suffered the heaviest losses and have organized victory over the enemy." The Protocol then lays out what will be considered reparations and the procedures for its distribution. (Note 31)
The primary directive for OMGUS with respect to control and restitution of property was the "Directive to Commander-in-Chief of United States Forces of Occupation Regarding the Military Government of Germany (JCS 1067)." This directive, which was sent to General Eisenhower in April 1945, stated that as one of the Allied objectives was "to enforce the program of reparations and restitution." The directive instructed the Commander-in-Chief to impound or block all gold, silver, currencies, securities, accounts in financial institutions, credits, and valuable papers of eight categories of persons and organizations. He was also instructed to take control of "property which has been the subject of transfer under duress or wrongful acts of confiscation, disposition or spoliation, whether pursuant to legislation or by procedure purporting to follow forms of laws or otherwise." Additionally he was instructed to take control of "works of art of cultural materials of value or importance, regardless of the ownership thereof." (Note 32)
A new directive, approved by the Departments of State, War, and Navy, on July 15, 1947, was sent to General Clay, the United States commander in Germany. He was informed that among the economic objectives of the United States Government in Germany was "to exact from Germany reparation for losses suffered by the United nations as a consequence of German aggression." He was informed that "your Government continues to desire the general fulfillment of the principles of the Potsdam Agreement (Note 33) regarding reparation and industrial disarmament." With respect to restitution matters he was instructed to "proceed, consistent with agreements on restitution reached in the Control Council, restore such identifiable property other than gold and transport essential to minimum German economy, to the Government of the country from which it was taken." He was instructed to "turn over monetary gold uncovered in German to the Tripartite Gold Commission in Brussels for distribution in accordance with the terms of the Paris Act on Reparation." Further, he was instructed to "make available for the rehabilitation and resettlement of non-repatriable victims of German action valuable personal property looted from Nazi victims which is not restitutable." Finally, he was informed that "it is the policy of your Government that persons and organizations deprived of their property as a result of National Socialist persecution should either have their property returned or be compensated therefore and that persons who suffered personal damage or injury through National Socialist persecution should receive indemnification in German currency. With respect to heirless and unclaimed property subject to internal restitution you will designate appropriate successor organizations." (Note 34)
Records of the Executive Office
Records of the Chief of Staff
General Records 1947-1948
Boxes 1-3
Records Regarding Investigations, Political, Emergency
and other
Activities, and Occupation Policies and Requirements
1947-1949
Boxes 4-9
Correspondence and Other Records of BG Charles K. Gailey 1944-1948
Boxes 10-16
Records Maintained for the Military Governor, LTG Lucius D. Clay 1945-1949 (Note 35)
Boxes 17-24
Box # | File Title or Subject |
---|---|
17 | Operation "Sparkler" (Note 36) Reparations from Current Production and Present Economic Policy U.S. Group C.C. Fiscal Policy |
19 | Civil Affairs Division-War Department (2 folders) |
21 | Levels of Industry-Bipartite Allied Military Missions to Germany |
22 | Judgment of the International Military Tribunal Reparations |
23 | Statements and Policy Reports Council of Foreign Ministers |
24 | Basic U.S. Policy Directives in Germany Tripartite Conference of Berlin (Potsdam) Level of Industry-Quadripartite Byron Price Report to President 9 November 1945 Correspondence with Allied Commission on Reparations (Pauley) |
Correspondence and Other Records Maintained by MG
Frank Keating,
Assistant Deputy Military Governor 1946-1947
Boxes 25-27
Records of the Office of the Adjutant General
Records Created by the Office of the Adjutant General
General Correspondence and Other Records ("Decimal File") 1945-1949
Boxes 1-115 1945-1946
1945-1946 Boxes
Box # | File Series # | Fitle Title |
---|---|---|
2-4 | 000.5 | War Crimes, Criminals, and Trials |
8 | 004.2 | Banks and Banking (3 folders) Among them is "Report: SS Loot and the Reichsbank by Col. Bernard Bernstein, Oct. 30, 1945 |
9 | 007 | Fine Arts, Archives, Museums, Cultural Objects |
33 | 100 | Disposition of Foreign Securities (Gold) |
100 | Currency in Germany | |
100 | Finance and Accounting-Germany (German Financial System, Reform, Liquidation of War Finance, etc.) | |
34 | 123 | Currency Control Regulations and Books |
35 | 123.7 | Exchange of Foreign Currency (Rate of Exchange) |
80 | 334 | Investigation of the Reichs-Kredit-Gesellschaft |
82 | 334 | German External Assets Property Commission |
85 | 350.09 | Intelligence Reports |
89 | 370.2 | Operation Paperclip |
91-92 | 383.7 | Displaced Persons, Refugees |
93-94 | 386 | Property Rights Involved in War |
95 | 386.7 | Foreign Assets in Germany |
386.7 | German External Assets | |
386.7 | German External Assets in Other Countries (2 folders) | |
386.7 | Property Control | |
110 | 602.3 | Restitution (Policy) |
111 | 602.3 | Restitution (Policy) |
602.3 | Restitution (Policy) (Disposition of Gold, Foreign Exchange, Securities) | |
602.3 | Reparations (Policy) |
Boxes 116-323 1947
1947 Boxes
Box # | File # | File Title |
---|---|---|
118-119 | 000.5 | War Crimes |
129 | 00.7 | Fine Arts (2 folders) |
288-289 | 386.7 | Frozen Assets, Including Funds |
289 | 386.7 | Documents to Alien Property Custodian Section |
315-317 | 602.3 | Restitution |
317-318 | 602.3 | Reparations |
Boxes 324-515 1948
1948 Boxes
Box # | File # | File Title |
---|---|---|
344 | 00.7 | Art, Museums, and Archives (2 folders) |
508-510 | 602.3 | Reparations |
510-512 | 602.3 | Restitution |
Boxes 516-612 1949
1949 Boxes
Box # | File # | File Title |
---|---|---|
523 | 00.7 | Art, Museums, and Archives (2 folders) |
606-607 | 602.3 | Reparations |
607-608 | 602.3 | Restitution |
Formerly Security-Classified General Correspondence
and Other Records ("Classified
Decimal File") 1945-1949
Boxes 613-632
Box # | File # | File Title and/or Subject |
---|---|---|
613 | 004.2 | Banks and Banking. Includes information pertaining to looted Belgian gold sent to the Swiss National Bank. |
632 | 602.3 | Restitution |
Reference Copies of Records Provided by other Organizations or Individuals Retained in the Office of the Adjutant General
Formerly Security-Classified Intelligence Reports and other Records 1945-1949
Boxes 781-798
Box # | File Title or Subject |
---|---|
781-786 | Reports from Headquarters, European Command, Intelligence Center |
787 | Air Force Intelligence Reports (2 folders) Berlin District Interrogation Center reports 7th Army Interrogation Center Reports Headquarters, United States Group Control Council Reports (4 folders pertaining primarily to the disposition of German POWs.) |
788-791 | Miscellaneous intelligence reports relating primarily to the Soviet zone of Germany, the USSR, and the Eastern Bloc countries. Also included are copies of some State-War-Navy Coordinating Committee files and Joint Chiefs of Staff directives. Box 791 contains information on the European Advisory Commission (37) and a copy of an interrogation of Franz Von Pappen. |
792 | British Intelligence reports (3 folders) "Ash Can" Reports June 1945 (3 folders) SHAEF publications |
793-798 | Miscellaneous Intelligence reports. Box 793 contains Special Detention Center "Ash Can" Interrogation briefs. Included is an interrogation of Franz Von Pappen in which he discusses trading 12,000 Jews to Switzerland in exchange for machine tools. |
Combined Chiefs of Staff Study Reports and Related Records 1943-1948
Boxes 800-807
Box# | File Series# | File Title |
---|---|---|
804 | CCS 659 | "Policy with respect to enemy diplomatic and consular property captured within the territories of third powers" |
CCS 703 | "Proposed agreements with the governments of Northwest Europe as to disposal of war material and other property" | |
805 | CCS 845 | "Disposition of bullion and other property discovered by Third Army" |
State-War-Navy Department Coordinating Committee Study
Reports and Other Records
1945-1947
Boxes 808-809
Box # | SWNCC Report # | Subject |
---|---|---|
808 | 118 | U.S. draft directive on control of works of art and monuments |
122/4 | Treatment of German archives, records, and documents | |
204/5 | Restitution from Germany and Austria to Italy, Hungary, Rumania, and Finland; and from Germany to Austria, Bulgaria, and Albania | |
251 | Restitution to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia of property seized by Germany | |
253 | German property in Japan | |
322 | Return of looted objects of art to countries of origin | |
328 | Unilateral removals from Germany to be accountable for as reparation | |
342 | Disposition of foreign currencies found in Germany |
Records of the Control Office
Records Relating to the Establishment of Military Government in Germany
Records Relating to the Activities of the Finance Division 1945-1949
Boxes 451-452
Box 453
Records Relating to the Property Division 1945-1949
Contains Property Division
memoranda, studies, reports, correspondence, and
other records relating
to restitution and reparations.
Boxes 469-476
Records of the Office of the Director of Intelligence
Records of the Analysis and Research
Excerpts of Miscellaneous Reports and Publications
1947-1948
Box 60 File 44.7 Financial
Institutions, Banks, Insurance Companies, Etc. (1946-
1947)
Contains a 34-page OMGUS special report, dated June 1947,
entitled "Dresdner
and Deutsche Banks"
Miscellaneous Reports and Publications 1941-1950
Box 153 Contains a 1947
164-page translation of "The German Law on Joint
Stock
Companies and Joint Stock Companies en Commandite
(Aktiengesetz)
of 30 January 1937"
Records of the Office of the Chief of Counsel for War Crimes (OCCWC)
General Records of the Office of the Chief Counsel for War Crimes
Records of the Evidence Division
Staff Evidence Analyses and Interrogation Summaries 1946-1948
Box # | File Title |
---|---|
5 | "Economy Reich General Delegate for " "Confiscation of Jewish Property" "Dresdner Bank" |
13-15 | Political and Racial Persecution |
Personal Name File of Defendants and Witnesses in the I.G. Farben Trial 1945-1948
Boxes 17-98
Box # | File Title |
---|---|
90 | General Aniline and File Corporation |
91 | Dresdner Bank Francolor Company, France |
92 | Bayer Degussa |
98 | Herman Schmitz (7 folders) American I.G. Chemical Company I.G. Chemie, Basel, Switzerland (2 folders) |
Records of the Economics Division
General Correspondence ("Central Files") 1944-1949
Box # | File # | File Title and/or Subject |
---|---|---|
46-47 | 007 | Fine Arts, Museums, Archives, Cultural Objects |
81-87 | 386 | Restitution |
88-90 | 386 | Reparations |
111 | 0004.1 | Historicals, Museums, Antiquities |
115-116 | 007.2 | Fine Arts and Cultural Objects |
143-155 | 386 | Restitution |
156-157 | 387 | Reparations |
172 | 004.2 | Banks and Banking |
007 | Fine Arts and Objects | |
196-197 | 386 | Restitution |
197 | 387 | Reparations |
209 | 004.2 | Banks and Banking |
007 | Fine Arts and Objects | |
227 | 386 | Restitution |
386.7 | Reparations |
Records Relating to Trade and Trade Agreements 1947-1949
Box # | File Subject |
---|---|
243 | Switzerland (2 folders) |
General Correspondence of the Deputy Director 1947-1949
This series contains the records of Phillips Hawkins who served as the Deputy
Box # | File # | Subject |
---|---|---|
248 | PH-78 | Insurance; includes a study of German Insurance Companies, Combines, and Associations |
PH-100 | National City Bank [of New York] | |
PH-118 | General Claims Law | |
PH-131 | Securities |
Records Created by the Economics Advisor and Retained by the Office of Economic Affairs of HICOG
Records of the External Claims Branch of the Finance Division
Records Relating to Claims for Property Not Returned ("Dead Claims File") 1948-1950
Boxes 317-321
Records Relating to Claims for Personal Property ("Claims File") 1946-1951
Boxes 322-324
Records Relating to Claims for Securities ("Claims File")1948-1950
Boxes 325-362
Records of the Property Division
Records of the Office of the Director, Including the Staff Sections
Records of the Secretariat Section
General Records 1944-50
Boxes 1-18
Box # | File Titles |
---|---|
1 | Report to U.S. Property Control Office on Property in U.S. Sector of Berlin Formerly Owned by Jewish People |
ABC/Special Committee Securities | |
TransferSlips | |
Accords-Portuguese/Swiss | |
Administrative | |
Administration of Controlled Property by the City of Berlin | |
AEG-Kleinworth | |
Allied Military Missions | |
Alphabetical File | |
2 | Bank Der Deutschen Arbeit A.G. Study |
Authorization to Successor Organization | |
ARNO [Allegemeine Rueckerstattunga-Nachfolgeorganisation] | |
Askania Werke | |
Bad Nauheim Office | |
Bavarian Ordinance on Fees | |
Bavarian Ordinance on Organization of Matters of Restitution | |
Bavarian Trade Union Properties | |
Behind the Curtain File | |
Berlin Property Control Program | |
3 | Berlin Restitution |
Berlin Restitution Reports | |
Berlin Restitution Magistrate's Draft | |
Bernhard Berghau-Blocked Property | |
Board of Review | |
Board of Review Organization and Rules | |
C.C. Directive 57 Implementing Law | |
Censorship Policy | |
Central Filing Agency | |
CFA [Central Filing Agency] Reports | |
Claims Agency | |
Claims Procedures | |
4 | Closing Out of Civil Censorship |
Combined Travel Board | |
Commerz Bank, Deutsche Bank, Dresdner Bank | |
Cost of Tabulations-British and French (Document Center Bills) | |
Conferences-Meeting-Attend | |
Cooperatives | |
Coordination US/UK Policy | |
Com Products Refining Co. | |
Correspondence with British | |
Misc. Correspondence | |
British Correspondence | |
Correspondence with other Powers | |
5 | Cost of Tabulation-British |
Currency Problems: Law 59, Law 63 | |
DAF | |
Decontrol | |
Final Decontrol Program - April-May 1949 | |
Deutsche Bank-British Zone A-H | |
Deutsche Bank-British Zone I-Z | |
DEGO [Deutsche Golddiscontbank] | |
Deutsche Bank-French Zone | |
For the Director | |
Disposition of Property of War Criminals | |
Elwerath Oil Co. | |
Disposition of Securities and Currencies | |
Duress Properties | |
ECA [Economic Cooperation Administration] | |
Engelhart Properties-Jasper Courts Martial | |
Engelhart, Jasper | |
6 | Equalization of Burdens |
Export of Household Effects | |
Export of Household and Personal Effects | |
External Assets | |
External Assets Reports | |
Farben | |
I.G.Farben industrie - Minutes, Reports | |
Felten and Gilleaume | |
Fendel Schiffaharts A.G. (Correspondence) | |
Fordwerke A.G. Cologne | |
Forenvest | |
7 | Functional Statements |
German Assets in Denmark | |
German Civil Code | |
General | |
General Claims | |
General Claims Law | |
General File | |
General License 10 (Old Papers) | |
Gisela Grobcurth, Wiesbaden Investigation | |
Gloria- GAS, GMBH | |
8 | Golddiscontbank |
Hungarians- Nyaradi | |
JRSO [Jewish Restitution Successor Organization] Charter | |
JRSO Authorizations | |
JRSO 1949 to June | |
German Legislation | |
GEPC [German External Property Commission] (38) Proceedings Re BK/O | |
Henschel | |
Goering Jewelry | |
Harmonization | |
History Report - US Census Section | |
International Telephone and Telegraph | |
OSA Industrielle Beteiligonen A.G. Internatl. Gen. Electric | |
Laenderes Legislation Under the Restitution Law | |
9 | Law 59 |
Amicable Settlements - Law 59 | |
Law 59: Legal Opinions | |
Law59: General Claims | |
Law 59: Trade Union Inquiries | |
Internal Restitution - Property System | |
IEG [International General Electric Co., Inc.] | |
Investment Moratorium | |
Investigations | |
ACA/GEPC [Allied Control Authority/German External Property Commission] | |
Japanese Purchases | |
Italy | |
Justice Mission, Berlin Office | |
Kalil, Michel | |
Kornel Lazar | |
Kontnentale OEL A.G. | |
Land Property Control Chief's Meetings 948 | |
Reich Property Proposal | |
Reich Property Law: Drafts | |
10 | MG Law 59 - Restitution of Identifiable Property |
Law 59-General | |
Law 59-Regulations | |
Law 59-Progress Charts | |
Law 59-Expediting Plan | |
Law 59-Organization of Restitution Authorities | |
Law 59-Court Decisions | |
Law 59-Staff Studies | |
Law 59-Reporting System | |
Law 59-Board of Review | |
Law 59-Progress Report (November 1948) | |
Law 59-Reports | |
Law 52 (39) | |
Laws 52 and 53 (40) | |
Law 52-Licenses | |
Laenderrat Draft-Restitution Law February 1947 | |
Personnel | |
11 | Legal Opinions |
Law 59-Status of Cases in Restitution Courts | |
Law 59-Legal Opinions | |
Law 59-Filing Deadline | |
Law 75 | |
Occupation Statute | |
OFA | |
PC Reports | |
Property Division | |
Laws and Legislation, German | |
Instructions to HVW [Hauptbuero Fuer Vermoegenskontrolle and Wiedergutmachung] (Old Drafts) | |
Internal Restitution | |
List of UN Properties in Germany (Master List) | |
IARA [Inter-Allied Reparations Agency] | |
12 | MGAX Committee of GEPC |
Monthly Reports - MG Finance Division | |
Mueller and Son, Printing Plants, Munich | |
Mueller Interview, Mrs. Stitzler | |
Moratorium Investment Policy | |
Mumm, Gottfied von & Madeleine von, M. Allegretti | |
F. Miller (Expellees) | |
Miscellaneous | |
Montan N.V. Sharer-Sheridan | |
Dr. Arthur Meyer | |
Netherlands: Industrial Interest in Germany | |
Naturim-WerkBecker & Co. | |
Requests for Legal Opinions-Pending | |
Requests for Legal Opinions-Answered | |
OPA [Office of Political Affairs] | |
Protection of Foreign interest | |
Patents | |
Papers, Memos: Reconciliation | |
Ordinance No. 21 - Bizonal Economic Council 1948 | |
Property Control | |
Property Disposition Board | |
Liquidation, PC & EA | |
PD Organization | |
13 | Paris Intergovernmental Group Recommendations |
Public prosecutor: Art 70, Law 59 | |
Public Utilities Law | |
Personnel | |
Property Control & External Assets Branch | |
PC Auditing | |
PC & EA Branch - Floater File | |
Property (General) | |
Property of Lucy Jones | |
PC-Berlin Sector | |
Property Group | |
Property Problems | |
PC Progress Reports | |
Property Claimed by Ernest Hess-Fritz Boll Custodian | |
Property Control: Monthly Statist. Reports | |
14 | PC Monthly Reports |
PC Monthly Statistical Report | |
PD Dissolution | |
PC: Liquidation | |
PD: Monthly Report | |
Policy Directives | |
Princess Sibylla of Sweden | |
PC Progress Charts | |
Pfister & Co. | |
Pooling Committee on BKAX | |
Property Owner Visits | |
Reichsanstalt Fur und Bild | |
Reports-Target P109 | |
Rudolf Hell [pertains to unblocking property of] | |
Restitution of Securities | |
15 | Reparation sand Restitution |
Restitution Law for Berlin, JRSO [Jewish Restitution Successor Organization]as Successor Org. | |
Restitution Property Law: Publicity | |
Restitution Property Law: French | |
Restitution Property Law | |
Restitution Property Law: Misc. Papers | |
Reich and Nazi Funds | |
Restrictive Clause on Exits to Switzerland (also Sweden) | |
Restitution Chambers | |
Rosenthal | |
Siegfried Arndt, Correspondence and Reports (1) | |
Restitution | |
Restitution Agencies | |
Restitution- Fr./Br/Us | |
16 | Siefried Arndt, Lingner Werke |
Siegfried Arndt, Correspondence and Reports (2) | |
Siegfried Arndt Lingner Werke A.G. & Subsidiaries | |
Sale of Property in Germany-Madrid, Mrs. Gerda Wolff de Barcelle | |
Schier, Otten & Co. | |
Walter Schonenberger Firm | |
Special Legal Unit | |
Seminar- OMG for Bavaria, Offi. of the Land Director | |
Soviet Violation of Quadipartite Agreement | |
Steinheil | |
Securities as External Assets | |
Securities | |
Six Months Report & Liquidation (PC) | |
S/S Re. Article 73, Law 59 | |
Socialization- Hesse | |
Spain | |
Staff Studies, PD | |
17 | Statistical Reports - Exits US Area of Control STEG [Staatliche Erfassunge-Gesellschaft Fuer Oeffentliches Gut mbH] |
Wiesbaden Collecting Point Reports | |
Spanish Accord | |
Standstill Creditors | |
Status Reports - Land Central banks | |
Suspense | |
Endres, Sebastian Dr. & Peiser, Werner Dr. | |
Tabulations-British | |
Tabulations-French | |
Tabulations-US | |
Sub-Committee on Foreign Interests | |
Semi-Annual Report PC & EA July 1948-December 30, 1948 | |
18 | Accumulative Reports |
BKAX-(1) Reports Received | |
Decartelization (Old Progress Reports) | |
Decontrol Reports (2 folders) | |
List of Dusseldorf Investigative Reports | |
External Assets Reports | |
Finanzstatistik MGAX (1) Arbeitsgang 14 Folgende | |
Finanzstatistik MGAX (1) Lochung, Prufung U Abstimmung |
Records of the Reports Section
Reports Submitted to and by the Reports Officer 1945-49
Boxes 19-21
Box
20 contains file on commercial gold and silver.