DN1924 RECORDS OF THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE DEPOSITORY GROUP OF THE OFFICE OF THE FINANCE ADVISER, OMGUS, 1944–1950 Onaona Miller Guay prepared this introduction and supervised the arrangement of these records for digitization. National Archives and Records Administration Washington, DC 2010 United States. National Archives and Records Administration. Records of the Foreign Exchange Depository Group of the Office of the Finance Adviser, OMGUS, 1944–1950.— Washington, D.C. : National Archives and Records Administration, 2010. p. ; cm.— (National Archives digital publications. Pamphlet describing ; DN 1924) Cover title. ―Onaona Miller Guay prepared this introduction and supervised the arrangement of these records for digitization" – Cover. ―These records are contained within Records of the United States Occupation Headquarters, World War II, Record Group (RG) 260‖ - P. 1. 1. Germany (Territory under Allied occupation, 1945–1955 : U.S. Zone). Office of Military Government. Finance Division – Records and correspondence – Catalogs. 2. Germany – History – 1945–1955 – Sources – Bibliography – Catalogs. I. Guay, Onaona Miller. II. Title. INTRODUCTION On the 149 disks of this digital publication, DN1924, are reproduced records relating to the administration and operation of the Foreign Exchange Depository Group, Office of the Finance Advisor, Office of Military Government for Germany (U.S.) [OMGUS], during the period 1944–1950. These records are contained within Records of the United States Occupation Headquarters, World War II, Record Group (RG) 260. BACKGROUND The origin of the Foreign Exchange Depository (FED) can be traced to a subsection of the Currency Section, Financial Branch, G-5 Division of the Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF), created on September 7, 1944. The primary function of the Currency Section 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 a depository for, and to exercise control over, assets seized or impounded by Allied Military authorities. The Foreign Exchange Depository Field Unit was the Currency Section subsection created to serve as the safe depository. The first shipment of valuables was received at the FED on April 15, 1945. This treasure trove of assets was discovered at the Kaiseroda, or Merkers, salt mine, in Thuringia and consisted of gold bullion, gold and silver coin, platinum, jewelry, and various currencies. Also found was a large quantity of Schutzstaffel (SS) loot. Before the end of 1945, a total of 76 additional shipments of foreign exchange assets were received. With the dissolution of SHAEF on July 14, 1945, the Currency Section was organized under the G-5 Division of the U.S. Forces, European Theater (USFET). On October 1, 1945, the Office of Military Government, U.S. Zone (OMGUS) recognized the Foreign Exchange Depository Field Unit as an independent agency within its Finance Division. The FED was responsible for the protection, custody, and inventorying of gold and silver bullion, coin, foreign currencies, securities and other assets; took custody and control of zonal currency reserves and allocated and delivered them to local banks as was required; maintained currency accounts; and undertook investigations of counter- feiting. The FED was organized into six sections: Executive, Administrative, Accounts and Reports, Claims, Currency, and Depository. By early 1946, the operations of the Depository Section, namely the inventorying and examining of the seized assets, had completely stopped due to the lack of adequately qualified personnel. The assets of the Section were temporarily placed under ―combat conditions‖ within the custody of the Currency Section in the name of the Commanding General, USFET. On April 1, 1946, the assets were formally returned to OMGUS, now called the Office of Military Government for Germany (U.S). When the OMGUS Finance Division was dissolved effective March 1, 1948, and the Office of Finance Adviser (OFA) was established, the Foreign Exchange Depository Field Unit became the Foreign Exchange Depository Group (FEDG). The FEDG provided banking and depository facilities to the Office of Chief of Finance, European 1 Command for Army transactions requiring indigenous currency, and provided custodial facilities for valuables of German origin that came into the possession of the U.S. Army or Military Government pending disposition through reparations, restitution, return to German claimants, or delivery to successor custodian. Between 1946 and 1949, the FEDG received, stored, inventoried, and disbursed well over $500 million worth of loot and other valuables. Over the course of its development, the custodial, inventory, and accounting functions of the FEDG expanded to include Military Government Law 53 assets, Allied Military Marks, Military Government court fines, Military Payment certificates, Prisoner of War Payments, and assets seized by G-2 Censorship Division. Most assets were disposed by the end of August 1949. The transition from military to civilian occupation administration was initiated by the Presidential appointment of the U.S. High Commissioner for Germany (HICOG), who assumed his duties on September 2, 1949. On September 3, the functions, personnel, equipment, and records of both the OFA and the Finance Division were transferred to the newly created Finance Division in the Office of Economic Affairs of HICOG, which assumed responsibility for the field of finance, including those of the FEDG. The transition was completed by September 21, the same day of the establishment of the Federal Republic of Germany. OMGUS was formally abolished on December 5, 1949. Most of the OMGUS records, including the records of the Financial Exchange Depository Group, were retired to an Army records center in Kansas City until they were accessioned into the National Archives in the early 1960s. RECORDS DESCRIPTION Central Files, 1944–1950 [A1, Entry 588],1 is divided into two subseries: the first is arranged chronologically by date of correspondences, and the second is arranged numerically according to the Foreign Exchange Depository file number system. The FED file number system is assigned by agency subsections: Executive Section (910.00), Administrative Section (920.00), Accounts and Reports Section (930.00), Claims Section (940.00), Currency Section (950.00), and Depository Section (960.00). This series consists of correspondence, cables, memorandums, reports, inventory forms and cards, restitution claims, bar lists, shipping tickets, balance sheets, worksheets, interrogations, payment orders, vouchers, registers, and other records regarding the deposit and release of assets. Records of interest include ―Gold Pot‖ delivery, including an inventory and analysis of gold bars used to generate the Howard Report; restitution of non-monetary assets to the International Refugee Organization (IRO); the investigation of the Melmer deliveries, including information on the distribution of looted Shutzstaffel (SS) gold; interrogations of Reichsbank officials, including Emil Puhl and Albert Thoms; and documentation of prisoners of war and concentration camp victim effects, including a list of individual saving account records from concentration camp victims (940.304) and lists of Dachau prisoners (940.4052). 1 Textual record series designators usually consist of the series title with a date span, the finding aids notation, and the Holding Management System (HMS) entry number, shown here in brackets. 2 Miscellaneous Records Regarding Operations, Payments, and Shipments, 1945– 1948 [A1, Entry 589], is arranged alphabetically by subject. This series consists of cables, correspondence, reports, inventory lists, directives, payment orders, cash books, inventory cards, registers, vouchers, and other records relating to daily operations. Records of interest include shipment summaries for valuables received; a draft of the Merkers mine report; restitution files by country; standard operating procedures on transfer of non- monetary gold to the International Refugee Organization (IRO); and special inventory procedures on Shutzstaffel (SS) loot. Records Relating to Operations “Birddog” and “Doorknob,” 1948–1950 [A1, Entry 590], is arranged alphabetically by subject. This series consists of correspondence, reports, receipts, orders, directives, currency lists, waybills, shipping manifests (Army Ocean Manifests), container lists, loading instructions, vouchers, registers, inventories, worksheets, charts, schedules, and other records relating to shipments of deutsche mark notes to the Foreign Exchange Depository. Operations ―Birddog‖ and ―Doorknob‖ were code names given to the military mission of receiving, storing, and subsequently distrib- uting new deutsche mark currency in connection with the currency reform of June 20, 1948, in the American, British, and French zones. The material relates mainly to the logistics, plans, and arrangements made for shipping newly minted notes. Records Relating to Shipments of Gold and Silver, 1945–1947 [A1, Entry 591], is arranged alphabetically by subject. This series consists of lists, ledger sheets, worksheets, tabulations, charts, and other records relating to shipments and deliveries of gold and silver to and from the depository. Documents of interest include reconciliation of the Howard Report with actual gold inventory in the FED, and materials pertaining to ―Gold Pot‖ delivery. Records Relating to Tabulation and Classification of Deposits, 1945–1949 [A1, Entry 592], is arranged alphabetically by subject. This series consists of bar and shipping lists, inventory forms and worksheets, shipping tickets and receipts, reports, tally sheets, ledgers, tabulations, registers, and other records regarding the inventorying and tabulating of deposits of gold bars, coins, securities, cash, and other valuables. Records of interest include inventories of currencies held by the depository, arranged by country; diamonds restituted to the Netherlands; and assets compiled for the Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees. Also included are documents pertaining to Hungarian restitution (Shipping Ticket No. 15) and assets refused by the Intergovernmental Refugee Organization (IRO) (Shipping Ticket No. 168). Inventory Forms of Assets Released, 1945–1947 [A1, Entry 593], is divided into two subseries. The first subseries is arranged alphabetically by companies, individuals, organizations, and government agencies; and the second is arranged by country. This series consists of inventory forms for assets released by the depository. Included on the form is a description of the shipment, including quantity, type, classification, and other identifying information and an indication of the officials responsible for recording, approving, and inventorying the assets. 3 Miscellaneous Registers, 1945–1949 [A1, Entry 594], is arranged alphabetically by type of record. This series consists primarily of bank and daily registers pertaining to military payment orders, prisoner of war payments, certificates of credit, and container and inventory tag control records. Records of the Currency Section Received from Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Forces (SHAEF), 1944–1945 [A1, Entry 595], is mostly arranged numerically by SHAEF correspondence control symbol (SHAEF/G-5/##/##). This series consists of cables, correspondence, reports, orders, instructions, directives, receipts, balance sheets, and other records regarding operations prior to the defeat of Germany. The records include material regarding the discovery and confiscation of Schutzstaffel (SS) loot from Merkers mine; the disposition of and claims on property owned in Germany by Americans and to the ownership of property in general; currency shipments to areas of military operations for use in military transactions; captured enemy funds and mutilated currency; the issuance of Allied military marks and U.S. Army deposit and cash accounts; and records regarding the loss of currency and the procurement of postage stamps. Records Relating to the Currency Section, 1944–1945 [A1, Entry 596], is arranged alphabetically by subject. This series consists of cables, correspondence, reports, orders, memorandums, circular letters, directives, receipts, vouchers, and other records relating to the policy toward and administration of finance in occupied areas. The records include material pertaining to the U.S. Group Control Council, Tripartite Control and Occupation of Germany, as well as to policies issued by the Informal Policy Committee on Germany (IPCOG). Also included are records regarding financial intelligence and operations; military government funds and currency; the organization of the Currency Section; and records pertaining to Eva Braun (Shipment No. 76) RELATED RECORDS Textual Records in the National Archives RECORDS OF INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES, COMMISSIONS, AND EXPOSITIONS, Record Group (RG) 43 Paris Conference on Reparations Background Material, 1944–1945 [A1, Entry 315] Numbered Documents, 1945 [A1, Entry 316] General Subject Files, 1944–1948 [A1, Entry 319] Final Report of James W. Angell, 1946 [A1, Entry 320] GENERAL RECORDS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, RG 59 Bureau of Public Affairs Office of the Historian Records of the Tripartite Commission for the Restitution of Monetary Gold, 1946–1998 [A1, Entry 5382] 4 Bureau of Economic Affairs Office of International Finance and Economic Analysis, Office of Financial Operations Records Relating to the Tripartite Commission for the Restitution of Monetary Gold, 1942–1962 [A1, Entry 1623] RECORDS OF THE FOREIGN SERVICE POSTS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE, RG 84 Inter-Allied Reparation Agency, U.S. Delegation Brussels, X, Tripartite Gold Commission Country Files, 1946–1956 [UD, Entry 2113L] Classified General Records, 1946–1954 [UD, Entry 2113M] Subject Files, 1946–1950 [UD, Entry 2113N] RECORDS OF U.S. OCCUPATION HEADQUARTERS, WORLD WAR II, RG 260 OFFICE OF MILITARY GOVERNMENT FOR GERMANY (U.S.) [OMGUS] Office of the Finance Adviser Records Relating to Specific Functional Policy Programs Records Regarding the Foreign Exchange Depository (FED), 1947–1949 [A1, Entry 572] Property Division Reparations and Restitution Branch Records Related to the Restitution of Precious Metal, 1947–1950 [A1, Entry 441] RECORDS OF ALLIED OPERATIONAL AND OCCUPATION HEADQUARTERS, WORLD WAR II, RG 331 SUPREME HEADQUARTERS ALLIED EXPEDITIONARY FORCE (SHAEF) G-5 (Civil Affairs) Division Numeric Files, 1943–1945 [NM-8, Entry 47] File Nos. 1–113 (Financial Section) RECORDS OF HEADQUARTERS, EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS, UNITED STATES ARMY (WORLD WAR II), RG 498 Secretary, General Staff Administration Branch Classified General Correspondence, 1945–1946 [UD, Entry 19] Decimals 123–151 National Archives Microfilm Publications M1922, Records of the External Assets Investigation Section of the Property Division, OMGUS, 1945–1949, Rolls 74–75 and 81–88 M1923, OMGUS Finance Division Records Regarding Investigations and Interrogations, 1945–1949, Rolls 6–9 5 NATIONAL ARCHIVES PUBLICATIONS Researchers should also consult Holocaust-Era Assets: A Finding Aid to Records at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland, compiled by Greg Bradsher (Washington, DC: National Archives and Records Administration, 1999). This finding aid includes information on specific areas within military records, such as War Department and Occupation records, as well as civilian records, such as those of the State Department, that contain information on looted assets. Additional information concerning the Holocaust may be located on our web site at www.archives.gov. 6 DISK LIST DISK CONTENTS 1 Central Files, 1945–1950 [A1, Entry 588] Correspondence, Outgoing (Nov. 1945–Jan. 1946) Correspondence, Outgoing (Feb. 1946) Correspondence, Outgoing (Mar. 1946) Correspondence, Outgoing (Apr. 1946) Correspondence, Outgoing (May–June 1946) 300.61 Correspondence, Internal: Office of Military Government for Germany (U.S.) [OMGUS] 310.3 Removal of Assets: Authorities Required 900.10 Organization and History of the Foreign Exchange Depository (1944– 1947) 900.10 Organization and History of the Foreign Exchange Depository (1948– 1950) 900.11 Organization and History of the Currency Section 900.13 Organization and History of the Depository Section [Assets Inventoried] 2 900.14 Plan for Operation 900.151 Military Government Regulation Title 16: Finance – Draft 900.151 Military Government Regulation Title 16: Finance – Proposed Revisions and Supplementary Instructions 900.152 Military Government Regulation Title 17: Property Control 900.164 Military Government Law 53: Foreign Exchange Control – Disposition of Assets 900.17 Instructions to Military Government Finance Officers No. 2 and No. 3 900.171 Interpretations to Instructions to Military Government Finance Officers No. 3 900.20 Land and Local Government in U.S. Zone of Germany 900.30 Joint German Committee for Finance 900.40 Field Investigations 900.45 Inspector General Inspection (Oct.–Nov. 1945) 3 900.45 Inspector General Inspection (June 1947) 900.45 Inspector General Inspection (Feb. 1948–Mar. 1948) 900.80 Joint Foreign Exchange Agency 910.10 Cables, Incoming: Office of Military Government for Germany (U.S.) [OMGUS] (June 1945–Oct. 1946) 910.10 Cables, Incoming: Office of Military Government for Germany (U.S.) [OMGUS] (Apr.–June 1947) 910.11 Cables, Outgoing: Office of Military Government for Germany (U.S.) [OMGUS] (July 1945–Apr. 1948) 910.12 Cables, Incoming: United States Forces European Theater (USFET) (Apr.–Dec. 1945) 7 DISK CONTENTS 3 910.12 Cables, Incoming: United States Forces European Theater (USFET) (cont.) (Jan. 1946–Sept. 1947) 910.13 Cables, Outgoing: United States Forces European Theater (USFET) (June–Dec. 1945) 4 910.13 Cables, Outgoing: United States Forces European Theater (USFET) (Jan. 1946–Apr. 1947) 910.14 Cables, Incoming: European Command (EUCOM) 910.15 Cables, Outgoing: European Command (EUCOM) 910.30 Standard Operating Procedure: General and Executive Section 910.31 Standard Operating Procedure: Administrative Section 910.32 Standard Operating Procedure: Accounts Section 910.32 Standard Operating Procedure: Accounts Section–Analysis of Military Government Sub-Accountant Books 910.33 Standard Operating Procedure: Claims Section 910.34 Standard Operating Procedure: Currency Section 910.35 Standard Operating Procedure: Depository Section 910.36 Standard Operating Procedure: Forms 910.40 Memorandums, Personnel (Nos. 0–25) 910.40 Memorandums, Training (Nos. 2–5) 910.42 Memorandums: Administrative Section 910.43 Memorandums: Claims Section 910.44 Memorandums: Currency Section 910.45 Memorandums: Depository Section 910.46 Memorandums: Executive Section 910.49 Memorandums: Miscellaneous 910.70 Internal Security: Guard Orders 910.71 Internal Security: Assets of Strategic Value 910.72 Internal Security: Vault Entry Regulations 910.721 Internal Security: Strong Room No. 2 Entry Register 910.721 Internal Security: Strong Room No. 4 Entry Register 5 910.721 Internal Security: Vault Entry Register (Apr. 16, 1945–June 13, 1947) 910.721 Internal Security: Vault Entry Register (June 16, 1947–Feb. 28, 1949) 910.73 Internal Security: Violations (Feb. 1946–June 1947) 910.73 Internal Security: Violations (Nov. 1947–Mar. 1948) 910.731 Internal Security: Displaced Persons Register 910.75 External Security 910.90 Reports: Finance Division Conferences [Berlin Trips] 910.910 Reports: Currency Section Conference 910.911 Reports: Depository Section Conference 910.92 Reports: Daily Journal (Jan.–June 1948) 910.92 Reports: Daily Journal (July–Dec. 1948) 910.92 Reports: Daily Journal (Jan.–June 1949) 8