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Copy of document 3615-PS
Frankfurt/Main (Germany), 29 September 1945
To: Benedict S. Deinhard
From: Walter W. Ostrow
Subject: Examination of the Records of the
Reichskreditkasse.
An examination of the records of the Reichskreditkasse in
our possession show that a large part of the occupation
costs which Germany collected from France was used, in
contravention of international law, for purposes other than
actual occupation needs.
Contributions made by defeated France to cover the costs of
occupation were used to pay for raw materials, foodstuffs,
and other goods which were diverted from France to Germany.
Special Government procurement agencies were created for
such purposes.
Funds from this source were used also for the acquisition of
securities, paintings, and other objects of art; for the
purchase of radio equipment for Germany, of gold seized by
the Germans in France, of Rumanian currency for the use of
the Wehrmacht in Rumania, and books for libraries in the
Reich destroyed by air raids. Occupation funds were used
also to defray the cost of support to dependents of laborers
recruited in France for work in Germany, to finance the
operations of the SS and the German customs and internal
revenue service in France, and for propaganda purposes by
the Foreign Office.
With respect to most of these charges the records of the
Reichskreditkasse contain indisputable evidence. For the
others, that is, for those cases for which the records offer
only indications to this effect, confirmatory evidence was
obtained through the interrogation of Anton Wilz, one of the
two directors of the Reichsbank who managed the
Reichskreditkasse in Berlin. A signed copy of a statement,
prepared by Herr Wilz at my request, containing information
with regard to the use of occupation funds for certain types
of expenditures not related to the occupation is attached as
inclosure No. 2.
According to a statement contained in a letter from the
German Armistice Commission for Economic Affairs (p. 22;
Note This and all following page references are to inclosure
No. 1 containing excerpts from pertinent parts of the
Reichskreditkasse records,) the French Government paid in
occupation costs for the period from 25 June 1940 until 5
September 1944 the equivalent of approximately 31.6 billion
RM converted at the official rate of 1 RM — 20 ffrs. This
was exclusive of the cost of providing quarters for German
troops for which the French Government was held responsible.
(P. 8).
Until 10 May 1941, occupation costs were collected at the
rate of 20 million RM per day. From then on until the Allied
invasion of North Africa and the German occupation of all
France which followed, that is, during the period when
Germany sought to win the support of the French people, the
rate was reduced to 15 million RM. From 11 November 1942 and
until 5 September 1944, occupation costs were paid at the
rate of 25 million RM per day,
making a daily average for the entire occupation period of
20.6 million RM (p. 22).
In the early part of the occupation, German expenditures
from occupation costs funds were far below the actual
payments. By the end of 1940, expenditures were somewhat
more than one-third of the actual payments made by France.
In the following year, expenditures were only slightly lower
than the French payments. In 1942, they were far in excess
of the payments. From then on and until the end of the
occupation, French payments and German expenditures roughly
balanced. By 31 August 1944, the unused German balance was
only 276 RM, a very small sum compared with the total French
occupation payments of 31.6 billion (p. 23).
Incidentally, a comparison of the French occupation costs
payments and the amount which Nazi Germany spent for
rearmament in the prewar years, as well as the reparation
amounts paid by Germany paid after World War I, shows that
the occupation costs exacted from France were
disproportionately large. When Hitler marched into Poland,
he boasted that under the Nazi regime, Germany had spent in
6½ years 90 billion RM for rearmament. This corresponds
roughly to an annual average of only 1.5 billion RM which
Germany paid in reparations under the Dawes and Young plans.
A brief analysis of French occupation costs payments and
German expenditures from this source indicates that it was
Germany’s policy in the later years of the war to exhaust
the occupation cost payments by diverting a large part of
the funs from this source for purposes other than the
occupation requirements. Since the actual occupation costs
were much lower than the French payments, this policy tended
to impoverish defeated France and to deplete its resources.
(In this connection it should be pointed out that in
addition to the 31.6 billion RM which Germany collected in
occupation cost, it was heavily indebted to France in the
Clearing. France was Germany’s largest Clearing creditor. In
September 1943, the German Clearing debt to France was 4.4
billions RM.) The available records of the Reichskreditkasse
offer adequate evidence in this respect.
In his signed statement, attached as inclosure No. 2, Herr
Wilz estimates, without setting specific instances, that
approximately 6.3 billion RM. Of occupation funds, covering
different groups of expenditures, were used for purposes not
related to the occupation army (besatzungsfremde Zwecke).
This figure, correspond-
[Page 325]
ing roughly to one-fifth of the total occupation costs paid
by France, does not include amounts which may have been
spent secretly by the German Army itself. Information on
this point may be contained in the secret files of the
Reichskreditkasse, which according to Wilz, are still in
Berlin. Dr. Hollwich, the Chief Paymaster of the German Army
in France, whose name appears often in the examined records,
should also be in a position to supply information on this
point.
The Reichskreditkasse in Paris maintained two sets of
occupation costs accounts: Account A and its 10 subaccounts,
into which payments were made on behalf of various Reich
Ministries, certain Reich agencies, or for specified
purposes; Account B into which payments were made for
disposal by the Wehrmacht. The actual expenditures for the
occupation army were made through Account B.
Funds in the main Account A were reserved for the Reich
Ministry of Finance. This account was opened, as soon as
France began to make occupation cost payments, by the
transfer of 1,140,000,000 RM from the Wehrmacht’s occupation
funds. From this account funds were transferred to the
various subaccounts for purposes other than expenditures for
actual occupation costs. Transfers into Account A I were
made also from Account B (roughly 1,200,000 RM). The
subaccounts were used to make payments for the following
purposes (p. 33):
June 1940 to end
of 1943
-------------------
A I Reich Minister for RM 1,518,000,000
Economic Affairs.
(Primarily for the
buying agency,
“Roges", also for
the purchase of
securities and
Devisen.)
A II Foreign Office (for 27,000,000
propaganda purposes
in France)
A III Payment of support 1,500,000
to dependents of
laborers recruited
in France for work
in Germany.
A IV Reich Minister for 2,500,000
Transportation
(purchase of
securities)
A V Paris Agency for 19,000,000
the
Reichstierstelle
(Reich Agency for
Animals) — imports
of meat and meat
products.
A VI Exchange by the 900,000
Bank of France of
RM notes for
persons evacuated
from Alsace- [Page 326]
Lorraine.
A VII Financing purchases 1,285,000
of raw sugar in
North France by
sugar refinery in
South Germany
A VIII Compensation for 8,500,000
war damage to
Reichsdeutsche and
Volksdeutsche in
France.
A IX Sale of French 66,000,000
francs to the Reich
(Commodity imports
into Alsace-
Lorraine.)
A X Reich Minister of 1,000,000
Education
(Purchases for
libraries in the
Reich of books
destroyed in air
raids).
[Explanations
supplied by Herr Wilz.]
The Chief Paymaster of the German Army in France, the German
Armistice Commission, and the French Minister of Finance
complained on several occasions against the large cash
withdrawals from occupation funds. It appears that the Reich
Minster for Economic Affairs and the Four-Year Plan were
largely responsible for this development, as such funds were
used by their agents in France to pay for purchases of
certain goods in the black market for shipment to Germany.
The Chief Paymaster, in particular, complained repeatedly
that the use of occupation funds for such purposes
threatened to deplete his own financial reserves.
In a communication from the German Armistice Commission to
the Foreign Office in Berlin, dated 4 May 1944, (p. 18) this
problem was discussed at some length. The communication
pointed out that the cash reserves for urgent demands in the
event of an Allied invasion of France were being rapidly
depleted through black market purchases and that it was
imperative that the use of occupation funds for purposes not
related to the Wehrmacht [wehrmacht/fremde Zwecke] be
curtailed as much as possible. Similar views were expressed
in an earlier undated draft of a letter to the Foreign
Office (written apparently in April 1943) suggesting drastic
measures. Among these was a recommendation to make payments
through the Clearing for “legal exports from France to
Germany, which heretofore were paid from occupation funds,”
and to discontinue the use of such funds for black market
purchases after June 30, 1943. (Pp. 27-28).
On one occasion, when the French Minister of Finance
complained to the German Armistice Delegation against the
large cash withdrawals, the Reichskreditkasse in Paris, in
response to a request for some explanation, compiled a list
of the amounts paid
[Page 327]
out by it in cash during January 1943. According to this
compilation, 440 million RM were withdrawn in cash during
that month. The various German officials concerned,
including the Chief Paymaster of the German Army in France,
after studying the submitted figures, came to the conclusion
that of this amount approximately 300 million RM were
required for purchases in the black market, leaving only 140
million RM for normal Army requirements (p. 29).
In another communication, this time to the German Military
Commander, dated 9 November 1942, the French Minister of
Finance declared that he had proof that French notes, paid
as occupation costs, had been channeled to Brussels and to
Berlin (p.35).
The records of the Reichskreditkasse and supplementary
information obtained from Herr Wilz, orally and in writing,
show that the following German agencies figured prominently
in connection with expenditures of occupation costs funds
for purposes not related to the army of occupation.
Roges, Rohstoffhandelsgesellschaft m.b.H.
Eichtel
Pimitex
Reichsgesellschaft fuer Landbewirtschaftung m.b.H.
(Reichsland)
Warenhandelsgesellschaft
Wirtschaftsstelle I. O.K.H.
Interkommerziale.
According to a German economic history of the war, Roges
purchased in France for use in Germany primarily strategic
materials such as,
metals wool
leather rubber
chemicals oils and fats
precious metals etc.
tobacco.
Roges also sold in Germany goods confiscated in France. For
the payment of such goods, the owners were referred to the
Paymaster of the Wehrmacht in France. According to the same
source, the paymaster complained because Roges paid, after
deducting its costs, only 60 to 70 percent of the invoice
value of such goods and the Wehrmacht had to pay
subsequently from the occupation account the difference
between the actual proceeds and the invoice value. )See p.
121 of Kriegsgeschichte Wehrwi. Rue Frankreich II.Teil.).
[Page 328]
The records do not show clearly what amounts were withdrawn
from occupation costs for Roges. According to Herr Wilz, the
withdrawals were made from subaccount A I of the
Reichsminister for Economic Affairs. The statement of
occupation costs receipts and withdrawals shows that by the
end of 1943 approximately 1.5 billion RM (1,518,139,424.49
RM) were paid out from this account (p.33), presumably
mostly for Roges. According to the Reichsbankhauptstelle in
Strassburg, Roges used only large denomination notes for
black market operations in France (p.48).
Kurt Eichel was engaged in purchases of securities, gold,
and Devisen for the Four-Year Plan (p.17). The records of
the Reichskreditkasse offer little indication as to the
amount of occupation costs spent by him for such purposes.
Pimitex, according to Wilz, was an agency of the Reich
Minister for Armaments and Munitions (Dr. Speer). It
performed in Belgium and Northern France functions similiar
[sic] to those of Roges. Pimitex does not figure prominently
in the examined records. A statement showing withdrawals
from Occupation Costs Account B in April 1944 indicates that
20 million RM were withdrawn by Pimitex in that month
(p.17).
Reichsland (p.17), as its full German name applies, is a
Reich agency for land cultivation. Wilz states that it may
have used occupation funds for imports into Germany of
French agricultural products.
Warenhandelsgesellschaft, according to Wilz, was a
purchasing agency operating in Belgium and Northern France
under the jurisdiction of the German Military Commander in
Belgium. Its functions were similar to those of Roges.
Wirtschaftsstelle I (O.K.H.) was a purchasing agency of the
Supreme Army Command.
Interkommerziale, according to Wilz, was a Berlin firm which
served as purchasing agent in France. It was presumably a
subsidiary of the Berliner Handelsgesellschaft. In the first
half of 1943 it withdrew from the Reichskreditkasse
approximately 35 million RM (pp. 26/28/29).
Occupation funds were used also to defray the cost of war
risk insurance for exports to Germany. Wilz estimates these
payments at 50 million per calendar quarter. Since these
payments were begun in the fall of 1942, the total amount
used for this purpose is estimated by him at 400,000,000 RM.
The somewhat mysterious Account 1006, maintained by the Main
Administration of the Reichskreditkasse at the Reichsbank in
Berlin, was used in special cases. According to the Reichs-
[Page 329]
kreditkasse, Berlin, Eugen Brueschwiler, Munich, used this
account in January 1944 for the transfer of 110,000 RM to
Rudolf Holzapfel, Paris. Wilz states that both parties to
this transaction are art dealers. Delbrueck Schickler & Co.,
Berlin, transferred 200,000 RM to Prof. Hermann Voss in
Paris. The latter is also an art dealer. These amounts were
obviously used for the purchase of paintings or other
objects of art. In the same month, the Deutsche
Goldiskontbank transferred 150,000 RM to Otto Wolff in
Paris. This amount was used presumably for the purchase of
securities (p.19).
The examined records show several withdrawals from
occupation funds by Hermann Brandel. Wilz states that
Brandel served as an agent for the purchase of paintings and
other objects of art. In the second quarter of 1943 Brandel
withdrew from the Reichskreditkasse in Paris, according to a
letter to the Armistice Delegation (pp.25 and 26), 120
million RM. In February 1943 he withdrew 122.7 million RM
(p.28), in January 1943, 35 million RM (p.29), and in
October 1942, 20 million RM (p.36).
According to the attached statement signed by Wilz
(inclosure No. 2 and the English translation), Account 1006
was used to make payments for objects of art also by the
Nazi Party Chancellery and by the Reichsbank itself.
For other instances of misuse of occupation costs, attention
is invited in particular to the following:
1. Confidential letter to the Reich Minister of Finance,
dated 10 December 1940, relative to the 5 million RM fund
established for the Reichs Minister of Transportation for
the purchase through the German Gold Discount Bank, of
certain securities in France (p.5). The statement of
occupations costs receipts and withdrawals shows that by the
end of 1943, approximately 2,500,000 RM were withdrawn for
this purpose from Account A IV mentioned in that letter
(p.31).
2. The account of the Luxemburg branch of the Deutsche Bank
at the Reichskreditkasse in Brussels for the financing of
commodity imports into Luxemburg from the occupied French
area. Wilz explained that since the funds (150,000 RM) were
withdrawn from Account A of the Reich Minister of Finance,
they constituted occupation costs (p.5).
3. Confidential letter of the Reichs Minister of Finance
dated 18 December 1940, relative to the transfer of
1,500,000 RM to Account A III “for the payment of support to
dependents of laborers recruited in France for work in
Germany” (p.6). This
[Page 330]
account is mentioned also in the statement of occupation
costs receipts and withdrawals on p.33,
4. The use of occupation costs for the payment of
foodstuffs, purchased in Spain (letter from the Reich
Minister of Finance, dated 3 August 1940). The amount
involved is not given in this letter. Wilz suggested that it
could be ascertained in the records of the Reich Minister of
Finance (p.7).
5. Letter from the Reich Minister of Finance, dated 14
September 1942, relative to the payment for small arms
obtained for the German Navy in Spain. Wilz explained, in
this connection, that the German troops stationed in France
comprised two categories: fighting units and occupation
troops. For purposes of occupation costs, the Germans made
no differentiation between the two categories (p.9).
6. Letter from the Military Commander in France, dated 1
September 1942, stating that the Organization Todt and the
SS were receiving funds required by them from occupation
costs (p.13).
7. Memorandum for the files relative to a communication from
the Foreign Office that the Supreme Army Command did, or was
supposed to, make available 25 million ffrs. To the Rumanian
National Bank (p.13).
8. Letter from the Supreme Army Command, dated 22 May 1942,
to the effect that the above amount was being made available
from French occupation costs for the purpose of financing
Wehrmacht expenditures in Rumania (p.14).
9. Memorandum for the files, dated 14 February 1942, showing
that occupation funds were used to cover the expenditures of
German customs guards in France, although it was admitted
that their function included such tasks as “confiscation of
flight capital of emigrated Jews” (p.15).
10. Letter from the Reichskreditkasse, dated 3 March 1944,
explaining the use of Account 1006 (p.19). Wilz states that
approximately 90 percent of the huge profits of German
construction firms operating in France were transferred
under a general license.
11. Report of the Reichskreditkasse of 30 October 1943
showing that 110 million RM from Account B were earmarked
for purchases of wheat. Wilz admits reluctantly that this
wheat was intended presumably for consumption within Germany
(p.21).
12. Letter from Treibacker Chemische Werke, Vienna, relative
to the purchase of 11,800 shares of Societe Miniere &
Industrielle France Bresillienne", Paris (p.34).
[Page 331]
13. Two letters from Reichskreditkasse to Reich Minister of
Finance, written in August and July 1943 respectively,
indicating that it purchased gold with French francs from
the `Devisenschutzkommando' on behalf of the Reichsbank
(p.25).
[signed] Walter W. Ostrow
-------
Enclosure No. 1
to Memorandum prepared
by Mr. Ostrow for Mr. Deinhard,
dated 29 September 1945
Excerpt from Correspondence Contained in
BAND I (II/38)
Banque de France
Office des Changes
(Besetzungskosten Frankr.)
From Oberkommando des Heeres, Hauptquartier OKH 4.9.41 to
Hauptverwaltung der Reichskreditkassen: The
Reichskreditkasse in Paris is to be instructed to transfer
from Occupation Account B 200 million ffrs. To Account No.
742 “Warenhandelsgesellschaft Berlin.”
-------
From Hauptverwaltung der Reichskreditkassen, dated Berlin 6
September 1941, to Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, Berlin, to
the effect that the Tresor Public Francais paid on 30 August
1941 RM 150 million as occupation costs for the period 1 to
10 September, 1941.
-------
Similar letter dated 29 August 1941 to the effect that
Tresor Public Francais paid on 21 August 1941 RM 165 million
as occupation costs for the period 21 to 31 August 1941.
-------
From Der Reichsminister der Finanzen, Berlin, 6 August 1941
to Reichshapkasse, Berlin: The Reichsminister for Economic
Affairs has advised that the authorization granted to the
firm of Kupperbusch und Soehne AG, Gelsenkirchen, to pay
250,000 RM into Giro Account No. 742
"Warenhandelsgesellschaft” in the Reichsbank for the payment
in France for the equivalent in ffrs. Had been withdrawn.
Accordingly, the Minister of Finance in-
[Page 332]
structs the Reichskreditkasse to deduct the RM equivalent
from the Budget for Extraordinary Receipts for 1941 under
the heading, “Sale of French francs from occupation payments
made by France (Special Account A I).”
-------
From Hauptverwaltung der Reichskreditkassen, Berlin, 9 July
1941 to Reichshauptkasse, Berlin, to the effect that in
general the Reichskreditkasse charged all green and greed-
red striped checks paid in France in the [p.2] currency of
that country, to the Occupation Account B … If it was not
intended to debit Account B, such amounts could be charged
only to Account A as, otherwise, there would be no ffrs.
Available.
-------
From Reichs Ministry for Economic Affairs, Berlin, 10 June
1941, to the Chief Mayor of Berlin to the effect that the
arrangement authorizing the city of Berlin to purchase
textile goods in France aggregating 6 million RM had been
changed. The new authorization covered purchases only up to
5.4 million RM and provided that the remaining 600,000 RM
should be transferred back to Germany.
-------
From Reichsminister der Finanzen 19 April 1941 to
Reichskreditkasse in Brussels, setting up a special account
known as “Occupation Costs, France B R.” This account
pertained to redeemed requisition receipts and constituted a
subaccount of Account B.
-------
From Reichsbank Direktorium 16 April 1941 to
Reichskreditkasse, Brussels, stating that the
Reichskreditkasse had until that time sold ffrs. To the
Reichsbank aggregating 78.1 million RM. Of this amount,
approximately 66 million RM were used to pay for imports to
Alsace-Lorraine, the remainder of approximately 12 million
RM was made available to the Reichsbank for sale to members
of the German Army and military finance offices. By virtue
of an instruction of the Reichsminister of Finance, dated 19
February 1941, and in agreement with a letter to this effect
from the Reichsbank, dated 6 March 1941, these amounts were
withdrawn from Occupation Accounts A and B in Paris. The
[Page 333]
Reichsminister for Economic Affairs, in a letter dated 21
February 1941, had approved this arrangement. The
Reichskreditkasse, which at first advanced these amounts in
French francs from its own cash holdings, charged 66 million
RM to the account, “Occupation Costs, France A” of the
Reichsministry of Finance and 12 million RM to the account
"Occupation Costs, France B", of the Supreme Army Command
[p.3].
-------
From Hauptverwaltung der Reichskreditkassen dated Brussels
16 April 1941 to Reichskreditkassen, Lille, France: The
withdrawals by green and green-red striped checks in March
1941 were 17 million RM lower than in February 1941. For
purposes of camouflage the Reichskreditkasse is hereby
instructed to withdraw from the Bank of France in Lille a
special amount of 200 million ffrs. And to increase the cash
on hand by a corresponding amount. This letter was marked
`confidential.'
-------
By a similar letter addressed to the Reichskreditkasse,
Rouen, the head of that bank was instructed to make a
special withdrawal of 200 million ffrs. Any surplus francs
resulting from this withdrawal were to be transferred to the
Reichskreditkasse in Paris.
Note: According to Wilz, these withdrawals were intended to
camouflage German military operations in preparation for the
then impending invasion of Russia.
-------
From Reichsbank Director Reblin, Berlin, 10 April 1941, to
Director Wilz advising the latter that Reblin had been
informed by Reichsbank Director Jost on 1 April as follows:
“With reference to your letter of 27 March 1941, a copy
of which has just been received here, I have the honor
to advise you that the Bank of France carries the
following accounts:
1. Account N.8. “Administration Centrale des
Reichskreditkassen (Frais d'occupation concernant le chef de
l'administration militaire en France).”
“The amount of the account at present is approximately
2.6 billion RM. This is the RM account. In this account
entries are made for all occupation costs and the RKK
notes redeemed by the Bank of France.
[Page 334]
2. Account No./20 of the Reichskreditkasse, Paris. Present
balance approximately ffrs. 850 million.
“This is a ffrs. Account which is used for all other
transactions between the Reichskreditkasse, Paris, and
the Bank of France. For instance, in-payments through
the [p.4] German-French clearing, so far as they are
intended for the Reichskreditkasse, are credited to
this account whereas, on the other hand, the
Reichskreditkasse in Paris makes transfers within the
occupied area to the debit of this account.”
-------
From Oberkommando der Wehrmacht, Berlin, 21 February
1941 to OKH (Gen. Qu): The occupation costs represent
receipts of the Reich over which the Reichsminister of
Finance disposes for budgetary purposes. However, the
Army retains authority over the entire Account B with
respect to withdrawals by army finance offices. In
addition, an amount of 1.5 million RM is reserved for
the Army from Account A.
The Reichsminister of Finance, on his own initiative,
when these 1.5 million RM were recently made available
from Account A for the recruiting of labor in France,
again issued instructions to the Reichskreditkasse for
the payment of this amount. It is requested that the
Reichskreditkasse be notified accordingly, in order
that no double payments should be made.
-------
From the Reichsminister der Finanzen dated Berlin 19
February 1941 to Reichsbank, Berlin: I agree to an
arrangement whereby the Reichsbank should acquire
French payment media to satisfy its requirements for
Alsace-Lorraine and its requirements for purposes of
persons on military leave, so far as they cannot obtain
French currency elsewhere, from occupation costs
balances of the Reich with the Reichskreditkasse. These
amounts should be charged for Alsace-Lorraine to
Account A, for military leave purposes to Account B.
-------
Letter of the same date from Reichsminister der
Finanzen to Reichskreditkasse in Brussels: I request
that the RM countervalue of the withdrawals in ffrs.
From occupation costs which had already been made for
the designated purposes be transferred to
[Page 335]
the Reichshauptkasse and that these amounts be debited
to the occupation costs Account A and B respectively.
I have also learned that, on the initiative of the
Chief of the Civil Administration in Brussels, an
account [p.5] in ffrs. Has been opened in your bank in
the amount of 150,000 RM for the Luxemburg branch of
the Deutsche Bank to finance commodity imports into
Luxemburg from occupied French area. In the event that
the French payment media required for this purpose
should originate from occupation costs' balances of the
Reich, rather than from your own balances in free
ffrs., I hereby subsequently approve the withdrawal to
the debit of Account A and request that the
countervalue in RM be transferred to the
Reichshauptkasse with a suitable explanation of the
case and that at the same time, occupation costs
Account A be debited accordingly. Should, in the
future, for such or similar purposes, disposal b made
over French payment media from the occupation costs
account of the Reich, I request that my approval be
obtained in advance.
-------
Memorandum of Hauptverwaltung der Reichskreditkassen
concerning visit to Paris on 31 January and 1 February
1941 … On the afternoon of January 31, a conference
took place with the head of the Reichskreditkasse in
Paris concerning pending matters. At first was
discussed the problem of camouflaging the money supply
of the Reichskreditkasse in France on the basis of the
letter received from the Reichskreditkasse, Nancy, of
20 December 1940 (ref.Tgb.Nr.269/41).
-------
From Der Reichsminister der Finanzen to
Reichskreditkasse in Brussels dated Berlin 10 December
1940, marked “confidential".
“Subject to approval within the scope of the foreign
exchange control regulations by the Reichsminister for
Economic Affairs, I have declared my willingness to
make available to the Reichsminister of Transportation
an amount in francs to the equivalent of a total of 5
million RM from payments made by the French Government
for occupation costs (Account — Occupation Costs,
France A) for the purchase of DOSAC bonds and ISG
shares. The Reichsminister for Transportation will
charge the German Gold Discount Bank with the task of
carrying out the purchase and will obtain the RM
countervalue so far as he may need it — at first to an
amount of 500,000 RM — from the Reichshauptkasse.
[Page 336]
Pink slip of the Bank of France dated 11 September 1940
showing that the Tresor Public Francais paid 200
million RM for occupation costs into account N-8 of the
Reichskreditkasse.
Note: This volume contains several other similar pink
slips for various amounts paid into the occupation
costs account.
-------
From the German Armistice delegation for Economic
Affairs, Wiesbaden, 8 August 1940, to the Chairman of
the French Delegation of the same commission, General
Huntziger [p.8]
*** In view of the impossibility of computing the costs
exactly, it will be necessary, until further notice, to
make daily installment payments of at least 20 million
RM. These installments can be made in ffrs., RKK notes,
or other payment media to be agreed upon. The
conversion rate for the ffr., reserving the right to a
subsequent revision is to be made on the basis of 1:20.
This arrangement is effective for the period beginning
25 June 1940, and payments are to made in advance for
10-day periods The amounts accumulated this year are
due immediately. The cost of providing quarters for
German troops on French soil is not included in this
arrangement. The persons supplying such quarters will
be compensated by the French Government outside of the
arrangement for installment payments.
The End
BAND I.
-------
[p.9]
BAND II (II/38)
Banque de France
Office des Changes
(Besatzungskoste Frankr.)
From Reichsminister of Finance, Berlin, 14 September
1942, to Foreign Office, Berlin.
Under the definition “Occupation Costs” come also
expenditures for equipment and armaments. In this
connection we maintain the standpoint vis a vis France
that no differentiation must be made between costs for
the operating army and those of the remaining
occupation troops.
[Page 339]
In consequence, the French Government must realize that
payment for the small arms obtained for the German Navy
in Spain with occupation costs francs should be made
through the French-Spanish clearing. Any concession in
the present case would constitute a dangerous prejudice
for the interpretation of the concept of “occupation
costs.” Moreover, I must demand that in transferring
the occupation costs francs in the French-German
clearing that the countervalue be transferred in
Germany, not to the German-Spanish clearing, but to the
Reichshauptkasse and credited to the Spanish Civil War
Debt. (Reference to the payment for foodstuffs
purchased in Spain for occupation troops in France --
letter of the Foreign Office of 4 July 1940, WII 4338
III/ff) [P.10]
[Page 340]
The following list was compiled by the
Reichskreditkasse.
Transfers to France during June 1942 of amounts
in excess of RM 50,000
Reichs- Amount By order of
kreditkasse
Bordeaux 100 000 Rowak-Handelsgesellschaft mbH,
Berlin,
Paris 50 000 * Reichsmin. F. Volksaufkl. U. Prop.,
Berlin,
Paris 500 000 Roges Rohstoff-Handelsgesellschaft
mbH., Berlin,
Paris 100 000 Reichsmin. F. Volksaufkl. U. Prop.,
Berlin,
Paris 252 711 Schweizerische Gesandtschaft. Abt
Schutzmachtangelegenheiten, Berlin,
Paris 1 030 000 Delbrueck Schickler & Co., Berlin,
w/Auswartiges Amt
Paris 278 Kageler & Rolfs, Bremen,
918.34
Paris 100 000 Voemel & Co. K.G., Dortmund
Paris 80 000 Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse Landkreis
Saarbruecken,
Paris 91 493.50 Der Gerneralinspektor f.d.dt.
Strassenwesen Org.Todt, Zentrale,
Paris 210 000 Reichsstock f. Arbeitseinsatz-
Hauptkasse-Berlin,
Paris 400 000 Der Chef der Sicherheitspolizei und
des SD., Berlin,
Paris 1 030 000 Delbrueck Schickler & Co., Berlin,
w/Auswartiges Amt
Paris 50 000 *Der Generalbauinspektor f.d.
Reichshauptstedt, Berlin --
Charlottenburg,
Paris 1 030 000 Delbrueck Schickler & Co., Berlin,
w/Auswartiges Amt
Paris 150 000 Reichsstock f. Arbeitseinsatz-
Hauptkasse-Berlin,
Paris 90 000 desgl.
Paris 60 000 Wehrkreisverwaltung IV, i.V.Dr.
Selladitz Kriegsverwaltungsrat,
Dresden, Koenigspl. 3,
Paris 500 000 Bank der Deutschen Luftfahrt A.G.,
Berlin-Schoeneberg,
500 000 Reichsmin. f. Volksaufkl. U. Prop.,
Berlin,
Paris 300 000 Deutsche Auslands-Rundfunk-
Gesellschaft Interradio
Aktiengesellschaft, Berlin
Paris 150 000 Sponholz & Co. Bank-Kommanditges,
Berlin w/Direktor Wellisch, Paris,
Vertreter d. Kameradschaft d.
Deutschen Kuenstler,
RM 6 953 122.84
RM 7 053 122.84 [P.11]
-------
Transfers to France during July 1942 of amounts
in excess of RM 50,000
Reichs- Amount By order of
kreditkasse
Bordeaux 200 000 Rowak-Handelsgesellschaft mbH,
Berlin,
Paris 100 000 Ernst Heinkel Flugseugwerke,
Seestadt, Rostock,
Paris 290 000 Reichsstock f. Arbeitseinsatz-
Hauptkasse, Berlin,
Paris 100 000 Die Deutsche Arbeitsfront N.S. -
Gemeinschaft Kraft durch Freude,
Berlin,
Paris 600 000 Der Chef der Sicherheitspolizei und
des SD., Berlin,
Paris 75 000 Deutsche Reichsbank-Hauptkasse -,
Berlin,
Paris 282 Schweizerische Gesandtschaft Abt.
692.55 Schutzmachtangelegenheiten, Berlin,
Paris 500 000 Roges Rohstoff-Handelsgesellschaft
mbH., Berlin,
Paris 210 000 Reichsstock f. Arbeitseinsatz-
Hauptkasse, Berlin,
Paris 53 975 Deutsche Reichsbank-Hauptkasse -,
Berlin,
Paris 85 000 Praesidialkanzlei,
Paris 80 000 Volksbund Beutsche
Kriegsgraeberfuersorge e.V., Berlin-
Grunewald,
Paris 143 500 Reichsprop.Min.
Paris 277 638.86 Kageler & Rolfs, Bremen,
Paris 150 000 Sager & Woerner, Muenchen,
Paris 60 001.60 Reichsprop.Min.
Paris 290 000 Reichsstock f. Arbeitseinsatz-
Hauptkasse-Berlin,
Paris 56 264.40 Der Chef der Sicherheitspolizei und
des SD., Berlin,
Paris 130 000 Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse,
Landkreis Saarbruecken.
*RM 3 684 072.41 [P.12]
[Page 342]
Transfers to France during August 1942 of amounts
in excess of RM 50,000
Reichskred Amount By order of
itkasse
Bordeaux 100 000 Rowak-Handelsgesellschaft mbH,
Berlin,
Bordeaux 200 000 desgl.
Paris 60 942.15 Der Chef der Sicherheitspolizei und
des SD., Berlin,
Paris 500 000 Der Reichsfuehrer SS u.Chef
d.Deutschen Polizei SS-Wirtschafts-
Verwaltunghauptampt Waffen-SS-Kasse-,
Berlin,
Paris 364 650 Schweizerische Gesandtschaft Abt.
Schutzmachtangelegenheiten, Berlin,
Paris 340 743.05 desgl.
Paris 120 000 Reichsmin. F. Volksaufkl. U. Prop.,
Berlin,
Paris 100 000 Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse,
Landkreis Saarbruecken.
Paris 210 000 Reichsstock f. Arbeitseinsatz-
Hauptkasse-Berlin,
Paris 50 000 *Reichspost-Fernseh-Gesellschaft mbH,
Berlin
Paris 175 000 Automobil-Verkehrs-Anstalt Wien,
Paris 50 000 *Schickofsky & Co., Voelklingen,
Paris 420 065.33 Kageler & Rolfs, Bremen,
Paris 500 000 Roges Rohstoff-Handelsgesellschaft
mbH., Berlin,
Paris 50 000 *Dresdner Bank, Berlin,
Paris 500 000 Reichsmin. f. Volksaufkl. U. Prop.,
Paris 67 212.16 Gutenhoffnungshuette Oberhausen,
Paris 50 000 *Reichsbankdirektorium
Paris 50 000 *desgl.
Paris 100 000 Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse,
Landkreis Saarbruecken.
50 000 Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse,
Landkreis Saarbruecken.
*RM 4 058 612.69
=============
3 808 612.69
[*These items were scratched out in pencil in the original
German text.] [P.13]
-------
[Page 343]
From the Military Commander in France (Pay Master) dated
Paris 1 September 1942 to the Reichskreditkasse, Paris.
From statements by the main administration of the
Reichskreditkassen, and from various conversations, it could
be learned that the RKK Giro transfer from France to Germany
and vice versa up to now approximately balanced. Before the
control and administration of occupation costs was put into
effect, various agencies such as the OT and the SS received
their funds through the Reichsbank Giro system. Within the
scope of the new arrangement for supplying funds, these
agencies now receive directly from occupation costs the
funds required by them and approved here.
-------
Memorandum for the files indicating that the following
letter was filed under II 40 a:
"Copy of a communication of the Foreign Office, Berlin,
showing that the Supreme Army Command did, or was supposed
to, make available to the Roumanian National Bank 25 million
ffrs.”
-------
Telegram from Reichskreditkasse, Berlin, to Banking
Commissioner in Paris for Reichskreditkasse in that city,
dated 17 July 1942.
On 6 July Reichskreditkasse spent without our instruction 20
million and on 7 July 15 million RM to the debit of Account
A I for Roges, on 10 July, 35 million RM were spent in
accordance with our telegram of 9 July.
-------
Military Commander in France (Pay Master) dated Paris 7
January 1942 to Reichskreditkasse, Berlin.
*** In comparing the reports received concerning changes, it
may be assumed that the segregation is made, not according
to the withdrawals by the separate army groups, but in
accordance with other viewpoints. Please explain.
-------
Reichsministry for Economic Affairs dated Berlin 27 May 1942
to Reichskreditkasse, Berlin, (Reichsbank Director Wilz)
concerning the placing of French francs at the disposal of
the Reichministry for Propaganda:
[Page 344]
With reference to our telephone conversation of today, I
request, as agreed, that you hold available an amount of
500,000 RM for the Reich [P.14] ministry of Propaganda in
Account No. 1006 payable in Paris. This amount has been set
aside for the acquisition of radio equipment which should be
purchased in France on the basis of instructions by the
Fuehrer.
In addition, I would be grateful if you would advise me by
letter or telephone no later than 15 June 1942, if a further
installment of 500,000 RM in ffrs. could be made available
in Account 1006 for the Reichsminister for Propaganda on or
after 20 June 1942.
-------
Supreme Army Command, Berlin, 22 May 1942 to Chief Pay
Master of the German Armies in Bucharest. The Supreme
Command of the Army is making available as an advance to the
Special Deputy for Economic Problems, at his request, 25
million ffrs. From French occupation funds for the purpose
of financing German Army expenditures in Roumania.
-------
Reichskreditkasse, Paris, dated 4 April 1942 to
Reichskreditkasse, Berlin. The Military Commander in France
has requested from us by telephone the following information
which he requires urgently in connection with forthcoming
measures regarding the limitation of expenditures from
occupation costs funds:
1. What payments were made in the months January to March,
1942 on the instructions of the Reichsministry of Finance or
the Reichshauptkasse to the debit of special Account A I.
The payee and the utilization purpose should likewise be
stated.
-------
From the Reichskreditkasse to the Supreme Army Command in
Berlin dated 18 March 1942 notifying the latter that the
French Treasury made a payment on 11 March 1942 of 150
million RM for occupation costs covering the period 11 to 20
March. [P.14A]
[Page 345]
The following list contains the names of participants in a
conference with the Military Commander in France on 23 April
1942:
Direktor bei der Reichsbank Wilz
Direktor bei der Reichsbank Dr. Schulte
Reichsbankoberinspektor Strehlau
Kriegsverwaltungsrat Dr. Koebe } Mil. Bef.i.Fr.,
Kriegsverwaltungsrat Nusche } Verw.Stab WI VIII
Oberkriegsverwaltungsrat Schwarzer, dto., Verw.Stab Wi V
Oberkriegsverwaltungsrat Druecke, dto., Verw.Stab Wi IX
Intendanturrat Dr. Hollwich, Intendant beim
Mil.Bef.i.Fr., Paris, AV.Kleber
Direktor bei der Reichsbank Hartlieb,
Waffenstillstandsdelegation fuer
Wirtschaft, Paris, Av.d'Iena 16 u.
Reichsbankoberinspektor Dr. Roesch
Direktor bei der Reichsbank Nuerdel, Reichskreditkasse
Paris, 43, Blvd. Des Capucines
Direktor bei der Reichsbank Dr. Boettsher beim
Deutschen Kommissar bei der Bank
von Frankreich, Paris. [P.15]
-------
Memorandum for the files, dated Paris 1 June 1944,
concerning a conference with regard to the position of
"Occupation Costs Account B.” According to the memorandum,
the Chief Pay Master’s office of the German Army Command in
France was concerned over the possibility that by June of
that year available funds to cover the Army’s requirements
would be inadequate. The requirements for June were given as
follows:
In Millions RM
Wehrmacht 85
1
Subsequent Claims 30
Exchange of RKK Notes 35
Eichel 5
Roges 10
Reichsland 3
-------
From Reichskreditkasse, Berlin, 1 June 1944 to its own
bookkeeping section instructing it to transfer, in
accordance with an instruction by the Reichminister of
Finance, dated 12 May 1944 RM 15,000,000 from “Occupation
Costs Account France A” to special account “Occupation Costs
France A I", which had been
[Page 346]
set up for purposes of the Reichsminister for Economic
Affairs. A copy of this latter was sent to the
Reichskreditkasse, Paris.
-------
A statement showing the position of “Occupation Costs
Account B” in April 1944 shows withdrawals totalling 827
million RM. Under this heading are the following items:
Eichel (Four-Year Plan) 10 million RM
Pimitex 20 million RM
Warrick insurance 14 million RM
Reich Maritime Commissioner 2 million RM [P.18]
-------
German Armistice Commission for Economic Affairs, dated
Paris 4 May 1944, to Foreign Office in Berlin. The German
"Occupation Costs” balance at the Bank of France amounted on
31 December 1943 to 679 million RM. On 31 March 1944 it was
reduced by approximately 95 million RM to 584 million RM.
The share of the Wehrmacht (so-called Account B) was 510
million RM *** With regard to this item of 510 million RM,
this communication contains a footnote reading as follows:
“The amounts in other accounts (Reichsministry of
Finance, Reichsministry for Economic Affairs, Foreign
Office, Reichsministry for Transportation) aggregating
approximately 75 million RM are not included in the
survey which follows.”
In conclusion, this communication sates that the
developments with regard to the German balance in
"Occupation Costs Account B” have been such that at the
present rate of expenditures, it will be exhausted on the
books after approximately 10 months and so far as the funds
are concerned, even earlier. In these circumstances, there
can be no mention of an actual reserve which should be
available, especially with a view to possible urgent
supplementary demands in the event of fighting on French
soil. The considerable reserves which had been provided for
this purpose previously were, as far as known, greatly used
up through “S-Kaeufe” (black-market purchases). In
consequence, care must now be taken even more than before,
that only the requirements of the Wehrmacht are met and that
the use of occupation costs funds for purposes not related
to the Wehrmacht [Wehrmachtfremde] should be restricted as
much as possible, especially in view of negotiations with
the French Government
[Page 347]
with a view to a further increase in occupation costs at the
present moment.
Note. The underscoring of the last part of the word
"Wehmachtfremde” is given as it appeared in the original
text.
-------
Memorandum of the German Armistice Commission for Economic
Affairs, dated Paris 15 April 1944, in which the
advisability of calling in notes of large denominations is
examined, contains the following statement: [P. 19]
“Practically all orders, even in big industry, are paid
today in cash, with the result that serious stoppages
in payments unavoidable in an operation involving the
exchange of such large quantities of notes could not
remain without unfavorable effects on the armaments
orders.”
-------
Reichskreditkasse, Berlin, 3 March 1944, to the Military
Commander in France explaining the use of “Account 1006” as
follows:
1. The Reichskreditkasse in France makes transfers through
"Account 1006” to the Reich. These include transfers by
German firms engaged in business in France, presumably in
the interest of the German Army, under a general license; by
military agencies without a license; and by other agencies
which require a specific license for each transaction.
2. French payment media are never transferred through this
account for purposes of German agencies in the Reich.
3. Transfers from the Reich to France are made through
"Account 1006” with the approval of the Reichsministry for
Economic Affairs or a Devisenstelle for the Swiss Legation
in Berlin in connection with its work of protecting German
interests in enemy countries; for the personnel of the
German Foreign Office in Paris; and for other purposes.
The communication states that under the latter heading there
might be also payments of a “noneconomic nature” and that
information on this point could be obtained from the
Reichsministry for Economic Affairs. In January, 1944, the
following large transfers were made under this heading:
[Page 348]
Amount Ordered by In favor of
RM Gewerkschaft Gewekschaft Saarsegen,
105,000 Saarsegen Paris
RM Eugen Brueschwiler Rudolf Holzapfel, Paris
110,000 Muenchen
RM Vereinigte Dt. Beauftr. F. Leichtmet.
300,000 Aluminumwerke A.G. In d. Bes. Westgeb., Paris
Berlin
RM Osram GmbH, Berlin Alfred Dziurowitz, Paris
750,000
RM Delbrueck Schickler Prof. Dr. Hermann Voss,
200,000 & Co. Berlin Paris
RM Kanzlei d'Fuehrers Generalbevollm.f. techn.
100,000 d.NSDAP Berlin Nachr. Mittle Dienstst.
Frenkreich Herrn Major
Wutzler, Paris
RM Deutsche Otto Wolff Koeln, Paris
150,000 Gobdiskontbk,
Berlin
[P.20]
The foregoing compilation was made at the request of the
Military Commander in France as indicated by his letter to
the Reichskreditkasse in Paris dated 27 January 1944. This
letter contains the following:
“In particular, it is requested that information be
supplied as to whether, and if so to what extent, cash
in French currency was withdrawn from this account and
brought to the Reich for purposes of German agencies.
Are payments made to the debit of Account No. 1006
which are also of a noneconomic nature?”
From the German Armistice Delegation for Economic Affairs,
dated 19 January 1944, to the Foreign Office. This letter
shows that since the 25 June 1940 and until 31 December
1943, the French Government made the following payments for
"Occupation Costs':
[Page 349]
1940 RM 4,000,000,000.00
1941 6,075,000,000.00
1942 5,475,000,000.00
1943 9,698,300,000.00
----------------------------------
Total 25,248,300,000.00
Expenditures during this period RM 24,569,658,770.32
Available balance on 31 December 1943 RM 678,641,229.68
Of this amount, 585 million RM are available for
general “Occupation Costs” purposes, whereas
approximately 41 million RM are available to the
Reichsministry of Finance; approximately 27 million RM
to the Reichsministry for Economic Affairs;
approximately 2.5 million RM to the Reichsministry for
Transportation.
The expenditures were distributed as follows:
1. Through agencies of the Wehrmacht
in a broad sense [im weiteren Sinne]
RM 20,381,143,547.85
2. Through redemption of RKK notes
1940 RM 635,985,580.00
1941 RM 203,869,480.00
1942 RM 448,790,000.00
1943 RM 1,193,081,692.50
----------------------------------
RM 2,481,726,752.50
3. For special purposes of the
Reichsministry for
Econom. Affairs RM 1,518,139,424.49
Foreign Office RM 27,000,000.00
Reichsministry for
Transportation RM 2,493,616.95
Reich Agency for
Animals (1941) RM 19,000,000.00
Supplying ffrs.
For Alsace-Lor.
`41 RM 66,000,000.00
Redeemed requi-
sition certifi-
cates RM 4,686,846.00
Total
RM 1,706,788,469.97
24,569,658,770.32
[P.21]
[Page 350]
Report of the Reichskreditkasse, Berlin, 30 October 1943
relating to conferences in France with regard to the
repayment of French currency advanced for Wehrmacht
purposes. The French payment media required for exchange
transactions made by the Reichskreditkassen in France for
the Wehrmacht and for similar exchange transactions of the
German Reichsbank are taken by us at first from funds made
available through occupation costs payments *** In order to
balance our franc account, it is necessary to deduct
subsequently from “Occupation Costs Account B” the amounts
thus withdrawn. *** Since June, no payments were received
for this purpose as allegedly no funds could be made
available from “Occupation Costs Account B". In consequence,
the deficit from such transactions amounted by the end of
September to 188 million RM.
In addition, the Army Pay Master, in accordance with a note
of the Armistice Delegation, has to repay us from occupation
costs funds a further amount of 50,790,600 RM which we
advanced in ffrs. In order to expedite the transfer of
savings from wages of French migratory labor until the
method of transfer by checks went into effect. After the
conversations, this amount has, in the meantime, been
repaid. The Army Pay Master furnished figures to show that
on 30 September 1943 the balance in his favor in “Occupation
Costs Account B” was only 114 million RM. Of this amount,
110 million RM were earmarked for purchases of wheat from
the 1942 harvest. On the basis of existing arrangements, it
was assumed that this amount would be paid through the
clearing account. However, it was learned that only
beginning with the wheat shipments of the 1943 crop, payment
would be made for this purpose through the clearing,
therefore the amounts accumulated until the end of the old
crop must still be paid from occupation costs. In
consequence, the balance in “Account B” amounts to only 4
million RM, leaving the Wehrmacht without reserves and
making it completely dependent on current payments which can
cover the Wehrmacht’s direct requirements only through an
arbitrary reduction, at this time, of approximately 10
percent. [P.22]
-------
From German Armistice Commission for Economic Affairs
(Reichsbank Director Hartlieb) Salzburg, 11 October 1944 to
Reichsbank Director Wilz of the Reichskreditkasse in Berlin
containing a statement showing receipts and expenditures in
the
[Page 351]
occupation accounts. The pertinent parts of this statement
are given below:
I.
In accordance with Article 18 of the Armistice Agreement,
the French Government has made occupations Costs payments
for the period from 25 June 1940 to 5 September 1944*
aggregating
RM 31,043,300,000 \/
In addition, the French Government paid on the basis of an
exchange of notes of 24/25 November 1943 (transfer of
occupation costs installments to Germany formerly paid in
favor of Italy),
RM 550,000,000 \/
Thus the total amount credited to the “Occupation Costs
Account” of the Reichskreditkasse in Paris with the Bank of
France was
RM 31,593,300,00 \/
These amounts comprised the following installment payments
for occupation costs:
From 25 June 1940 to 10 May 1941
per day, 20 million RM 6,400,000,000
From 11 May 1941 to 10
November 1942 per day, 15
million RM 8,235,000,000
From 11 November 1942 to 5
Sept., 1944 per day, 25
million RM 16,408,300,000**
-----------------
RM 31,043,300,000
Advance payments originally
intended for Italy from 1
September 1943 to 31 July
1944 per month, 50 million RM 550,000,000
RM. (Payment for August 1944
was no longer made.)
------------------
RM 31,593,300,000
==================
Daily average for the period
from 25 June 1944 to 5 September 1944
RM 20.6 million [P.23]
* The last payment, amounting to 400 million RM was made 12
August 1944 as part payment for the installment of 815
million RM due on 21 August 1944. Through this partial
payment, the installments up to and including 5 September
1944 were covered.
** The amounts to be paid totalled RM 16,625,000,000.
However, they were reduced through the German contribution
for the sup-
[Page 352]
ply of quarters in Southern France (10 million RM per month
from 11 November 1942 to 31 August 1944) by a total of 216.7
million RM.
II.
The French payments (installment payments and advances
payable to Italy and transferred to Germany) and the German
expenditures, compiled by calendar year and by daily average
were as follows:
In million RM
Year French German Payments Expenditur
payments expenditur per day es
es per day
1940 4,000 1,569 21.1 8.3
1941 6,075 5,205 16.7 14.5
1942 5,475 8,271 15.0 22.7
1943 9,698.3 9,524 26.6 26.1
1944 (up 6,345 6,748 25.5 27.7
to 31 Aug.)
1940-1944 31,593.3 31,317 20.6 20.5
The unused German balance [Computed on the basis of actual
receipts and disposals by the Reichskreditkasse] showed the
following developments:
Date Millions RM
31 December 1940 2,431
31 December 1941 3,301
31 December 1942 505 x
31 December 1943 679 x
30 June 1944 710 x
31 August 1944 276 x
Note. In the above tables the figures on German annual and
daily expenditures were written in pencil, also the checks
and x's. [P.24]
III.
According to the foregoing compilation, the total German
expenditure for the period 25 June 1940 to 31 August 1944
amounted to 31,317,778,252.81 RM distributed as follows:
(in RM)
Wehrmacht 27,032,279,120.27
Redemption of RKK notes
1940 635,985,580.00
1941 203,869,480.00
1942 448,790,000.00
1943 1,193,081,692.50
1944 23,639,556.00
------------- ----------------
2,505,356,308.50
Redemption of Requisition 69,468,582.53
Certificates
A-I Reichsminister for Economic Affairs 1,554,063,585.94
A-II Foreign Office 50,000,000.00
A-IV Reichsministry for Transportation 2,493,616.95
A-V Reich Agency for Animals 19,000,000.00
A-IX Sale of francs to the Reich (imports 66,000,000.00
to Alsace-Lorraine of commodities
purchased in France)
A- Support payments to dependents of 1,500,000.00
III French labor in Germany
A-VI Exchange of RM by the Bank of France 901,846.00
on behalf of persons in Alsace-
Lorraine
A- Financing of the purchase of raw 1,285,000.00
VII sugar in Northern France
A-X Reichsministry for Education 1,000,000.00
Miscellaneous Payments (Account B) 14,430,192.62
--------------
--------------
Total RM 31,317,778,252.81
=================
[P.25]
-------
From Reichskreditkasse Berlin 26 August 1943 to
Reichsminister of Finance, Berlin (Attention:
Oberregierungsrat Dr. Bussman): From the day they were
established until 31 July of this year, the
Reichskreditkassen in France have purchased — in part
through the intermediary of the Devisenschutz Kommando in
Paris — and placed at the disposal of the Reichsbank the
following:
Gold Coins and Bars Valued at RM 4,774,684.13
Foreign Notes and Coins Valued at 903,284.36
----------------
RM 5,667,968.49
================
The ffrs. Required for these transactions were advanced by
us from occupation costs owing to the lack of our own funds
for such purposes. These amounts are now lacking as cover
for the Giro balances maintained by the finance officers of
the Wehrmacht. As a result, current money transactions and
the making available of required French payment media are
made more difficult. We consider it therefore necessary to
make a final settlement in the occupation costs account and
request that the countervalue be debited to “Occupation
Costs Account A” and made available to
[Page 354]
us crediting the RM amount in the account “Reichskredit”
maintained at our bank.
-------
From Reichskreditkasse, Berlin, July 1943 (day of the month
omitted) to Reichsminister of Finance. At the beginning of
July of this year, the Devisenschutzkommando in Paris
delivered to us gold valued at RM 4,117,582.10 for
transmission to the Reichsbank. The gold accepted by our
Administration in France since April 1941 for which payment
was made in French francs has a total value of 4,517,728.34
RM.
-------
Reichskreditkasse, Paris, to Armistice Delegation, Paris,
dated 2 July 1943: Supplementing our letter of the 12 March
1943 and of the 7 April 1943, we submit below, in accordance
with your request, a statement showing the cash withdrawals
from our bank in the months of April to June 1943. [P.26]
2 July 1943
In Million RM
April May June
Organization Todt 12.4 12.05 12.7
NSKK Todt 3.2 3.25 3.1
SS 8.8 12.4 7.-
Hermann Brandel 30.- 65.- 25.-
Roges 3.85 -.7 2.95
RM fuer Bewaffnung u. 3.6 2.25 --
Munition
Grossmarkentenderei Paris 4.3 5.35 9.7
Interkommerziale 3.95 5.3 2.5
Devisenschutzkommando -.75 -.15 --
Frankreich
Deutsche Botschaft -.25 1.4 -.5
Sonderstab HWK -.45 -.05 2.1
Marine 6.- 4.85 5.45
General der Luftwaffe 1.6 1.55 1.3
Heereshauptkasse 3.95 3.75 2.3
Aero-Bank 3.8 5.95 13.2
Haupverkehrsdirektion 1.15 -.8 1.-
Luftgaukommando 2.7 3.1 3.95
Westfrankreich
Sonstige (Miscellaneous) 62.73 55.57 90.93
Total Cash Expenditures in 153.48 183.47 183.68
Millions RM
[Page 355]
Note. According to Wilz, Hermann Brandel was engaged in
purchases of paintings and other objects of art.
Grossmarketenderei, Paris, is the equivalent of our PX
supply. Interkommerziale was presumably an agency of the
Berliner Handelsgesellschaft. Aero-Bank was Goering’s bank
in France.
-------
From Reichsminister for Economic Affairs, Berlin, 19 May
1943 to Devisenstelle, Berlin, concerning the making
available of funds for the establishment of recreation homes
for soldiers [Soldatenheime] in France by the Nazi Party: I
request that, effective immediately, the permit issued to
the German Labor Front NS-Gemeinschaft “Kraft durch Fruede”
by virtue of my E E of 20 August 1941 — V Dev. 8B/24580/45
for the required French funds from occupation costs for the
establishment and maintenance of soldiers' recreation homes
in France be withdrawn immediately. Should the agencies of
the Nazi Party or its affiliates request in the future
further funds in France for the purposes stated above, the
respective requests for transfers should be submitted to me
each time through the Reich Treasurer of the Nazi Party in
Munich. [P.27]
-------
Copies of a draft of a letter to the Foreign Office (not
dated) concerning occupation costs in France. This letter
contains a statement showing expenditures and receipts up to
the end of 1943. According to this statement, the estimated
balance on 31 December 1943 was 108 million RM.
The letter then goes on to say that the Armistice Delegation
would, therefore, welcome all measures intended to effect
the greatest economy in the administration of occupation
costs. The Chief Pay Master, [Der Leitende Intendant] of the
Military Command in France, is even now endeavoring to
channel in the future certain payments to the Wehrmacht,
which were made heretofore from occupation costs funds,
through the German-French clearing account, so far as such
transfers actually represent exports from France to Germany
and for which corresponding documents are submitted to the
competent French agency (Office des Changes). This concerns
primarily exports of agricultural products to Germany. The
Delegation has no objection to such an arrangement. However,
it is impossible to obtain the consent of the French
government to a supplementary global payment through the
clearing account, unless the necessary supporting documents
are submitted. It is difficult to obtain the approval of the
French Government for such an arrangement, es-
[Page 356]
pecially in view of the fact that the French Government had
agreed on March 1943 to pay 510 million RM in occupation
costs for the period 11/11 to 31 December 1942. Moreover,
the balance in favor of France in the German-French clearing
had already increased to approximately 3.5 million RM. In
this connection, it is pointed out that the first billion of
indebtedness was reached in approximately 15 months, the
second billion after 7 months, and the third billion after 5
months.
With respect to purchases on the Black Market, attention is
called to the decree of the Reich Marshall of the Greater
German Reich — deputy for the Four-Year Plan — of
2.4.1943. As already pointed out, 150 million RM were made
available from occupation costs until the end of June 1943
as the remaining payment for Black Market purchases. (S-
Kaeufe). The document concludes with the statement that,
unless something unforeseen happens, it may be assumed that
receipts and expenditures of occupation costs would balance
by the end of 1943. However, steps should be taken to ensure
that the remaining occupation costs balances are not
completely exhausted by the end of the year. [P.28] In order
to attain this, the following recommendations are made:
1. Greatest economy in the administration of occupation
costs.
2. To make payment so far as possible for legal exports from
France to Germany, which heretofore were paid from
occupation funds, through its clearing.
3. Occupation costs should not be made available for Black
Market purchases after 30 June 1943.
4. Effective restrictions on the illegal exports of RKK
monies from Germany to France.
-------
From Chief Pay Master [Intendant] of the Military Commander
in France, Paris, 24 April 1943, to Reichskreditkasse in
Paris to the effect that, on the initiative of the
Reichsminister of Finance and in order to simplify
procedure, “Subaccount BR” of occupation costs “Account B”
should be discontinued after 1 April 1943. Inasmuch as
entries in this account had already been made in April, the
dissolution is possible only from 1 May 1943. It is
therefore requested not to make any more entries in Account
BR after 30 April 1943.
-------
[Page 357]
From Supreme Army Command, dated H.Qu. OKH 14 April 1943,
to Chief Pay Master of the German Army in France. The
Reichskreditkasse in Paris has been instructed by the Chief
Army Pay Master to transfer its funds booked under “Sub-
account BR” to the occupation costs “Account B” and to
terminate “Account BR” effective 31 March 1943.
-------
From Reichskreditkasse, Paris, marked `Confidential', to
Chief Pay Master of the German Armies in France, dated 12
March 1943, supplying the following information:
Million RM
Total cash expenditures in February 1943 382.4
Organization Todt 30.5
National Socialist Motor 4.7
Corps Todt
SS 44.5
Hermann Brandel 122.7
Roges 23.3
Reich Ministry for 23.0
Armaments and Munition
Interkommerziale 7.0
Devisenschutzkommando 1.7
Sonderstab HWK 0.7
German Embassy 0.8
------
258.9 [P.29]
Navy 15.4
General of the Air Force 2.2
Air Force Gau.W. France 3.6
Army Transfer 4.0
Withdrawals for Tunis 25.0 50.2 309.1
--------------------
Remainder for payments to
other Government agencies 73.3
and for private purposes
(Private).
-------
Memorandum for the files marked `Confidential', dated Paris
5 February 1943, signed Muerdel, a director of the
Reichsbank: The German Armistice Delegation (Reichsbank
Director Hart-
[Page 357]
lieb) advises me by telephone that the French Minister of
Finance in a conversation with Minister Hemmen, head of the
German Armistice Delegation, today complained about the high
amounts of cash withdrawals by the Reichskreditkasse in
Paris from the Bank of France. Such large cash withdrawals
would make impossible all French efforts to stabilize the
currency as well as to place the finances of the French
State on sound basis. I have submitted the following data
showing the amounts paid out in cash during January 1943.
In all, our bank paid out that month in cash 440 million RM
distributed as follows:
In million RM
Organization Todt 27.0
SS 62.0
Hermann Brandel 35.0
"Roges” 135.0
Reichs Ministry for Armaments 10.5
and Munitions
Intercommerciale (This 15.5
account is fed by G.B.K.)
Devisenschutzkommando 3.0
Sonderstab H W K 3.0
German Embassy 1.0 292.0
--------------------
292.0 440.0
Navy 10.0
General of the Air Forces 7.2
Air Force Gau West France 2.3
Main Army Bank 5.0
Field Bank of the Military 2.5
Commander
Withdrawals for Tunis 60.0 87.0 379.0
--------------------
Remainder for all other
payments to Government
agencies and to private firms 61.0
and individuals (Private). ====
From these figures it was inferred, and Dr. Hollwish, the
Chief Paymaster agreed, that approximately 300 million RM
were required for purchases in the Black Markets and that
only the balance of 140 million RM was needed for normal
Army requirements. [P.30]
[Page 359]
Occupation Costs France A
Receipts Withdrawals
Date Transfers Surrendered
To subaccounts RKK Notes
1940 1,140,000,000.00 A I 250,000,000.00
A II 25,000,000.00
A III 1,500,000.00
A IV 5,000,000.00
1941 --- A I 45,000,000.00 635,989,580.00
A V 19,000,000.00
A VI 901,846.00
A VII 1,285,000.00
A VIII 5,000,000.00
A IX 65,000,000.00
1942 --- --- ---
1943 --- A I 15,000,000.00
A II 25,000,000.00
A VII 3,500,000.00
A X 1,000,000.00 ---
---------------------------------------------------------
1,140,000,000.00 463,186,846.00 635,985,580.00
463,186,846.00
----------------
1,099,173,426.00
[Note. In this space apprear a penciled notation
to the effect that the balance on hand
at the end of 1943 was 40,827,574]
Occupation Costs France A I
Receipts Reentries Withdrawals
(Payments
not made)
Date From Transfers Payments
1940 A 250,000,000.00 --- 70,343,285.31
1941 B 85,000,000.00 17,920,773.23 191,605,992.31
1942 A 45,000,000.00
1942 B
1,150,000,000.00 27,702,249.27 1,190,516,911.04
1943 A 15,000,000.00 2,897,095.05 114,193,353.38
---------------------------------------------
1,545,000,000.00 48,520,117.55 1,566,659,542.04
-------
Occupation Costs France A II Occupation Costs France
III
Receipts Withdrawals Receipts Withdrawals
Dat Transfers Payments Transfers Payments
e from A from A
1940 25,000,000.00 5,000,000.00 1,500,000.00 …
1941 … 12,000,000.00 … 1,500,000.00
1942 … 8,000,000.00 … …
1943 25,000,000.00 2,000,000.00 … …
------------------------------------------------------
50,000,000.00
27,000,000.00 1,500,000.00 1,500,000.00
[P.31]
-------
[Page 360]
Occupation Costs Occupation Costs
France A IV France A V
Receipts Withdrawals Receipts Withdrawals
Date Transfers Payments Transfers Payments
1940 5,000,000.00 … … …
1941 … 2,083,616.95 19,000,000.00 19,000,000.00
1942 … 230,000.00 … …
1943 … 180,000.00 … …
----------------------------------------------------
5,000,000.00 2,493,616.95 19,000,000.00 19,000,000.00
-------
Occupation Costs France B
Receipts
a. Occupation Costs Repayments Army
Payments by the French Ordinance and
Government. Supply
b. Transfers from A VIII.
Date
1940 a. 2,860,000,000.00 …
1941 a. 6,075,000,000.00
b. 5,000,000.00 5,652,431.44
1942 a. 5,475,000,000.00 61,980,840.44
1943 a. 9,698,300,000.00 …
b. 3,500,000.00 …
--------------------------------------------
24,116,800,000.00 67,633,271.88
-------
Withdrawals
RKK Notes
Surrendered by
Date Wehrmacht Transfers the Bank Other Balance
Withdrawals to A I of France Payments
1940 927,267,440.21 … … 1,392,185.25
1,931,340,374.54
1941 4,639,433,618.38 85,000,000.00 203,869,480.00 13,038,007.37
3,075,651,700.23
1942 6,668,099,821.89 1,150,000,000.00 448,790,000.00 … 345,742,718.78
1943 8,269,014,329.16* … 1,193,081,692.50 … 585,446,697.12
-------
Balances
Date Acct. A Acct. A I Acct. A II Acct. A IV Acct. B Totals
End of
1943 40,827.68 26,860,575.51
23,000,000 2,506,383.05 585,446,697.12
678,641,229.68
*Including RM 69,468,582.53 for redeemed requisition receipts.
[P.32]
-------
[Page 361]
Occupation Costs France A Occupation Costs France A I
Withdrawals (For Purposes of the ReichsMinister
for Economic Affairs.)
a. Transferred
to Sub-Accounts
Receipts b. Surrendered Balance From Receipts Withdrawals Balance
RKK Notes Transfers Payments
Date
1940 1,140,000,000 a. 281,500,000 858,500,000
A 250,000,000 70,343,285.31
179,656,714.00
1941 ----- a. 137,186,846 B 85,000,000
1941 ----- b. 635,985,580 85,327,574 A 45,000,000 173,685,219.08
135,971,495.61
1942 ----- ----- 85,327,574 B 1,150,000,000 1,162,814,661.77
123,156,833.84
1943 ----- a. 44,500,000 A 15,000,000 111,296,25 26,860,575.81
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,140,000,000 1,099,172,426 " 1,545,000,000 1,518,139,424.49 "
-------
Occupation Costs France A II
(For Purposes of the Foreign
Office)
Receipts Withdrawal Balance
Transfers Payments
from A
Date
1940 25,000,000 5,000,000 20,000,000
1941 … 12,000, 000 8,000,000
1942 … 8,000,000 …
1943 25,000,000 2,000,000 23,000,000
----------------------------------
50,000,000 27,000,000 “
-------
Occupation Costs France A IV
(For Purposes of the
ReichsMinister for
Transportation, Purchase of
Securities)
Receipts Withdrawals Balance
Transfers Payments
from A
Date
1940 5,000,000 … 5,000,000.00
1941 … 2,083,616.95 2,916,383.05
1942 … 230,000.00 2,686,383.05
1943 … 180,000.00 2,506,838.05
-----------------------------------
5,000,000 2,493,616.95 “
-------
In addition, the following payments were made
Account A Support for Dependents RM
III of Laborers Recruited 1,500,000
in France for Work in
Germany
Account A For Purposes of the 19,000,000
V Foreign Agency, Paris,
of the Reichstierstelle
(Reich Agency for
Animals)
Account A Exchange by the Bank of 901,846
VI France of Reichsbank
notes for Persons
Evacuated from Lorraine
Account A Financing the Purchase 1,285,000
VII of Raw Sugar in North France
[Page 362]
Account A Compensation for War 8,500,000
VIII Damage to German
Citizens and Racial-
Germans in France
Account A Sale of Ffrs. to the 66,000,000
IX Reich
Account A For Purposes of the 1,000,000
X ReichsMinistry of
Education
-----------
RM 98,186,846
[P.33]
-------
Occupation Costs France B
Receipts
Occupation costs from A VIII Repayments
Payments Transfers Wehrmacht
Ordnance
& Supply
Date
1940 2,860,000,000 … …
1941 6,075,000,000 5,000,000 5,652,431.44
1942 5,475,000,000 … 61,980,840.44
1943 9,698,300,000 3,500,000 …
--------------------------------------
24,108,300,000 8,500,000 67,633,271.88
Withdrawals
Wehrmacht Transfers RKK Notes Payments
Withdrawals to A I
Date
1940 927,267,440.21 … … 1,392,185.25
1941 4,639,433,618.38 85,000,000.00 203,869,480.00 13,038,007.37
1942 6,668,099,821,89 1,150,000,000.00 448,790,000.00 …
1943 8,199,545,746,63 69,468,582.53 1,193,081,692.50 …
----------------------------------------------------------------
20,434,346,627.11 1,304,468,582.53 1,845,741,172.50 14,430,192.62
-------
Occupation Costs Occupation Costs
France A VI France A VII
Receipts Withdrawals Receipts Withdrawals
Transfers Transfers
from “A” from “A”
Payments Payments
Date Date
---- ----
1940 … … 1940 … …
1941 901,846 901,846 1941 1,285,000 1,285,000
1942 … … 1942 … …
1943 … … 1943 … …
--------------------------------------------
901,846 901,846 1,285,000 1,285,000
-------
[Page 363]
Occupation Occupation costs
costs France France IX
A VIII
Receipts Withdrawals Receipts Withdrawals
Transfers Transfers Transfer Ffrs.
from “A” to “B” from “A” for Alsace-Lorraine
Date
----
1940 … … … …
1941 5,000,000 5,000,000 66,000,000 66,000,000
1942 … … … …
1943 3,500,000 3,500,000 … …
--------------------------------------------
8,500,000 8,500,000 66,000,000 66,000,000
-------
Occupation Occupation costs
costs France B R
France A X
Receipts Withdrawals Receipts Withdrawals
Transfers Payments Transfers Surrendered
Date
----
1940 … … … …
1941 … … … 7,154,161.68
1942 … … … 45,209,249.03
1943 1,000,000 1,000,000 69,468,582.53 69,468,582.53
--------------------------------------------------
1,000,000 1,000,000 69,468,582.53 69,468,582.53
[P.34]
Note. This volume contains also a table similar to the
foregoing showing the entries in these accounts for the
period December 1940 to December 1942.
-------
Letter from Reichskreditkasse, Brussels, 2 February 1943,
concerning circulation of RKK Notes on the English Channel
Islands. This letter refers to Reich Director Cassar as the
Bank Commissioner in charge of enemy banks, Paris.
From Treibacker Chemische Werke, Vienna, to
Warenhandelsgesellschaft in Berlin, dated 8 January 1943.
According to this letter, the Vienna firm was authorized by
the Devisenstelle in Vienna by virtue of a separate decree
of the Reichs Minister for Economic Affairs of 5 September
1942 (V Dev.27138/42) to purchase 11,800 shares of the
Societe Miniere & Industrialle Franco Bresillienne, Paris,
with nominal value of 1,180,000 ffrs. From the firm “Comira”
Compagnie des Minerals et Meteaux rares i.L. Coubevois
(Seine) through Compagnie Financiere d'Industrie et de
Commerce (Cofinco) — Monte Carlo. The firm in Vienna was
authorized to transfer up to 1,800,000 ffrs. To the last-
named firm through “Account No. 742” of the
Warenhandelgesellschaft, Berlin, maintained by the
Reichsbank in Berlin.
The letter then goes on to state: Since our representative
in Paris, Dr. G. Schmilinsky, of the firm Th. Goldschmidt
A.G., 65
[Page 364]
Avenue des Champs Elysees, Paris, has requested us to make
the above amount available at the Reichskreditkasse in
Paris, to enable him to make payment for the shares at the
auction sale immediately, we request that you take steps to
transfer this amount to the Reichskreditkasse in Paris in
favor of Dr. Schmilinsky as soon as you receive notice that
the amount was paid in at this end.
-------
Memorandum for the files concerning complaints by Dr.
Hollwich. The memorandum is dated Paris 10 December 1942 and
was signed by Muerdel, Director of the Reichsbank.
Dr. Hollwich was concerned over the large transfers by
Wehrmacht agencies to Germany. He said that was his
intention to prohibit such transfers by the Navy and Air
Force and to instruct them to make such payments to Germany,
as was being done by the Army, through official banking
agencies [P.35] domiciled in the Reich. In this manner,
occupation costs funds would be saved and corresponding
amounts in French francs would remain. When Muerdel pointed
out that the amounts in ffrs. Would remain in France also,
if the old procedure were followed, he agreed. However, he
pointed out that in that case, these amounts would enable
the Reichs Ministry for Economic Affairs and the
Devisenstellen to approve payments to France for purposes
not related to the occupation costs [besatzungskostenfremde
Zwecke]. He wished to prevent this at least to the extent
that the francs in question accrued from payments by
Wehrmacht agencies to the Reichskreditkasse. He was of the
opinion that a way must be found whereby amounts in ffrs.
From such transfers were again placed at his disposal, as he
desired under all circumstances that the Reichs Ministry for
Economic Affairs or other agencies should not have disposal
over such funds without his approval.
-----
Letter from the French Minister of Finance to the German
Military Commander in France dated 9 November 1942: I have
been informed that on 6 November the occupation authorities
withdrew from the account set up for the Reichskreditkasse
at the French Bank of Issue cash in the amount of
2,875,000,000 francs. This withdrawal — the largest up to
now — constitutes a link in a chain of similar transactions
the extent and frequency of which I must call to your
attention. The total amount in cash withdrawn by the
Military Administration, which fluctuated since
[Page 365]
September 1940 between 4 and 5 billion monthly, has risen
suddenly since May 1942 to 6,778,000,000 francs and in the
last months soared to 8 billion and even more. The steadily
increasing withdrawals in cash from occupation accounts do
not seem to be justified by any difficulty in transferring
the required amounts by other than cash payments *** The
wide distribution of the notes, as the result of such
withdrawals as well as of the difficulty of watching over
their utilization and of ensuring their return to the bank
and to the Treasury within a short period of time,
constitute a serious threat to the orderly operation of the
entire monetary system. This danger would become especially
great if — as is to be feared — the notes withdrawn from
the Bank as occupation costs were taken abroad. The Bank of
Issue has had occasion to obtain confirmation from the main
Administration of the Reichskreditkasse itself that certain
amounts in notes were channeled to Brussels and even to
Berlin. [P.36]
-------
From Reichskreditkasse, Paris, to Reichskreditkasse, Berlin,
19 November 1942: Attached we transmit a copy of a note by
the French Ministry of Finance to the Chief Military
Administration in France. Our attention was called to this
note through the fact that the Military Commander asked
orally for an explanation for whom and for what purposes the
large amounts in cash are necessary.
We explained that the constantly increasing monthly
withdrawals were conditioned by cash withdrawals by Roges
and a few other official agencies which were engaged in
purchases on the so-called Black Market.
In October our bank paid out 318 million RM distributed as
follows:
1. Roges, approximately, 150 million RM
2. Reichsfuehrer, SS, and Chief of the
German Police Special Account,
approximately, 30 million RM
3. Hermann Brandel, approximately, 20 million RM
(Org.Otto — See our report of 16.6.42)
4. ReichsMinister for Armaments, 13 million RM
Munitions (Special Account)
[Page 366]
For all other agencies of the Wehrmacht 105 million RM
authorities and private account owners
-------
Memorandum for the files dated 28 October 1942 showing that
correspondence relative to the transfer on the books of 100
million RM from “Occupation Costs Account B” to “Accounts A
P” for Roges was filed under II-40A.
-------
A similar memorandum for another transfer on the books of
100 million RM, on the behalf of Roges in the same file is
dated 9 October 1942.
-------
Memorandum for the files dated 9 September 1942 showing that
200 million RM were transferred for Roges from “Occupation
Costs Account B” to “Account A I". A record of this
transaction was filed under II-40 A/ [P.37]
-------
Memorandum for the files dated 25 August 1942 showing that
40 million RM were transferred for purchases by Roges from
"Occupation Costs Account B” to “Account A I". A record for
this transaction was also filed under II-40 A.
-------
Memorandum for the files dated 22 August 1942 showing that
60 million RM were transferred for purchases by Roges from
"Occupation Costs Account B” to “Account A I.”
-------
Memorandum for the files dated Berlin 17 October (no year
given) signed by Reichsbankoberinspector (signature
illegible): The Supreme Army Command (OKW) is agreed that
the ReichsMinister of Finance should dispose of an amount in
francs reserved for the OKW in “Account A” which at present
is as follows: 200 million RM less 1,500,000 RM set aside
for payments to dependents, leaving a balance of RM
198,500,000. In this connection, it is assumed that in the
event of unexpected need, the ReichsMinister of Finance will
again make available to the OKW any remaining amounts in
francs in “Account A.” [P.38]
-------
[Page 367]
Transfers from France in June 1942 in Excess of 50,000 RM
Reichs- Recipient By order of
kreditkasse
Amount RM
----------------------------------------------------------------
Bordeaux 55.103… Daqua, Danneberg Kriegsmarinedienststelle
& Quandt, Berlin-
Lichtenberg Bordeaux
Bordeaux 136.222.32 Zentralkasse Kriegsmarinedienststelle
Bayerische
Volksbank Bordeaux
e.G.m.b.H.,
Muenchen
Bordeaux 240.000… Deutsche Bank, Dienstelle
Koblenz, for Feldpost
Strassenbau, A.G. Nr. L 05 207
Bordeaux 71.513.20 Kreissparkasse Gebr. Keitel,
Heilbronn f. Cognac-
Gebr. Keitel Neckarsulm
Lille 191.741.01 Commerzbank, Deinstelle L
Berlin, f. 31859 LgPa.
Gottlieb Tesch Bruessel
GmbH., Berlin
Lille 120.589.88 Commerzbank, Deinstelle L
Berlin, f. 31859 LgPa.
Gottlieb Tesch Bruessel
GmbH., Berlin
Lille 70.000… Vereinsbank Marine-
Muelheim-Ruhr f. Standortkasse
Hermann Dohrmann, Lumbres
Muehlheim
Lille 90.000… Deutsche Bank, Arbeitsgemeinsch
Berlin aft Ri-Dri-Ma-Mue
Nancy 148.585.24 Beuchelt & Cie., Eisenbahnbetrieb
Abt. Beton u. s direktion,
Tiefbau, Berlin- Amtskasse, Nancy
Friedenau
Nantes 64.852.10 Deutsche Bank, Marine-
Hamburg, for Standortkasse
Andersen & Cie., Lorient
Hamburg
Nantes 200.00… Unger, Breslau Marine-
Standortkasse
Lorient
Nantes 59.109.33 Deutsche Bank,
Frankfurt/M.f.
Vesper E. Lorenz
Paris 150.000… E. Berger Tiefbau I. Berger
A.G., Berlin Tiefbau A.G.
Paris 59.814.82 Conrad Marine-
Gilderbrandt, Standortverw
Frankfurt/M.
[Page 368]
Reichs- Recipient By order of
kreditkasse
Amount RM
Paris 150.000… Carl Brandt, Carl Brandt,
Dueren Bruyere
Paris 117.538.39 Hauptzollamt Grossmarketenderei
Muenchen
Luftflottenkommando
Paris 130.000… I.C. Pflueger & I.C. Pflueger &
Co., Bremen Co., Paris
Paris 100.000… Voemel & Co. KG., Voemel & Co.
Dortmund KG., Dortmund
Paris 270.000… I.C. Pflueger & I.C. Pflueger &
Co., Bremen Co., Paris
[P. 39]
Paris 80.270.48 Goerlitzer Marine-
Eisenhandel u. Standortverw
Verzinkerei Paris
GmbH., Goerlitz
Paris 85.000… Jurid Vertriebs Jurid Vertriebs
GmbH., Coswig GmbH., Paris
Paris 1.000.000… Luftgaukommando Luftgaukommando
Westfrankreich Westfrankreich
Wisebaden
Paris 260.000 Siemens France Deutsches
AG, Paris Institut, Paris
Paris 96.276.43 Staatstheaterkasse,
Berlin Beutsches Institut, Paris
Paris 221.502.18 Deutsche Bank, Kurt Eichel,
Strassburg Paris
Paris 100.000… Carl Brandt, Carl Brandt,
Dueren Bruyeres
Paris 1.000.000… Luftgaukommando Luftgaukommando
Westfrankreich Westfrankreich
Wisebaden
Paris 200.000… Gebhard Gebhard
Hinteregger, Hinteregger,
Bregenz Paris
Paris 54.349.75 L. Spoerle, Marine
Frankfurt/Main Standortverw,
Paris
Paris 90.000… Amtskasse des Siemens France
Oberkommandos der AG, Paris
Wehrmacht, Berlin
Paris 53.000… Siemens France Siemens France
AG, Bremen AG, Paris
[Page 369]
Reichs- Recipient By order of
kreditkasse
Amount RM
Paris 50.450… Reichsbank Berlin- Reichskreditkass
Devisenabteilung e, Paris
Paris 57.500… Luxemburger Marine
Baumaterialien Standortverw
Paris
Reims 300.000… Dipl. Ing. Bauunternehmung
Hermann Moll, Bernh. Moll,
Reims Muenchen thru
Bankhaus Merckh
Fink & Co.,
Muenchin
Rennes 100.000… Bank der Dt. Philipp Epple
Arbeit, W.
Elberfeld, z.G.
Philipp Epple, W.
Elberfeld
Kloeckner & Co.,
Duisberg
Rennes 51.901.18 Bank der Dt. Marinestandortka
Arbeit, W. sse Brest
Elberfeld, z.G.
Philipp Epple, W.
Elberfeld
Kloeckner & Co.,
Duisberg
Rennes 134.566.35 Deutsche Bank, L 31713, Lgpa.
Koblenz z.G. Paris
Strassenbau AG.,
Berlin-Friedenau
Braunschweigische
Staatsbank,
Blankenburg, z.G.
Kurt Eisermann,
Thale Dresdner
Bank, Berlin, for
Polensky &
Zoellner, M.A.N.
Maschinenfabrik,
Nurnberg
Rennes 51.961.39 Deutsche Bank, Marinestandortkasse
Koblenz z.G. Brest
Strassenbau AG.,
Berlin-Friedenau
Braunschweigische
Staatsbank,
Blankenburg, z.G.
Kurt Eisermann,
Thale Dresdner
Bank, Berlin, for
Polensky &
Zoellner, M.A.N.
Maschinenfabrik,
Nurnberg
Rennes 300.000… Deutsche Bank, Marinestandortve
Koblenz z.G. rw. Le Havre
Strassenbau AG.,
Berlin-Friedenau
Braunschweigische
Staatsbank,
Blankenburg, z.G.
Kurt Eisermann,
Thale Dresdner
Bank, Berlin, for
Polensky &
Zoellner, M.A.N.
Maschinenfabrik,
Nurnberg
Rennes 61.039.44 Deutsche Bank, Marinestandortve
Koblenz z.G. rw. Le Havre
Strassenbau AG.,
Berlin-Friedenau
Braunschweigische
Staatsbank,
Blankenburg, z.G.
Kurt Eisermann,
Thale Dresdner
Bank, Berlin, for
Polensky &
Zoellner, M.A.N.
Maschinenfabrik,
Nurnberg
------------
6.772.886.49 [p. 40]
-------
Transfers from France in July 1942 in Excess of 50,000 RM
Bordeaux 250.000… Bankhaus Merck, Hermann Moll,
Finck & Co., Bordeaux-
Muenchen, F. Muenchen
Leonhard, Moll
Bordeaux 108.000… Kto. 64/82 Kriegsmarinewerft,
Reichsbk. Bordeaux
Nurnberg
[Page 369]
Reichs- Recipient By order of
kreditkasse
Amount RM
Bordeaux 300.000… Strassenbau AG., Dienstelle L
Bln.-Friedenau 05207.
Lille 165.000… Julius Berger Marinestandortkasse
AG., Bln.- Lumbres
Grunewald
Lille 78.258.34 Fleischwarenfabri Marinestandortkasse
k Karl Schrader, Lumbres
Hamburg
Lille 60.000… Duerener Bank for Marinestandortkasse
Hermann Bock, Lumbres
Dueren
Lille 100.000… Heereskleiderkasse Heereskleiderkasse
Berlin Lille
Lille 153.522.33 Centralkasse Marinestandortkasse
Bayer. Lumbres
Volksbanken,
Muenchen, for
Emil & Erich
Mueller, Nurnberg
Lille 127.249.78 A.E.G., Berlin Marinestandortkasse
Lumbres
Nantes 308.192.58 Deutsche Marinestandortkasse
Schiffsmaschinenb La Rochelle,
au AG. Werk AG. Standortverwaltung
“Weser", Bremen
Nantes 135.888.74 Deutsche Marinestandortkasse
Schiffsmaschinenb La Rochelle,
au AG. Werk AG. Standortverwaltung
“Weser", Bremen
Nantes 95.000… Postcheckkonto Marinestandortkasse
Nurnberg 3900 La Rochelle,
M.A.N. Standortverwaltung
Paris 66.917.09 Treuverkehr Dt. Treuverkehr, Dr.
Treuhand Ag., Treuhand AG.,
Berlin Paris.
Paris 170.000… Carl Brandt, Carl Brandt,
Bauunternehmung, Bruyeres.
Dueren
Paris 90.000… E. Haack, Berlin- Marinestandortverw.
Lichtenberg
Paris 250.000… Philipp Holzmann Philipp Holzmann
AG., AG., Paris
Frankfurt/Main
[Page 371]
Reichs- Recipient By order of
kreditkasse
Amount RM
Paris 217.858.55 Deutsches Deutsche
Propaganda- Ausstellung
Atelier GmbH. Paris 1942
AG., Berlin- Baubuero,
Lichterfelde Rueckueberweisun
gen, w/Abbruch
der geplanten
Ausstellung
Paris 70.965.25 Andersen & Co., Marinesstandortverw.
Hamburg
Paris 1.000.000… Luftgaukommando Luftgaukommando
Westfr. Wiesbaden Westfr.
[p.41] Amtskasse
Paris 75.595.99 Bauhag Marinesstandortverw.
Wilhelmshaven
Paris 80.000… Bauuntern. Herm. Hermann Behrens
Behrens, Nurnberg Paris
Paris 100.000… Dt. Soc.Gen.Commerciale
Zentralgenossensc de l'Est,
haftskasse, Paris
Strassburg
Paris 151.591.43 Dt. Kurt Eichel,
Zentralgenossensc Paris
haftskasse,
Strassburg
Paris 53.169.15 Dresdner Bank Kurt Eichel,
Paris
Paris 64.133.50 Dresdner Bank, Marinesstandortverw.
Berlin, for
Sudentenquell
Paris 250.000… Philipp Holzmann Philipp Holzmann
AG., AG., Paris
Frankfurt/Main
Paris 1.000.000… Luftgaukommando Luftgaukommando
Westfr. Wiesbaden Westfr.-Frankreich
Paris 51.680.38 Inh. Fischer & Marinesstandortverw.
Cie., Duesseldorf
Paris 267.590.80 E. Hoyer & Cie., Marinesstandortverw.
KG., Berlin
Paris 303.890… E. Hoyer & Cie., Marinesstandortverw.
KG., Berlin
Paris 138.179.28 Bauhag Baustoff Marinesstandortverw.
AG.,
Wilhelmshaven
Paris 80.939.68 Conrad Marinesstandortverw.
Hildebrand,
Frankfurt/Main
[Page 372]
Reichs- Recipient By order of
kreditkasse
Amount RM
Paris 58.468.04 L. Spoerle KG. Marinesstandortverw.
Frankfurt/Main
Paris 170.000… Zollkasse Oberfinancekasse
Bresaneon Paris
Paris 150.000… Zollkasse Martean Oberfinancekasse
Paris
Paris 75.000… Zollkasse Gex Oberfinancekasse
Paris
Paris 1.000.000… Deutsche RKK.-
Golddiskontbk. Rueckueberweisung
Berlin
Paris 100.000… Gebr. Arenz, Bonn Gebr.Arenz.Stuetsp,
Paris
Paris 361.516.21 Industrie-u. Dienstst. L
Strassenbau 34705
GmbH., Berlin- LgPa.Bruessel.
Lankwitz
Paris 150.000… Philipp Holzmann Philipp Holzmann
AG., AG., Paris
Frankfurt/Main
Paris 100.000… Stahlschalung Marinesstandortverw.
Luchterhand KG.,
Neusdtadt/Weinstr.
Reims 137.900… Friedrich Friedrich
Wassermann, Koeln- Wassermann
Braunsfeld Baubertrieb
“Wasser”
Amifontaine/Aisne,
Rouen 84.000… Deutsche Bank, Marinesstandortverw.
Hamburg, for
Anderson & Co., Le Havre
Hamburg
[p. 42]
Rouen 330.000… M.A.N.. Masch. Marinesstandortverw.
Fabrik, Nurnberg
Le Havre
Rouen 76.276.12 Friedr. Krupp, Marinesstandortverw.
AG., Rheinhausen,
Uerdinger Le Havre
Rouen 89.283.38 Friedr. Krupp, Marinesstandortverw.
AG., Rheinhausen,
Uerdinger Le Havre
Rouen 300.000… Dresdner Bank, Polensky &
Berlin, for Zoellner, Le
Stammhaus Berlin- Havre
Charlottenburg
Rouen 100.000… Dresdner Bank, Schoettle &
Berlin, for Schust AG., Le
Stammhaus Berlin Havre
[Page 373]
Reichs- Recipient By order of
kreditkasse
Amount RM
Rouen 124.262.82 Staedtische Marinesstandortverw.
Sparkasse,
Nurnberg, for Le Havre
Emil Erich
Mueller,
Wurstfabrik,
Nurnberg
Transfers from France in August 1942 in Excess of 50.000 RM
Bordeaux 150.000… Dresdner Bank, Ferd. Unger KG.,
Breslau, for Bordeaux-Breslau
Ferd. Unger KG.
Bordeaux 60.000… Nassauische Valentin
Landesbank, Schlotter,
Ruedesheim, F. Bordeaux-
Valentin Ruedesheim
Schlotter
Bordeaux 70.000… Nassauische Valentin
Landesbank, Schlotter,
Ruedesheim, F. Bordeaux-
Valentin Ruedesheim
Schlotter
Lille 81.199.40 Deutsche Bank, Arbeitsgemeinschaft,
Berlin Ri-Dri-Ma-Mue
Lille 60.000… H. Muehlenbruch, H.Muehlenbruck,
Hannover Lille
Lille 78.400.15 W. Zimmermann, Marinesstandortkasse,
Malerei u. Lumbres
Glaserei-
Grossbetrieb,
Nurnberg
Lille 170.000… Vereinsbank Marinesstandortkasse,
Hamburg, fuer Lumbres
Firma Asphalt
Comp “Hansa”
Hamburg 26
Lille 238.000… Dresdner Bank, Marinesstandortkasse,
Berlin, for Lumbres
Julius Berger,
Bin.-Grunewald
Lille 53.018.65 Stadtsparkasse Marinesstandortkasse,
Gelsenkirchen for Lumbres
Fa. W.
Freienstein
Nachf.
Gelsenkrichen
[Page 374]
Reichs- Amount RM Recipient By order of
kredit
kasse
Nancy 110.230.55 Beuchelt & Co., Eisenbahnbetrieb
Abt. Beton-u. sdirektion-
Tiefbau, Berlin- Amtskasse Nancy
Friedenau
Nantes 66.634.11 Eichhorn & Cie., Marinesstandortkasse,
Breslau Lorient
Nantes 60.061.28 Commerzbank AG., Marinesstandortk
W.-Barmen for asse, Saint-
Koester & Nazaire
Adolphs, W.
Naechstebreck
Paris 150.000… Dt. Soc.Gen.Commerciale
Zentralgenossensc de l'Est,
haftskasse, Paris
Strassburg
Paris 70.000… Bewa Marinestandortverwaltung
Bewachungsgesellschaft
Hildebrandt,
Osnabrueck
p. 44]
Paris 88.154.80 Gebr. Roechlinkg, Gebr. Roechlink
Eisenhandelsges., Eisenhandelsges.
Ludwigshafen
Paris 125.000… Kontropa Wien Kontopa Paris
Paris 154.091.23 Gerichtskasse Oberfinancekasse
Leipzig
Paris 100.000… Gebr. Arenz. Bonn Gebr.Arenz.,
Paris
Paris 211.420.32 Deutsche Bank, Kurt Eichel
Strassburg
Paris 75.000… Fritz Zervos, Fritz Zervos,
Koeln Paris
Paris 100.000.. Karl Brandt, Karl Brandt,
. Dueren Bruy
Paris 76.007.89 Krupp- Marinestandortverw.
Eisenhandel, Paris
Essen-R.
Paris 241.977.000 E. Hoyer & Cie.,
Komm-Ges. Berlin
Paris 169.450… Franz Brehme, Marinestandortverw.
Walsrode i.H. Paris
Paris 70.200… Mechan, Marinestandortverw.
Spinnereir u. Paris
Weberei Hermann
Biederlack & Co.,
Greven
Paris 53.212.08 Otto Ulrich Marinestandortverw.
Tuchfabrik, Paris
Werdau/Sa.
[Page 375]
Reichs- Recipient By order of
kreditkasse
Amount RM
Paris 100.000… Gebr. Arenz. Bonn Gebr.Arenz.,
VerKaufsabt. D. Paris
Luftwaffe, Berlin VerKaufsabt. D.
Luftwaffe,
Zweigst. Paris
Paris 54.000… Gebr. Arenz. Bonn Gebr.Arenz.,
VerKaufsabt. D. Paris
Luftwaffe, Berlin VerKaufsabt. D.
Luftwaffe,
Zweigst. Paris
Paris 170.000… Befehlsstelle Gebr.Arenz.,
d.Zollgrenzschutz Paris
es (Zollk.) VerKaufsabt. D.
Besancon Luftwaffe,
Zweigst. Paris
Paris 80.000… Befehlsstelle Gebr.Arenz.,
d.Zollgrenzschutz Paris
es (Zollk.) Gex. VerKaufsabt. D.
Luftwaffe,
Zweigst. Paris
Paris 140.000… Befehlsstelle Gebr.Arenz.,
d.Zollgrenzschutz Paris
es (Zollk.) VerKaufsabt. D.
Morteau Luftwaffe,
Zweigst. Paris
Paris 131.904.12 Deutscher Marinestandortverwatung,
Zementverband, Paris
Metz
Paris 157.490.63 Bauhag, Marinestandortverwatung,
Wilhelmshaven Paris
Reims 80.000… Friedrich Friedrich
Wassermann, Koeln- Wassermann Bau-
Braunsfeld Betrieb “Wasser”
Amifontaine
(Aisne)
Rennes 57.207.05 Dt. Effekten-u. L 17 523 Lgpa.
Wechselbank Paris
Frankfurt/Main,
for Konrad
Hildebrand,
Frankfurt/Main
Rouen 50.786.80 Old. Landesbank Amstkasse L
AG., 07201
Wilhelmshaven, f.
Karl Lonecke,
Zetel
Rouen 300.000… Dresdner Bank, Polensky &
. Berlin, for Zoellner, Le
Stammhaus Berlin Havre
[p. 45]
Rouen 560.000… M.A.N. Masch. Marinestandortverw.
Fabrik, Nurnberg Le Havre
Rouen 133.000… M.A.N. Masch. Marinestandortverw.
Fabrik, Augsburg Le Havre
Rouen 55.000… Krupp Stahlbau, Marinestandortve
Duisburg- rw. Le Havre
Rheinhausen,
Uedingen
[Page 376]
Reichs- Recipient By order of
kreditkasse
Amount RM
Rouen 99.961.23 Bank d.Dt. Marinestandortverw.
Arbeit, Hamburg, Le Havre
f. Dyckerhof &
Widmann AG.,
Hamburg
Rouen 72.000… M.A.N. Masch. Marinestandortverw.
Fabrik, Nurnberg Le Havre
Rouen 140.000… Krupp Stahlbau Marinestandortverw.
Duisburg, Le Havre
Uerdingen
[p. 46]
------------
5.263.326.29
------------
------------
-------
Reichskreditkasse Bordeaux, September 23d, 1942
STATEMENT
of Transfers to the Reich in the Period June--August 1942
of amounts in excess of 50,000 RM
Date Amount Recipient By order of
1942 RM
June 2 97.384.87 Reichshauptkasse Armeemarketender
fuer Heeres ei Bordeaux
standortkasse
Metz, Abr. Int.
XII Wiesbaden
June 6 104.000… Reichshauptkasse Feldkasse
l.Armee
June 9 55.103 Daqua, Danneberg Kriegsmarinedien
& Quandt, Berlin- ststelle
Lichtenberg, Bordeaux
Postscheck Berlin
Nr. 12299
June 22 249.838.03 Reichshauptkasse Armeemarketender
fuer Heeres ei Bordeaux
standortkasse
Metz, Abr. Int.
XII Wiesbaden
June 22 136.222.32 Zentralkasse Kriegsmarinedien
Bayerische ststelle
Volksbank eGmbH., Bordeaux
Muenchen
June 23 90.1954.94 Reichshauptkasse Armeemarketender
fuer Heeres ei Bordeaux
standortkasse
Metz, Abr. Int.
XII Wiesbaden
[Page 377]
Date Amount Recipient By order of
1942 RM
June 23 240.000… Deutsche Bank, Dienststelle
Koblenz, fuer Feldpost-Nr. L
Strassenbau A.G. 05 207
June 30 71.513.20 Kriessparkasse Firma
Heilbronn, for Gebr.Keitel,
Gebr. Keitel Cognac-Nekarsuim
July 3 50.000… Deutsche Bank, Firma Carl
Bueren, for Carl Brandt, Bordeaux-
Brandt Muenchen
July 11 250.000… Bankhaus Merk, Hermann Moll,
Fink & Co., Bordeaux-
Muenchen, for Muenchen
Firma Leonard
Moll
July 50.000… Commerzbank, Hermann Moll,
15 Dortmund, for Bordeaux-
Firma Hans Muenchen
Matzdorff & Co.
July 395.249.68 Reichshauptkasse Armeemarketender
20 fuer Heeres ei Bordeaux
standortkasse
Ulm, Abr. Int. V
Stuttgart
July 108.000… Konto 64/82 Kriegsmarinewerk
22 Reichsbank, t, Bx.
Nurnberg
July 300.000… Strasenbau AG. Dienstelle L
30 Berlin-Friedenau 05207
August 150.000… Dresdner Bank, Ferd. Unger K.G.
6 Breslau, for Bordeaux-
ferd. Unger KG. Breslau.
August 60.000… Nassauische Valentin
14 Landesbank, Schlotter,
Ruedesheim, for Bordeaux-
Firma Valentin Ruedesheim
Schlotter
August 50.000… Deutsche Bank, Carl Brandt,
24 Dueren, for Fa. Bordeaux Dueren.
Carl Brandt
August 70.000… Nassau. Valentin
25 Landesbk., Schlotter,
Ruedesheim, for Bordeaux-
Valentin Ruedesheim
Schlotter [p. 47]
Reichskreditkasse
-------
[Page 378]
BAND IV
Banque de France
Office des Changes
(Besatzungskosten Frankr.)
Reichskreditkasse, Berlin, 9 January 1945 to branch of the
Deutsche Bank in Pforzheim. This letter relates to a deposit
in French Notes on the basis of confidential decree No. 44
of 27.10.44. The Deutsche Bank was requested to transmit to
the Reichsbankstelle in Pforzheim for the account of the
Reichskreditkasse 14 million ffrs. Deposited by the Army
through “Sonderfuehrer” Welz.
-------
Letter from Deutsche Bank, Branch in Pforzheim, dated 28
December 1944 to Reichskreditkasse, Berlin, stating that the
Army (Feldwirtschaftskommandentur 9 Freiburg, in Brsg.),
through Sonderfuehrer Welz, deposited on behalf of the firm
Roges, Rohstoff Handelsgesellschaft m.b.H. Berlin C 2, 40
million francs in French notes which this bank, in
accordance with instructions contained in a letter by Roges
dated 18.12.44, was to place at the disposal of the
Reichskreditkasse in Berlin.
-------
Telegram from Deputy for the Niederlaendische Bank in
Amsterdam to Reichsbank, Berlin, for Reichskreditkasse in
Amsterdam, dated 16 December 1944: I request that you open
the pouch deposited for my account containing 125 million
ffrs, and credit the amount to an account of the
Vermoegensverwaltungsund Reten-Anstadt, Amsterdam. At the
Reichsbank in Frankfurt I deposited at one time another
pouch containing 55,949,383 ffrs. In notes for my account, I
request that you open also this pouch and credit the amount
of the Vermoegensverwaltungsund Renten-Anstadt, Amsterdam. I
would be grateful if you could credit these amounts prior to
31.12.44.
-------
A similar telegram of the same date contains a request to
the Reichskreditkasse in Brussels that it transfer the
balance of Belgian francs, 3,125,000 to the
Vermoegensverwaltungsund Renten-Anstadt.
-------
[Page 379]
Telegram from Reichskreditkasse, Strassburg, 15 November
1944 to Reichskreditkasse, Berlin, to the effect that the
balance of the Roges firm was at that time 254,801,626 ffrs
[P.48]
-------
Reichskreditkasse, Paris, which had transferred its seat to
Nancy and then to Strassburg, dated Strassburg 30 October
1944, to Reichskreditkasse in Berlin to the effect that the
Reichsbank branch in Muelhausen received a telegram from the
Reichsbank in Berlin requesting it to hold available on
behalf of Roges a further 100 million francs in French notes
for Feldwirtschaftskommando 9 — Muelhausen. The telegram
stated that Miss Margot Hoffmann and Oberzahlmeister Dr.
Goebbels, each in his own right, could dispose of this
amount and that these persons would prove their identity by
means of a passport or some other form of identification.
The Reichsbank branch in Meulhausen was instructed, in case
its supply of French notes was inadequate, to obtain them
from the local Reichskreditkasse.
-------
From ReichsMinister for Economic Affairs to Reichsminister
of Finance dated 9 October 1944: My intention to recall 50
million ffrs. From the 100 million ffrs. Credit granted in
1941 to the Aero Bank, the Paris subsidiary of the Deutschen
Luftfahrt A.G. Berlin, in order to transfer it, with your
assent, to “Account A I” can no longer be carried out owing
to the military events which have taken place in France. The
letter which I was to write to the Aero Bank was not sent.
-------
From Reichskreditkasse, Nancy, (formerly Paris) 19 October
1944: As we had already informed Reichsbank Director Wilz
today by telephone, the amount of 480 million ffrs.
Deposited with us will be withdrawn by Herr Weiss in the
near future. Herr Weiss asked today Director Kraney of the
Roges to cause to be paid in a further sum of 10 million RM.
The local branch of Roges still requires these funds. The
amounts are to be credited, as heretofore, to the transfer
account maintained with us. In compliance with instructions,
we transferred back yesterday through the miscellaneous
account 220 million ffrs. Which we took over from the
Reichsbank.
-------
[Page 380]
From Reichsbankhaupstelle, Strassburg, dated 18 October 1944
to the Reichsbank (Devisen Section) Berlin: According to the
Reichskreditkasse in Paris, Roges G.m.b.H. requires only
notes of large demoninations. Of such notes, we have
available: [P. 49]
16,500,000 ffrs. In 5,000 franc notes
8,400,000 ffrs. In 1,000 franc notes
3,400,000 ffrs. In 500 franc notes
If necessary, we could use also the 66 million francs in
French notes of the Reichsbankstelle in Karlsruhe (cash
shipment of 25 September 1944) which are stored in
Offenburg. Among these are 48 million ffrs. In large
demoninations.
------
Management of the Reichskreditkasse, Berlin, 3 October 1944
to the Board of Directors of the Reichskreditkasse, Berlin:
The Military Commander in France, on the basis of the decree
of 7 September 1944, caused to be confiscated a part of the
cash lying in the various branches of the Bank of France.
This confiscation was based on the grounds that the French
Government failed to pay the second September occupation
costs installment of 8,300,000,000 ffrs. which fell due on
21 August. This action yielded French currency aggregating
2,931,000,000 francs, representing RM 146,500,000.
This action was taken without consulting us. It was not
necessary in order to ensure the military supply for
Wehrmacht troops still on French soil. Our holdings amount
to approximately 11 billion ffrs., or 515 million RM, which
are still adequate for this purpose.
-------
Military Commander in France to field commander in the
cities listed below: O.U.* 7 September 1944: The French
Government has thus far failed to pay the second September
installment for occupation costs which came due on 21
August. In order to ensure the monetary supply for the
Wehrmacht on French soil, I hereby order the following: The
field detachments mentioned below will confiscate
immediately the cash holdings of the branches of the Bank of
France in their districts, and will take steps to transport
these funds under military guard to the following
Reichskreditkassen: Belfort, Colmar, Muelhausen, Strassburg,
Saargemuend, and Saarlautern. According to the statement as
of the end of July, these branches of the Bank of France had
the following amounts in cash:
[Page 381]
Million ffrs
Belfort 698
Besancon 642
Epinal 853
Luneville 93
Nancy 1,411
Nevers 1,016
Saint Die 181
Vesoul 227
[P.50]
In addition, the safes of the Bank of France in Nancy or
Epinal contained 2 billion ffrs. In 1,000 franc notes which
were transported from Paris to Nancy in the middle of
August. These 2 billion ffrs. Must likewise be confiscated
and removed.
signed,
Kitzinger
General of the Air Force
-------
Commander of the Security Police and of the SD in Nancy,
dated Nancy 13 September 1944. This is a protocol concerning
the confiscation of currency of the Bank of France in Nancy.
By order of the Commander of the Security Police and of the
SD in France, in accordance with radio message Fraize No. 91
of 11 September 1944, 15:35 hours, it was ascertained that
1.2 billion ffrs. Were stored in the Bank of France in
Nancy. In view of the lack of transportation facilities,
only 880 million ffrs. Could be transported. The remainder,
320 million ffrs., was blocked by virtue of an order to the
director of the bank not to touch this amount until further
orders ***
The protocol was signed by an SS Hauptsturmfuehrer and by an
Army Officer.
-------
Reichsbankhauptstelle, Mannheim, 9 September 1944 to
Reichsbank in Berlin: This is to advise you that a military
transport which arrived here from Nancy asked us to take
into custody on behalf of the Field Command, Nancy, (Militar
-- V.O.R. Roller) and for the account of the Pay Master of
the Military Commander in France, 174 pouches sealed by the
Bank of France containing 1,250,000 ffrs. The Reichsbank in
Saarbrucken, which could not accept the notes because of
shortage of space, referred the shipment to us. Inasmuch as
our vaults are also completely filled up,
[Page 382]
and since we could not assume that in other places such as
Frankfurt am Main adequate space was available, we
endeavored to find a secure place elsewhere — if only
because of the constantly existing danger of air
bombardments — and we placed the funds mentioned above in a
section of the vault which was made available to us by the
branch of the Deutsche Bank in Mannheim in the building of
the former Sueddentsche Disconto [p. 51] Gesellschaft, which
now belongs to the Deutsche Bank. This space has been made
available to us for an emergency, in the event that our own
vaults may be damaged.
-------
Reichskreditkasse, Strassburg (formerly Paris and then
Nancy), 19 September 1944, to Reichskreditkasse, Berlin: The
last statement showing the position in “Account N-8”
(Occupation Costs) of the Reichskreditkasse with the Bank of
France was handed to us on 16 August 1944. It shows a
balance of 195,120,352.69 RM. From this balance, 150 million
RM were withdrawn in ten circular checks of 10 million RM
each; and 40 million RM in four circular checks of 10
million RM each. In addition, 5 million RM were transferred
through Giro to “Account L 120". Making allowance for the
Giro transfer made by us on 11 August 1944 in the amount of
7,842 RM — for which up to the 16 August 1944, we were not
debited by the Bank of France — the remaining balance in
"Account N-8” is 112,510.69 RM.
Our contact with the Bank of France, Paris, continued normal
until the evening hours of 18 August. On this day, at
approximately 1730 hours, an official of the Bank of France
appeared at the Reichskreditkasse with the request that we
transmit the letter addressed to the Bank of France in Nancy
concerning the transfer of “Account N-8” to Nancy to the
Director of the Bank of France in Nancy *** On the 19
August, the Bank of France in Paris was already closed. From
that date on, all contact with the bank was interrupted ***
According to a letter of acknowledgment in our possession, a
check for 440 million RM, that is 8,800,000,000 ffrs., was
handed to Pay Master Roesch in accordance with an
instruction of the Chief Pay Master of the Military
Commander in France. This check was intended as an
instrument for withdrawing from the Bank of France
occupation costs installment payments which might be
received until the middle of September. In the course of a
telephone conversation between Nancy and Paris, Pay Master
Roesch
[Page 383]
was instructed to take the check along during the withdrawal
from Paris.
-------
From Sonderstab “F” in the ReichsMinistry for Armaments and
War Production, Berlin, dated 21 September 1944, to
Reichskreditkasse, Berlin. The Sonderstab [Special Staff]
"F” had a Giro account with the Reichskreditkasse in Paris
consisting of funds of the ReichsMinistry for Armaments and
War Production which was augmented by an intermediary credit
amounting to 1.5 million RM. [P. 52] These funds were made
available by the Chief Pay Master in France as an advance in
order to carry out the production program and must be
refunded to the Wehrmacht. At the time of the evacuation of
Paris, the amount in this Giro account was 23,347,438 ffrs.,
representing 1,167,371.90 RM.
The Special Staff has been transferred to the Reich and is
continuing its production. In order to meet the committments
as they come due, the Reichskreditkasse, Paris, at present
situated in Strassburg, was requested to transfer the amount
in RM equivalent to a new Reichsbank Giro account of the
Nebenstelle Ratirgen Krs. Duesselldorf. This request could
not be fulfilled as, according to information from the
Reichskreditkasse, Paris, all balances in French currency
are to be transferred to the Reichshauptkasse in Berlin.
Accordingly, on 16 September 1944, the Reichskreditkasse in
Paris was instructed to transfer the above-mentioned amount
in the account to the Reichshauptkasse in Berlin to the
credit of the ReichsMinister for Armaments and War
Production.
-------
German Armistice Delegation for Economic Affairs, dated
Paris 16 August 1944, to the Chairman of the French
Delegation of the same commission notifying him that
beginning 23 August 1944, jurisdiction over the occupation
costs account of the Chief of the Military Administration in
France, maintained at the Bank of France, had been
transferred from the Reichskreditkasse, Paris to
Reichskreditkasse Nancy.
-------
Memorandum for the files II/38 dated Berlin 30 August 1944,
signed Waldhecker: v. Fuerstenberg reported that Lange, of
the Wirtschaftsgruppe Maschinenbau [Economic Group Machine
[Page 384]
Construction] has received an order to bring back machines
from the endangered areas of Northern France and Belgium.
For wages, transportation cdosts, etc., 50,000 RM each are
requied in French and Belgian francs.
End of Band IV
-------
[P. 53]
KONTO
BESATZUNGSKOSTEN
FRANKREICH
B
From 1.7.42 until --
Copy of a statement by the Reichskreditkasse, dated 18 July
1944, addressed to the Reichsminister of Finance in Berlin
showing that, in accordance with instructions from the
ReichsMinister of Finance, 20,827,574 RM were transferred to
occupation costs “Account B” from occupation costs “Account
A".
-------
Similar letter dated 26 March 1943 showing that, in
accordance with a letter from the Chief Pay Master of the
Military Commander in France, dated 24 March 1943, “Account
B” was credited with 3,500,000 RM. This amount represented
compensation paid through occupation costs account “A VIII”
to Reichs-Deutsche and Volksdeutsche for war damages in
occupied France.
-------
Similar communication dated 11 December 1942 showing a
transfer from occupation costs “Account B” to “Account AI”
in the amount of 150 million RM to the credit of Roges, in
accordance with a letter from the Chief Pay Master in Paris
dated 8 December 1942.
-------
Similar letter dated 25 November 1942 showing that 200
million RM were transferred from “Account B” to “Account A
I” in accordance with a letter from the Chief Pay Master of
25 November 1942.
------
Similar letter of 30 October 1942 showing that 100 million
RM were transferred from “Account B” to “Account A I” in
accord-
[Page 385]
ance with a letter from the Chief Pay Master in Paris dated
29 October 1942.
-------
Similar letter of 15 October 1942 showing that 100 million
RM were transferred from “Account B” to “Account A I” in
accordance with a letter from the Chief Pay Master in France
dated 9 October 1942.
-------
Similar letter of 14 September 1942 showing that 200 million
RM were transferred from “Account B” to “Account A I” in
accordance with a letter from the Chief Paymaster in France
dated 9 September 1942.
-------
Similar letter dated 27 August 1942 showing that 40 million
RM were transferred from “Account B” to “Account A I” in
accordance with a letter from the Military Commander in
France (Pay Master) dated 22 August 1942.
-------
Similar letter dated 24 August 1942 showing that 60 million
RM (1,200,000,000 ffrs.) were transferred from “Account B”
to “Account A I” in accordance with a letter from the
Military Commander in France (Pay Master) dated 22 August
1942.
-------
Similar letter of 6 July 1942 to the effect that 200 million
RM (4 billion ffrs.) were transferred from “Account B” to
"Account A I” in accordance with instructions from the
Military Commander in France (Pay Master).
The End [P.55]
-------
ENCLOSURE No. 2
to Memorandum prepared by Mr.
Ostrow
for Mr. Deinhard, dated 29 Sept.
1945
Reichsbank Director Wilz
Frankfurt, 27 September 1945
I. For what purposes was “Account 1006” used?
II. From what accounts were payments made for shipment of
goods from France to Germany?
[Page 386]
III. To what extent were included in these payments goods
and services for purposes not related to the occupation
[besatzungsfremde Zewcke]?
I.
"Account 1006” was the Reichsbank Giro account of the Main
Administration of the Reichskreditkassen. All payments
received by the Main Administration in Germany were entered
in this account; all payments which the Main Administration
had to make in Germany were paid from this account.
From this account, in the transfer procedure France-Germany
and Germany-France, the amounts were paid out in RM which,
on instructions from the Military Commander in France, were
paid into the Reichskreditkassen in France in ffrs. From
transfer to Germany. Through this transfer procedure,
amounts in RM were paid into the account, which, on
instructions of the Reichs Minister for Economics, were
payable in France in ffrs.
II.
Payments for commodity shipments from France to Germany were
made
(a) from occupation
costs “Account A”
and its subaccounts
Original Amount (Dotierung)
RM 1,140,000,000
Used for the
redemption of RKK RM 700,000,000
notes
--------------
RM 440,000,000
Subsequent
transfers from
"Account B to A I” 1,200,000,000 1,640,000,000
(Roges)
------------- -------------
(b) From “Account
B” for the
redemption of RKK
Notes brought to
France illegally
after resumption of RM 2,000,000,000
occupation costs
payments
Carried forward
RM 3,640,000,000
(c) From “Account
B": Through direct
allocations by the
Army Pay Master to
public and private RM 1,250,000,000
agencies
[Page 387]
Through conversion
of RM for members
of the Wehrmacht
who entered France,
within the scope of
the payment
regulations for the
Wehrmacht. The
greater part of RM 1,000,000,000
this amount was
used for purchases
of goods which were
taken to Germany.
(d) Through
transfers from
Germany in “Account RM 400,000,000
1006”
From this account, the ReichsMinister for Economic Affairs
ordered payments to be made which, in general, were not
regarded by France as eligible for the clearing, or which
were not related to the occupation (besatzungsfremde). The
Main Administration kept a record of all payments in excess
of 50,000 RM (several hundred items) which must be among the
seized documents. Theutilization purposes were manifold. The
chancellery of the Nazi Party paid through this account for
objects of art, the Berliner Handelsgesellschaft for
Roumania payment media for purposes of the German Wehrmacht
in Roumania. The Gold Discount Bank transferred amounts to
France for purchases of securities. The Roges also was among
the organizations which made such transfers. Finally, the
Reichsbank itself on various occasions acquired through this
account, objects of art.
Accordingly, in all the following amount was paid, outside
of the clearing, for shipments of commodities, including
securities, gold and for Devisen purchases, from France to
Germany, in other words, for purposes not related to the
occupation [besatzungsfremde Zwecke]. RM 6,290,000,000
III
Payments for services are, according to my observations, not
included in this amount. However, the Pay Master withdrew
from occupation costs the amounts for war risk insurance
premiums. They amounted, as far as I can recall, to
50,000,000 RM per calendar quarter. Since these payments
began in the fall of 1942, the amount utilized for this
purpose may be estimated at RM 400,000,000
IV
With regard to those who were authorized to dispose of the
amounts in the separate accounts, I should like to add the
following:
The account set up with the Bank of France into which French
occupation costs payments were made was designated as
"Hauptverwaltung der Reichskreditkassen wegen
Militarbefehlshaber in
[Page 388]
Frankreich Bestazungskosten.” The Reichskreditkasse did not
have the right to dispose of this account. In accordance
with an exchange of notes between Germany and France in July
1940 (copies of which may be found in the files of the Bank
of France) only the Reichskreditkasse in Paris could dispose
of this account. The German beneficiaries, vis a vis the
Reichskreditkasse, Paris, were the following:
The ReichsMinister of Finance disposed of the amounts made
available for “Account A", the ReichsMinister for Economic
Affairs of amounts in “Account A I", while “Accounts A II to
A X” were reserved for recipients designated as such to the
Reichskreditkasse by the ReichsMinister of Finance. The
Wehrmacht, represented by the Pay Master of the Military
Commander in France, disposed of the amounts transferred on
our books through “Account B".
For transfers under (d) French payment media were available
which German agencies in France (predominantly construction
firms) had paid into the Reichskreditkassen, on instructions
of the Military Commander, for payment of the RM
countervalue in the Reich. The Reichsminister for Economic
Affairs disposed of these amounts by instructing interested
parties to pay RM amounts into “Account 1006” accompanied by
instructions to the Main Administration always watched and
sought to prevent the Reichsminister for Economic Affairs
from disposting of more francs than actually accrued in
France. As a result, the disposals of the Reichsminister for
Economic Affairs remained, according to my recollection,
30,000,000 RM below the proceeds in France. Exact figures
should be found in the seized material.
