740.00119 EAC/8–2844
Memorandum by the Representative of the Soviet Union to the European Advisory Commission (Gousev)36
Control Machinery for Germany
At the present time, when it is still difficult to determine in every detail how events in Germany will develop after her surrender, the immediate problem is to decide what Allied agencies should be set up in Germany directly after the cessation of hostilities and the occupation of Germany by the armed forces of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The Soviet Delegation submits for the European Advisory Commission’s consideration a plan for the agencies of control and administration to cover the first period of the occupation of Germany immediately following her defeat, i.e. the period during which Germany will be carrying out the basic requirements of unconditional surrender.
The purposes of these agencies will be to control the execution by Germany of the Terms of Surrender and of any additional requirements which may be presented to Germany in accordance with those terms. The most important of these objectives are:—control of the disarmament of Germany, the abolition of the Nazi regime and the preparation of conditions for the creation in Germany of central and local organs based on democratic principles.
Accordingly, the following draft agreement between the Governments of the U.S.S.R., the U.K. and the U.S.A. regarding the structure of Allied organs in the territory of occupied Germany is submitted for discussion:—
“1. Supreme authority in Germany will be exercised in its plenitude by the Commanders-in-Chief of the armed forces of the U.S.S.R., the U.K. and the U.S.A., each in his own zone of occupation.
[Page 300]2. Each Commander-in-Chief will have attached to him military representatives of the other two Commanders-in-Chief for liaison duties.
3. To ensure uniformity of action by the Commanders-in-Chief, and to secure the settlement of important problems common to the whole of Germany, namely the principal political and economic problems, e.g. trade, industry, transport, displaced persons, etc.; the chief military problems; and also in order to control the German Government and its central organs, the three Commanders-in-Chief will constitute a Control Council.
The German central Government and the German central organs will operate under the direction of the Control Council, and will be responsible to it for compliance with any demands made.
Meetings of the Control Council will be convened at least once in ten days and, if necessary, at any time on the initiative of any Commander-in-Chief. Decisions of the Control Council must be unanimous. The Chairmanship of the Control Council will be held in rotation.
4. A permanent ‘Co-ordinating Committee’ will be set up under the Control Council, consisting of representatives of the three Commanders-in-Chief not below General Officer’s rank. The structure of the committee should be determined accordingly.
5. The duties of the ‘Co-ordinating Committee’ will include:—
- (a)
- implementing the decisions of the Control Council;
- (b)
- day-to-day supervision and control of the activities of the corresponding organs of the German Government and central institutions;
- (c)
- co-ordination of current problems which call for uniform measures in all three zones;
- (d)
- preliminary examination and preparation for the Control Council of all questions submitted by individual Comanders-in-Chief.
6. An Inter-Allied ‘Governing Authority’ (Komendatura) will be set up to administer the City of Berlin, consisting of three commandants, one from each Power. The Inter-Allied ‘Komendatura’ will be headed by a Chief Commandant, whose duties will be carried out by each Commandant in turn.
A Technical Staff will be set up under the Inter-Allied ‘Komendatura’ consisting of personnel of the three Allied Powers and organized to serve the purpose of controlling the activities of the local organs of Berlin responsible for various municipal services.
The Inter-Allied ‘Komendatura’ of ‘Greater Berlin’ will be subordinate to the Control Council.
7. The Allied organs for the control and administration of Germany outlined above will operate during the first period of the occupation of Germany immediately following surrender, that is, the period when Germany is carrying out the basic requirements of unconditional surrender.
[Page 301]8. The question of the Allied organs required for carrying out the functions of control and administration in Germany in the second period will be the subject of a separate agreement between the Governments of the U.S.S.R., the U.K. and the U.S.A.”