Foreign Relations of the United States: Diplomatic Papers, The Conference of Berlin (The Potsdam Conference), 1945, Volume I

J. C. S. Files

No. 361
Report by the Combined Administrative Committee of the Combined Chiefs of Staff¹

secret
C. C. S. 706/11

[Washington,] 28 June 1945.

Disposal of Enemy War Matériel in Germany and Austria

the problem

1. As a matter of priority to draft a reply to Scaf 447 (Appendix “D,” page 6),² in which the Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force (SCAEF) requests authority to:—

a. Fill London Munitions Assignment] Board requirements from war material in Germany and Austria.

b. Render surplus enemy warlike equipment unserviceable and dispose of it as scrap.

facts bearing on the problem

2. See Appendix “C” (page 5).

discussion

3. Informal discussions are taking place on governmental levels as to the disposal of enemy equipment. It has been indicated informally that some nations desire the distribution of enemy war materiel among the United Nations, and are directly opposed to widespread destruction of German warlike equipment.

4. Because it appears that there will be considerable delay prior to the formulation of an intergovernmental policy on this subject, it appears necessary to make available a means by which enemy war matériel, captured or surrendered, which might be used profitably in the war against Japan, could be obtained immediately by those nations now actively engaged in the Japanese war.

conclusions

5. Until a policy of disposal, agreed upon by the nations represented on the European Advisory Commission, has become effective, the London Munitions Assignment Board should be empowered to assign captured or surrendered enemy matériel in the hands of forces under U. S. or British command in Germany and Austria to the forces of those nations employed in furtherance of the agreed strategy in the war against Japan.

6. Because of the imminent dissolution of Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force, instructions relative to the destruction of enemy matériel surplus to the needs of the military forces and those of the London Munitions Assignment Board are a matter for consideration by the respective United States and British Chiefs of Staff rather than the Combined Chiefs of Staff.

recommendations

7. That the message in Appendix “A” (page 3) be dispatched to the Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force, and the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean.³

8. That the message in Appendix “B” (page 4) be dispatched to the London Munitions Assignment Board.

[Appendix A—Paraphrase]

Draft

secret

Message to Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force and Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean

The London Munitions Assignments Board is being authorized to assign surrendered or captured enemy matériel in the hands of British or American-commanded forces in Austria and Germany to the forces of those countries employed in furtherance of the agreed strategy in the war against Japan. After the dissolution of Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force, the respective Chiefs of Staff will issue instructions to the commanding officers of the British and United States zones of occupation with respect to treatment of enemy materiel which is in excess of the requirements of the military commanders and in excess of the matériel needed to fill the requirements of the London Munitions Assignments Board.

The above message is in reply to Scaf 447, which is being repeated to the Supreme Allied Commander, Mediterranean, today.

[Appendix B—Paraphrase]

Draft

secret

Message to the London Munitions Assignments Board

Until the countries which are members of the European Advisory Commission have agreed upon a disposal policy, and until such an agreed policy is implemented, the London Munitions Assignments Board is authorized to assign surrendered or captured enemy matériel in the hands of British-or American-commanded forces in Austria and Germany to the forces of those countries which will use such matériel in furtherance of the agreed strategy in the war against Japan.

[Appendix C]

Facts Bearing on the Problem

secret

1. Facs 159— Fan 507⁴ authorized the destruction of captured enemy war matériel in Germany and Austria, which was surplus to the requirements of the Supreme Command and the London Munitions Assignment Board, such authority to remain in force until cessation of hostilities or until superseded by a later directive (page 4 of C. C. S. 200/5 as amended by C. C. S. 200/6⁵).

2. Present handling of captured and surrendered war matériel in Germany and Austria is based on Facs 149— Fan 500 (page 3 of C. C. S. 706/7⁶) and Facs 109— Fan 453 (page 3 of C. C. S. 706/2⁶) by which surplus enemy war matériel is being safeguarded, inventoried, and pooled as the property of the United Nations pending multipartite agreement as to disposal by the governments represented on the European Advisory Commission.

3. SCAEF states in Scaf 447 (Appendix “D”) that long-term guarding and maintenance of warlike equipment constitutes a heavy burden on occupational forces and is considered impracticable particularly in view of the redeployment program.

4. The Military Advisor, European Advisory Commission,⁷ writing on behalf of the Joint Advisors, U. S. Delegation, European Advisory Commission (EAC), states that it is doubted whether EAC will be in position to consider question of disposal of enemy materiel in the near future.

5. In C. C. S. 706/7, the Combined Chiefs of Staff agreed that if, at the time of the defeat of Germany, there was no prospect of a speedy agreement on policies for the disposal of enemy war matériel, action should be taken to seek the agreement on a governmental level of the authorities of the nations represented on the EAC for the immediate disposal of war matériel in Germany and Austria required for the war against Japan.

[Appendix D—Paraphrase]

The Supreme Commander, Allied Expeditionary Force (Eisenhower) to the Combined Chiefs of Staff

secret

11 June 1945.

Scaf 447. Fwd 24508. The guarding and maintaining of war matériel over a long period of time imposes a heavy burden on the armies of occupation. This is especially true in the light of the redeployment program, and it is considered to be impracticable.

Our present policy, based upon Facs 109 and 149,⁵ is to inventory, safeguard, and pool surplus enemy war matériel in Austria and Germany as the property of the United Nations, pending a multilateral agreement on the part of the member governments of the European Advisory Commission as to its disposal.

The destruction of such matériel, in so far as it exceeds the needs of the London Munitions Assignments Board and the Supreme Command, was authorized by Facs 159.⁸ This authorization was made effective until hostilities ceased or until it was superseded by a new directive.

I request authority, unless a new directive is to be issued in the near future, to fill from war matériel in Austria and Germany the requirements of the London Munitions Assignments Board, to render unserviceable any excess enemy war matériel, and to dispose of such, surplus equipment as scrap.

1. Considered by the Combined Chiefs of Staff at their 197th Meeting, July 20. See vol. ii, p. 162.
2. The pages mentioned in this document refer to the original pagination.
3. Field Marshal Sir Harold Alexander.
4. Not printed.
5. Neither printed.
6. Not printed.
6. Not printed.
7. Brigadier General Vincent Meyer.
5. Neither printed.
8. Not printed.