Department of Justice records released in response to the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act and the Japanese Imperial Government Disclosure Act (Record Groups 60, 131, and 204)
Notice to Researchers in Records Released under the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act and the Japanese Imperial Government Records Act
The Nazi War Crimes and Japanese Imperial Government Records Interagency Working Group (IWG), in implementing the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act and the Japanese Imperial Government Records Act, has taken the broadest view in identifying records that may be responsive to the Acts. Information relevant to the Acts is often found among files related to other subjects. In order to preserve the archival integrity of the files, the IWG and the National Archives and Records Administration, where possible, have released entire files together, not just those items related to Nazi or Japanese war criminals, crimes, persecution, and looted assets. These records may relate to persons who are war criminals, former Axis personnel who are not war criminals, victims of war crimes or persecution, or civilian or military personnel investigating Nazi activities; the records may also include mention of, or information about, persons having no connection to these activities.
Most of the records in Record Group 60 (General Records of the Department of Justice) and Record Group 204 (Records of the Office of the Pardon Attorney) relate to investigations of "treasonable utterances" and requests for clemency for crimes committed during World War II.
The most famous of these cases was that of Iva Toguri d'Aquino, better known as Tokyo Rose, who was convicted of treason for making radio propaganda broadcasts for Japan.
For more information on her prosecution and conviction, see the Select Subject Files Relating to the Treasonable Utterances of Iva Toguri d'Aquino (a.k.a. Tokyo Rose) in the Archival Research Catalog (ARC). RG 60, Entry A1 1082, 230/86/19/07 through 86/20/03, 18 boxes
For more information on Mrs. Aquino's requests for clemency, see the Executive Clemency Case Files of Iva Toguri d'Aquino (a.k.a. Tokyo Rose) in the Archival Research Catalog (ARC). RG 204, Entry ZZ 231, 230/86/21/4, 1 box
Mark Streeter also was investigated for broadcasting propaganda for the Japanese, but he was not charged. For more information on this investigation, see Select Subject Files Relating to Investigations of Alleged Treasonable Utterances by Mark Lewis Streeter in the Archival Research Catalog (ARC). RG 60, Entry A1 1083, 230/86/20/03 through 86/20/04, 12 boxes
Arthur Rudolph was a Nazi rocket scientist brought to the United States after the war to work on the U.S. rocket program. He served the U.S. until voluntarily agreeing to leave the country and renounce his U.S. citizenship after being investigated for possible war crimes. For information relating mainly to background investigations of Rudolph during the time he worked for the U.S., see Records Relating to Arthur Rudolph in the Archival Research Catalog (ARC). RG 60, Entry A1 1025, 230/903/21/7, 1 box
Aldo Icardi was accused of lying about his complicity in the murder of his commanding officer, Major William Holohan, during a mission in Italy. The charges were dismissed. For more information, see Select Subject Files Relating to Investigations of Alleged Treasonable Utterances by Aldo Icardi in the Archival Research Catalog (ARC). RG 60, Entry A1 1084, 230/86/20/05 through 86/21/02, 33 boxes
Tomoya Kawakita was convicted of treason and sentenced to death for mistreating U.S. POWs, but was eventually deported. For more information on his requests for clemency, see Executive Clemency Case Files of Tomoya Kawakita in the Archival Research Catalog (ARC). RG 204, Entry A1 1007, 230/86/21/2 through 86/21/3, Boxes 1-10.
The Clemency and Parole Board for War Criminals considered clemency, reduction of sentence, or parole for Japanese convicted of war crimes committed during World War II. For more information on the Board, including references to crimes thought to be too heinous for clemency or parole, see Select Documents Relating to the Clemency and Parole Board for War Criminals in the Archival Research Catalog (ARC). RG 204, Entry ZZ 232, 230/86/21/4, 1 box.
All questions regarding these and other relevant records likely to be in the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration should be directed to: Archives2reference@nara.gov
Records of the Office of Alien Property (Record Group 131)
Miscellaneous Classified Records, 1941-1963 (Entry A1-281)
Boxes 1-11 location: 230/40/45/5
This series consists of reports, letters, memoranda, microfilm, and other records that relate to the various functions and responsibilities of the Office of Alien Property during and after World War II. Major topics include negotiations among the former Allied powers, and Switzerland and Sweden, over the disposition of vested foreign assets, and the claims arising from the seizure of those assets; and FBI investigations into people and corporations suspected of Nazi war crimes or Axis power sympathies.
The seized assets included currencies and financial instruments, patents and trademarks, and films. The companies involved included Bank Waedenswil, Contibank (Continentale Handelsbank) and the American Potash and Chemical Corporation, Deutsches Kalisyndikaat, I.G. Chemie, Interhandel (Internationale Industrie - und Handelsbeteilgungen AG), and the General Aniline and Film Corporation.
There are investigative/biographical files on Emil Georg Buehrle, a Swiss industrialist and noted art collector; Paul Otto Schmidt, Hitler's interpreter and German Foreign Office official; Otto Skorzeny, a German SS officer, and many lesser-known people.
Other topics include Swiss bank secrecy; international conferences on reparations by the former Axis powers; the possible post-war vesting of Bulgarian, Hungarian, and Rumanian Government assets in the U.S.; correspondence of then-Secretary of the Treasury Henry Morgenthau, Jr. relating to foreign funds; drafts of the section of the U.S.-Japan peace treaty dealing with claims and property; Safehaven program negotiations to prevent the disappearance of assets looted by the Axis powers; microfilm of membership cards of non-German Nazi Party members; FBI investigations into employees of the Office of Alien Property (OAP) and people being considered for positions with corporations seized and operated by the Department of Justice; drafts of regulations that might be needed by the OAP to control foreign assets in the event of another war; and investigations into the alleged Communist leanings of Thomas J. Brandon, President of Brandon Films, distribution licensee for some foreign films vested by the OAP.
Vesting Order Case Files, 1942-1963 (Entry UD-UP3)
Boxes 335-472 Location: B190/80/7/7
Case files consisting of copies of vesting orders, recommendations for vesting, court documents, agreements, hearing examination files, orders nullifying all or part of original vesting order, and other legal, financial, and investigative records. Arranged numerically by Vesting Order number.
Box list and summaries of selected vesting orders
All questions regarding these and other relevant records likely to be in the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration should be directed to: Archives2reference@nara.gov
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