This series includes cables, charts, circulars, correspondence, directives, interrogations, lists, legal opinions, licenses, military government laws, memorandums, minutes of meetings, receipts, reports, regulations, and staff studies. The records pertain to the organization, functions, and activities of the Property Control and External Assets Branch. The records were maintained by the External Assets Branch until July 1949 when they were briefly maintained by the Office of Military Government for Germany (U.S.) until September 1949. In September 1949 the records became the responsibility of the Office of the U.S. High Commissioner for Germany. Included are records relating to the interpretation and implementation of Allied Control Council Directive No. 50, disposition of petitions involving claims to properties in the British and French zones and the western section of Berlin, and property control. Also included are records pertaining to locating, reporting, tabulating, and investigating German external aspects. Among the records are those pertaining to property taken from Dachau concentration camp inmates; radium looted by the Germans; "Operation Sparkler," which was the return of precious stones and metals to their original owners; lists of the property of war criminals subject to control; English translation of 11 German language newspapers in the four zones of Germany; and Safehaven reports on Axis attempts to export assets to neutral countries.
