740.00119 Control
(Austria)/6–2345
No. 270
The Informal
Policy Committee on Germany to the Secretary of State
top secret
Washington, 23 June
1945.
Memorandum for the Secretary of State
Subject: Directive to Commander in Chief of U.
S. Forces of Occupation1 regarding the Military
Government of Austria.
References: a. IPCOG 9.2
b. IPCOG 9/1.2
c. IPCOG 9/2.3
On 23 June 1945 the Informal Policy Committee on Germany approved
the enclosed “Directive to Commander in Chief of U. S. Forces of
Occupation regarding the Military Government of Austria”. The
Joint Chiefs of Staff have advised the Committee that they
perceive no objection to this directive from a military point of
view.
The enclosure is transmitted for your guidance and such
implementation as is deemed appropriate. Copies of this
directive are being similarly forwarded to the Secretaries of
War, the Navy and the Treasury; the Foreign Economic
Administrator; and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
. . . . . . .
For the Informal Policy Committee on Germany:
W. L. Clayton
Chairman
[Enclosure]
Directive to Commander in Chief of U.
S. Forces of Occupation Regarding the Military
Government of Austria
top secret
[Washington,]
23 June
1945.
IPCOG 9/2
References: a. IPCOG 9
b. IPCOG 9/1
1. The enclosure, a revision of IPCOG 9 to incorporate the amendment proposed
by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as approved by the Informal
[Page 338]
Policy
Committee on Germany on 23 June 1945, is circulated for
information and guidance.
. . . . . . .
Charles W. McCarthy
Alvin F. Richardson
Raymond E. Cox
Secretariat
Directive to Commander in Chief of US
Forces of Occupation Regarding the Military Government
of Austria
top secret
1. The Purpose and Scope
of this Directive:
-
a.
- This directive is issued to you as Commanding General
of the United States forces of occupation in Austria. As
such you will serve as United States member of the
Governing Body of the Allied Administration and will
also be responsible for the administration of military
government in the zone or zones assigned to the United
States for purposes of occupation and administration. It
outlines the basic policies which will guide you in
those two capacities after the termination of the
combined command in Austria. Supplemental directives
will be issued to you by the Joint Chiefs of Staff as
may be required.
-
b.
- As a member of the Governing Body you will urge the
adoption by the other occupying powers of the principles
and policies set forth in this directive and, pending
Governing Body agreement, you will follow them in your
zone. It is anticipated that substantially similar
directives will be issued to the Commanders in Chief of
the United Kingdom, the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics, and French forces of occupation.
-
c.
- In the event that recognition is given by the four
governments to a provisional national government of
Austria, such government should be delegated authority
in appropriate matters to conduct public affairs in
accordance with the principles set forth in this
directive or agreed upon by the occupying powers. Such
delegation, however, shall be subject to the authority
of the occupying powers and to their responsibility to
see that their policies are in fact carried out.
-
d.
- Any provisional national government of Austria which
is not recognized by all of the four Governments of the
occupying powers
[Page 339]
shall not be treated by you as possessing any
authority. Only individuals who recognize your supreme
authority in your zone will be utilized by you in
administration.
part i
general and political
. . . . . . .
4. Basic Objectives of
Military Government in Austria:
-
a.
- You will be chiefly concerned in the initial stages of
military government with the elimination of German
domination and Nazi influences. Consistently with this
purpose, you will be guided at every step by the
necessity to ensure the reconstruction of Austria as a
free, independent and democratic state. It will be
essential therefore that every measure be undertaken
from the early stages of occupation with this objective
in mind.
-
b.
- The Governing Body should, as soon as it is
established, proclaim the complete political and
administrative separation of Austria from Germany, and
the intention of the occupying powers to pave the way
for the reestablishment of Austria as an independent
democratic state. You will make it clear to the Austrian
people that military occupation of Austria is intended
principally (1) to aid Allied military operations and
the strict enforcement of the applicable provisions of
the German unconditional surrender instrument in
Austria; (2) to eliminate Nazism, Pan-Germanism,
militarism, and other forces opposed to the democratic
reconstitution of Austria; (3) to cooperate with the
Control Council for Germany in the application and
enforcement of measures designed to prevent the
recurrence of German aggression; (4) to establish Allied
control over the use and disposition of German property
in Austria; (5) to effect the complete political and
administrative separation of Austria from Germany and
free Austria from Nazi and German economic and financial
influences; (6) to facilitate the development of a sound
Austrian economy devoted to peaceful pursuits and not
vitally dependent upon German supplies, markets and
technical and financial assistance; and (7) to foster
the restoration of local self-government and the
establishment of an Austrian central government freely
elected by the Austrian people themselves. Other
objectives of the occupation will be to apprehend war
criminals, to care for and repatriate displaced persons
and prisoners-of-war who are members of the armed forces
of the United Nations, and to carry out approved
programs of reparation and restitution insofar as these
are applicable to Austria.
. . . . . . .
