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The Central Information Division (CID) of the R & A Branch served as the repository for all but the most sensitive intelligence documents obtained by all OSS branches and from other intelligence agencies. The records held by the CID, organized into several series with accompanying indexes, constitute a general intelligence collection of military, political, economic, and social information for all areas of the world during the war. These series also include data collected by the Coordinator of Information as early as July 1941. {Note 1}
Records of the Office of the Chief
General Correspondence 1942-1946 (Entry 1)
Boxes 1-35 location: 190/3/1/01
Box # Folder #. File Title or Subject
2 2 Board of Economic Warfare
3 MEW [Ministry of Economic Warfare] location: 190/3/1/01
3 2-5 Department of State location: 190/3/1/01
6 6-7 Latin America location: 190/3/1/01
26 5 New York-includes file entitled "Safe-Haven Project"
location: 190/3/1/04
Despatches Received from Neutral Posts 1941-1942 (Entry 4)
Boxes 1-4 location: 190/3/1/06
Box # Location
1-2 Bern, 1941-1944{Note 2} location: 190/3/1/06
3 Helsinki, Lisbon, 1941-1942 location: 190/3/1/06
4 Madrid, Rio de Janeiro, Stockholm, 1941-1942 location: 190/3/1/06
"Most Secret" Cablegrams Received from OSS Outposts 1942-1944 (Entry 5)
Arranged alphabetically by name of post from which received and thereunder chronologically in two subseries: cablegrams relating to shipping and cablegrams relating to all other matters. Boxes 1-5 location: 190/3/1/07
Security-Classified Cablegrams Sent To and Received From OSS Outposts 1944-1946 (Entry 6)
Arranged alphabetically by name of outpost and thereunder chronologically. Boxes 1-14 location: 190/3/1/07
Formerly Security-Classified Information Studies and Reports Concerning Political, Sociological, and Economic Conditions in Various Countries ("R and A Reports") 1941-1946 (Entry 8) {Note 3}
These records are arranged numerically (1-3492, with considerable gaps), with several subject and miscellaneous reports appended to the end of the numerical arrangement. These reports comprise studies of conditions of particular situations in general and specific areas, interviews with diplomatic representatives or area experts, and studies prepared by other intelligence operations. The overwhelming majority of reports concern developments in the Far East. Apparently no complete listing or index to the series exists. However in folder 2992 of Box 216 of Entry 146 there are partial listings, giving the name of the report, the report number, date of the report, and often a snyposis of the report. location: 190/8/25/03 Also in folder 66 of Box 6 of Entry 157 there are similar listings; location: 190/9/4/04
Boxes 1-64 location: 190/3/2/03
Security-Classified Weekly "Notes of Economic Intelligence" Prepared by the British Ministry of Economic Warfare 1942 (Entry 12)
Arranged chronologically. Box 1 location: 190/3/3/06
Intelligence Reports ("Regular" Series) 1941-1945 (Entry 16)
The "regular" designation simply indicated that documents from this series could be borrowed by OSS staff and other agencies. This series covers all matters of intelligence interest during the war. The reports in this series were numbered as they were received, without regard for origin, subject, or chronology. There are no cover or forwarding sheets to indicate the processing of individual reports, nor is any indication provided concerning the use made or internal OSS processing of these reports. A number of reports were withdrawn by the State Department during the early postwar period and became integrated in that agency's files; sometimes these transfers are indicated by withdrawal cards. A number of reports are available as "sanitized" reproductions, with portions deleted for continued security classification. The series is arranged numerically (1-145,317, with some gaps). Most of the records have been microfilmed as NARA Microfilm Publication 1499
Boxes 1-1685 location: 190/3/11/04
Name and Subject Index to the "Regular" Intelligence Reports [Series 16]
(Entry 14)
This index is arranged in three subseries (persons, countries, and subjects), each thereunder arranged alphabetically. Entries under "countries" also include major islands; some specific regions; and general entries for "Allied Countries" and "Axis Countries." Within each entry of each subseries, the cards are arranged according to a numerical classification scheme. An explanation of the numerical scheme is provided at the beginning of the series. Each card identifies information from a single report, with references to the report's number and original security classification status; title; date; source; and a description of contents.
Boxes 1-436 location: 190/3/4/04
Boxes Topics Location
62 Metal-Gold{Note 4} 190/3/5/03
72-82 Companies and Firms 190/3/5/04
Country
107-109 Argentina 190/3/6/01
110-113 Austria 190/3/6/01
113-117 Axis 190/3/6/02
200-247 Germany 190/3/7/04
276-294 Italy 190/3/8/05
330 Monaco 190/3/9/04
358-363 Portugal 190/3/9/07
384-392 Spain 190/3/10/03
393-395 Sweden 190/3/10/04
396-397 Switzerland 190/3/10/04
404-409 Turkey 190/3/10/05
427-428 Vatican City 190/3/10/07
Formerly Security-Classified Intelligence Reports ("XL" Series) 1941-46
(Entry 19)
Similar in content to the "regular reports" (entry 16), this series is also arranged numerically (XL 1-51,494, with gaps), with some unnumbered documents appended to the end of the series. "XL" denoted more limited distribution than that governing "regular" intelligence reports: OSS staff members could borrow "XL" documents for use, but members of other agencies could not. The wide range of intelligence content, however, matches that of the principal series of intelligence reports, with the possible addition of more data for the 1945-1946 period. The distinguishing characteristic of this series lies in the large number of captured German documents, most of which constitute original copies.
Boxes 1-7 location: 190/4/12/06
Boxes 264-474 location: 190/B/1/07
Formerly Security-Classified Intelligence Reports ("L" Series) 1942-45
(Entry 21)
This series is closely related to the two preceding intelligence series. It is arranged numerically (L1-58,678). The information was obtained directly by the OSS' Secret Intelligence Branch, and it could only be used in a special reading room by approved OSS personnel. The series' contents reflect more sensitive political intelligence matters.
Boxes 1-457 location: 190/4/23/06
Name and Subject Indexes to the "XL" and "L" Series [Entries 19, 21] (Entry 17)
These card indexes are arranged in three subseries (persons, countries or geographic areas, and subjects), each thereunder arranged alphabetically. The entries within each subseries follow the same numerical classification scheme as described for the name and subject indexes to the "regular" intelligence reports; the format and content of the card indexes also remains the same. Boxes 1-120 location: 190/4/10/07
Box # Topics
1-10 Names of individuals and companies location: 190/4/10/07
11-16 Subjects location: 190/4/11/01
16-120 Countries location: 190/4/11/01
19 Argentina location: 190/4/11/01
20-21 Austria location: 190/4/11/01
21 Axis location: 190/4/11/02
36-43 France location: 190/4/11/04
43-65 Germany location: 190/4/11/04
74-78 Italy location: 190/4/11/07
97-98 Portugal location: 190/4/12/03
104-107 Spain location: 190/4/12/04
108 Sweden location: 190/4/12/05
108-109 Switzerland location: 190/4/12/05
111-112 Turkey location: 190/4/12/06
117 Vatican location: 190/4/12/06
Card Abstracts of Intelligence Reports ("regular," "L," and "XL" series) Relating to Conditions and Events in European Countries 1942-1945 (Entry 24)
These card indexes are arranged by original dissemination number of report, which merely identify the internal OSS dissemination numbers for CID reports. Boxes 1-23 location: 190/5/3/01
Records of Divisions
Records of the Economics Division
Security-Classified Correspondence of Emile Despres, Division Chief of the Economics Division 1941-1945 (Entry 27)
Arranged alphabetically by subject. Some of the documents originated in the Office of the Coordinator of Information and others reflect Mr. Despres' assignment as a part-time official of the Department of State.
Boxes 1-2 location: 190/5/3/07
Box # File Title or Subject
1 Cartels
Austria
General Conditions-Scandinavia
Axis Capabilities
Germany
Liberated Areas
Military Government-Germany location: 190/5/3/07
2 OSS and State-Germany-Foreign Trade
Post-War Economic and Financial Problems
Outpost Correspondence 1944
State-Germany-Objectives of US Economic Policy, Post Surrender Measures
State-Reparations
State-Treatment of Germany
Sweden
OSS-Board of Economic Warfare
Objectives and Functions of MG Program location: 190/5/4/01
Security-Classified Correspondence and Reports 1942-1944 (Entry 28)
Arranged by subject.
Box 1 location: 190/5/4/01
Security-Classified Reports Prepared by the Economics Division of the Office of the Coordinator of Information 1941-1942 (Entry 29)
Arranged and numbered in chronological order.
Box 3 location: 190/5/4/01
Security-Classified Reports Concerning Recovery of Looted Art Treasures in Germany 1940-1945 (Entry 30)
Box 1 location: 190/5/4/01
Security-Classified Reports Relating to Military Supplies of the Axis Powers 1942-1944 (Entry 33)
Arranged and numbered by date of receipt.
Box 1 location: 190/5/4/02
Security-Classified Reports on Industrial Resources of Axis Powers 1942-1943 (Entry 34)
Arranged and numbered by date of receipt.
Boxes 2-3 location: 190/5/4/01
Security-Classified Reports Concerning German Trade and Shipping 1942 (Entry 35)
Arranged chronologically.
Box 2 location: 190/5/4/01
Security-Classified Reports Relating to Economic and Industrial Conditions in Germany 1943-1944 (Entry 36)
Arranged and numbered in chronological order.
Box 2 location: 190/5/4/01
Records of the Europe-Africa Division
Security-Classified Correspondence of the Division Chief 1942-1945 (Entry 37)
Arranged alphabetically by subject or by name or person or agency. Some unarranged material is at the end of the series. Boxes 1-7 location: 190/5/4/02
Box # File Title or Subject
1 JIC[Joint Intelligence Committee]-Estimate of the Enemy Situation in the European Theater [May 1944]
American Foreign Policy
Civil Affairs Division (2 folders)
Treatment of Germany location: 190/5/4/02
2 Alien Property Custodian
Biographical Records R&A Branch
British Intelligence Agencies
Civil Affairs Division
Civil Affairs (2 folders)
CIOS [Combined Intelligence Objectives Subcommittee]
Central European Section location: 190/5/4/02
3 Economic Subdivision
Foreign Economic Administration
Industry and Trade Section
Commerce Department
Insurance Intelligence Unit
Interdepartmental Committee
Europe-Africa Division Monthly Reports
Intelligence Directives location: 190/5/4/02
4 Joint Intelligence Committee-Joint Chiefs of Staff
Office of War Information
Justice Department
Latin America Division
Near East Section
Political Subdivision
POW Interrogations
Italian Section location: 190/5/4/02
5 Intelligence Requirements
Securities and Exchange Commission
R&A History location: 190/5/4/02
6 War Department Correspondence
War Refugee Board
UNRRA
Western European Section
War Crimes Program location: 190/5/4/02
7 JANIS Studies
Axis Capabilities Teams location: 190/5/4/03
Security-Classified General Correspondence 1941-1945 (Entry 38)
Arranged alphabetically by subject or by name of person or agency. Some unarranged material is at the end of the series. Boxes 1-6 location: 190/5/4/03
Box # File Title or Subject
1 Economics Division
Board of Economic Warfare
Commerce Department
Central Current Information Division location: 190/5/4/03
2 Department of Justice
Library of Congress location: 190/5/4/03
2-3 Reading Files September 1941-June 1944 location: 190/5/4/03
4 War Department location: 190/5/4/03
5-6 Miscellaneous location: 190/5/4/03
Security-Classified Correspondence Relating to Outposts 1942-1945 (Entry 39)
Arranged alphabetically by subject and thereunder chronologically.
Boxes 1-3 location: 190/5/4/04
Security-Classified Correspondence and Reports Relating to Affairs and Conditions in Europe and Africa 1942-1945 (Entry 40)
Correspondence unarranged; reports arranged numerically.
Boxes 1-2 location: 190/5/4/04
Security-Classified Cablegrams Received From and Sent To Outposts 1944-1945
(Entry 41)
Arranged according to incoming and outgoing subseries and thereunder chronologically. Box 1 location: 190/5/4/04
Security-Classified Monthly Progress Reports September 1943-June 1945 (Entry 42)
Arranged chronologically. Box 1 location: 190/5/4/04
Security-Classified "Civil Affairs Guides" and Correspondence Relating to Conditions and Institutions in Germany and German-Occupied Countries 1944-1945 (Entry 44)
Arranged by name of country and thereunder by subject.
Boxes 1-8 location: 190/5/4/05
Box # File Title or Subject
1 France (5 folders)
Belgium
Italy
Germany
Netherlands location: 190/5/4/05
2 France
Germany location: 190/5/4/05
3 Guides to the Elimination of Nazis and Pro-Nazis From Positions of Power (7 folders)
3-4 Guides to the Elimination of Nazi Political, Cultural and Quasi- Governmental Institutions location: 190/5/4/05
4-6 Economic Planning Guides location: 190/5/4/05
6 Guides to Ownership and Control of Property (6 folders)
location: 190/5/4/03
7 Guides to Trade and Financial Institutions (8 folders) location: 190/5/4/03
8 Austria (9 folders) location: 190/5/4/05
Security-Classified Records Relating to Outpost Activities in France 1944-1945
(Entry 49)
Arranged by type of record and thereunder chronologically.
Boxes 1-2 location: 190/5/4/07
Security-Classified Records Relating to Outposts in Germany 1945 (Entry 50)
Arranged by type of record and thereunder chronologically.
Box 1 location: 190/5/4/07
Security-Classified Records Relating to Outposts in Italy 1943-1945 (Entry 51)
Arranged by type of record and thereunder chronologically.
Boxes 1-3 location: 190/5/4/07
Security-Classified Records Relating to the London Outpost 1944-1945 (Entry 52)
Arranged by type of record and thereunder chronologically.
Boxes 1-5 location: 190/5/5/01
Records of the Latin American Division
Security-Classified Biweekly Latin American Situation Reports 1944-1945 (Entry 56)
Arranged chronologically. Boxes 1-2 location: 190/5/5/03
Records of the Research and Analysis Branch: Latin American Section 1940-1945
(Entry 175)
Boxes 1-2 location: 190/9/19/05
Box # Folder # File Title or Subject
1 1 German and other nationalities in Brazil
Germans in Blumenau, Brazil
Axis investments
Nazi organizations
Franquist and Falangist organizations
2 Latin America-economic problems
Argentine revolt
Foreign capital in Brazil
Effect of war in Argentina
3 Spanish policy
6 Latin American Economic Newsletters #38-44
2 7 South Germany-Analysis of political and social organization, economic controls, etc. 736pp. September 22, 1944
8 Committee on the Coordination and Analysis of Latin American Information-Analysis reports and minutes of meetings. September 16-December 17, 1941
Records of the Interdepartmental Committee for the Acquisition of Foreign Publications
Security-Classified Interrogation Reports of German Prisoners of War Relating to the Condition of German Archives, Libraries, Book Trade, and Publishing Industry 1944-1945 (Entry 66)
Arranged numerically. These interrogations were conducted in England by the Interdepartmental Committee. Box 1 location: 190/5/5/06
Records of Field Offices
Records of the European Theater of Operations
This field office of the Research and Analysis Branch was called the London Office in 1942. In the spring of 1945 the office was moved from London to Paris.
Security-Classified General Correspondence 1944-1945 (Entry 73)
Arranged by subject and thereunder chronologically.
Boxes 1-8 location: 190/5/6/01
Security-Classified Correspondence of Branch Chiefs Chandler Morse and William Langer 1943-1945 (Entry 74)
Arranged by name of person or place or by subject.
Boxes 1-3 location: 190/5/6/02
Security-Classified Correspondence of Deputy Chief Allan Evans 1942-1945 (Entry 75)
Arranged alphabetically by subject and thereunder chronologically.
Boxes 1-4 location: 190/5/6/02
Security-Classified Correspondence of the Biographical Records Division 1944-1945 (Entry 76)
Arranged by name of place or by subject.
Box 1 location: 190/5/6/03
Security-Classified General Correspondence of the Enemy Objective Unit of the Economic Warfare Division 1943-1945 (Entry 77)
Arranged by name of person or by subject
Boxes 1-6 location: 190/5/6/03
Security-Classified Correspondence of the OSS Mission to Germany 1944-1945
(Entry 81)
Arranged according to an alpha-numeric scheme.
Boxes 1-3 location: 190/5/6/04
Security-Classified Reports of the OSS Mission to France Relating to French Political and Economic Conditions 1945 (Entry 82)
Arranged chronologically. Box 1 location: 190/5/6/04
Records of the Mediterranean Theater of Operations
Security-Classified Correspondence 1943-1945 (Entry 83)
Arranged alphabetically subject or by name of person and thereunder chronologically. Boxes 1-2 location: 190/5/6/04
Records Relating to the Research and Analysis Branch Jewish Desk (Entry 191)
These records were accumulated by Irving Dwork and Abraham Druker. {Note 5}
Boxes 1-4 location: 190/10/5/05
Box # Folder # File Title or Subject
1 1 Concentration Camps, Germany.
4 Jews in Hungary, Research and Analysis Branch Report #2027 October 19, 1944
6 Buchenwald 1945
8 Axis Concentration Camps and Deterntion Centers in Europe- Basic Handbook
12 Conspiracy Against the Jewish People-Poland 1945
14 Hungary, Jews 1944
15 Hungarian Jews 1944
16 War Crimes-from Bern October 1944
17 Budapest, Jews in, October 1944
2 18 Central Europe
19 Allied Military Government and the Jewish Problem-Civil Affairs Guide, April 29, 1944
20 Anti-Jewish Measures October 15, 1943
22 The Gestapo August 6, 1945
23 Anti Semitic Propagana of the Nazis in Latin America
24 Conspiracy Against the Jewish People, Germany, 1933-1944
3 25 OSS Report on Rescuse Work [for Jewish refugees] October 25, 1944
{1}Return to text Researchers may find useful the Abraham G. Druker/Irving Dwork Papers (OSS Research and Analysis Branch, Jewish Desk-World War II) (Boxes 1-29 location: 130/75/43/02) in the National Archives Gift Collection (RG 200). Also useful is Barry M. Katz, Foreign Intelligence: Research and Analysis in the Office of Strategic Services 1942-1945 (Cambridge, MA and London, England: Harvard University Press, 1989).
{2}Return to text Allen Welsh Dulles from October 1942 until the end of the war served as Chief of the OSS in Switzerland, with his office on the Herrengasse in Bern. He was assisted by Gerd von Gavernitz, a German-American living in Switzerland. Dulles, late in 1945, would lead the OSS mission to Germany.
{3}Return to text In The Records of the Army Staff (RG 319) described later in this guide are numerous copies of these R & A reports. They can be found within the records contained in the Reports and Messages 1918-1951 (Entry 82A) of the Records of the Document Library of the Reccords of the Records of the Collecting and Dissemination Division. There are also eight boxes of the R & A reports produced during 1944 and 1945 in the records of Records of the Office of Military Government, Bavaria-Records of the Intelligence Division-Records of Predecessor Intelligence Offices, within the Records of the Office of the Military Governor, U.S. (OMGUS) (RG 260), described later in this finding aid. In addition, there are a relatively complete set of the R & A reports, with an index, in Entries 448 and 449, of the Records of the bureau of Intelligence and Research within the General Records of the Department of State (RG 59), described later in this finding aid.
{4}Return to text Contains index cards on General (Bank for International Settlements), Axis, Axis Countries, Belgian Congo, Belgian, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, and Turkey, among others).
{5}Return to text For additional Dwork/Druker records see this guide for records contained in the National Archies Gift Collection (RG 200).
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