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Re: When did the first microfilms of the SS personnel files from the Berlin Doc Ctr arrive at NARA?
Rachael Salyer
Jan 29, 2018 7:15 AM
2 people found this helpfulDear Ms. Haran,
Thank you for sharing your question with the History Hub.
In 1994 the National Archives accessioned microfilm copies of the biographic collections held by the former Berlin Document Center (BDC). These collections, totaling approximately 39,000 microfilm rolls, include: personnel records for SS (including Waffen-SS) officers and, to a lesser extent, SS enlisted personnel; membership registries and associated correspondence of the Nazi Party; documentation on membership in Nazi-affiliated or -sponsored organizations; and records relating to the naturalization of ethnic Germans during World War II.
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Re: When did the first microfilms of the SS personnel files from the Berlin Doc Ctr arrive at NARA?
What, then do you make of this? In March, 1994, the New Yorker published an article by Gerald Posner about the BDC (SECRETS OF THE FILES | The New Yorker ). It's behind a paywall but if you google the title and author, other ways of viewing it become apparent. Posner interviewed David Marwell, the director. About halfway through the article, he states "In 1968, the B.D.C. began microfilming its collection, with the notion that the United States might at some point relinquish control to the Germans, but then halted the project in 1972." He does not give a source for this information. I'm trying to figure out what happened with the microfilms generated by this 4-year effort. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know. In the meantime, I'll see if I can find Mr. Posner and ask him directly.
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Re: When did the first microfilms of the SS personnel files from the Berlin Doc Ctr arrive at NARA?
Rachael Salyer
Jan 30, 2018 7:14 AM
2 people found this helpfulDear Ms. Haran,
It’s my understanding that the microfilming project (despite some stops and starts) was all part of one cumulative effort to film the biographical records of the BDC, so the films made from 1968-1972 would have been part of the eventual 1994 transfer to the National Archives.
This Congressional transcript from April 28, 1994 may offer further insights; it provides a good overview of the BDC, the microfilming project, and the eventual transfer of the records from the U.S. Department of State to German custody: Full text of "U.S.-German agreement on the transfer of German control of Nazi Party records in the Berlin Document Cente…
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Re: When did the first microfilms of the SS personnel files from the Berlin Doc Ctr arrive at NARA?
2 people found this helpfulAn update: I have heard back from David Marwell, the director (former) of the BDC, about this question. He confirmed that the microfilms made during the earlier period were NOT sent to Washington DC until 1994. So, there you have it, right from the horse's mouth. If anyone would know, he would.