159. [World War II]. Typed letter signed (“Simon H. Rifkind”) as Adviser to the Theater Commander on Jewish Affiars, 1 page (8 x 10.5 in.; 203 x 267 mm.), Headquarters, U.S. Forces, European Theatre, Office of the Military Government (U.S. Zone), 8 March 1946, written to Lt. Gen. Geoffrey Keyes, Commanding General, Seventh U.S. Army. Minor flaws at upper edge. In full: “Now that my assignment has come to an end, I take the liberty of thanking you and your officers for the cooperation extended to me and the kindness and consideration always shown me. I should like you to know that I have appreciated it highly.” In 1945 and 1946, as an adviser on Jewish affairs for the Army in Europe, Simon H. Rifkind championed uprooted Holocaust survivors who were then in Germany and Austria and made appeals for more aid to them. That experience led President Harry S. Truman to award him the Medal of Freedom in 1945 and helped lead him to champion the creation of the State of Israel. A prominent New York lawyer whose later clients included Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, later served as a Federal Court Judge and Chairman of the Board of the American Jewish Committee and the Jewish Theological Seminary. 

President Harry Truman deals with Concentration Camp Survivors in Post War Germany, while General Dwight D. Eisenhower deals with the morale of soldiers whose return home is being inexplicably delayed.

Gen. Keyes typed copy of his “Address to UNRRA Displaced Persons’ Training School,” 5 pages (8 x 10.5 in.; 203 x 267 mm.), 30 October 1946. In part:
 ”The Commander in Chief of our Armed Forces, President Harry Truman, with the full approval of the American People, set the policy that the United States Zone would be a haven for the oppressed peoples of all nations … You will learn of the problems and the many almost insurmountable difficulties encountered in caring for the hundreds of thousands of persons of many races and nationalities, speaking many tongues. All however, were victims of the most inhumane campaign the history of the world has ever recorded … The United States Zone has been made a haven where they could find at least a temporary home and make a start back to a normal peaceful life - - a life free from the gripping fear of the concentration camp and organized brutality …” Founded in 1943, the purpose of UNRRA (United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration) was to “plan, co-ordinate, administer or arrange for the administration of measures for the relief of victims of war in any area under the control of any of the United Nations through the provision of food, fuel, clothing, shelter and other basic necessities, medical and other essential services.” 

Printed
 ”Proclamation To Polish Displaced Persons in the Third US Army Area from General Keyes”, 1 page (8 x 10.5 in.; 203 x 267 mm.) Not signed. Urging “non-Jewish Poles in the US Zone of Germany to reexamine the desirability of repatriation in your home land … Spend this Christmas in Poland!!!” Reports from Warsaw indicated that many Polish Jews intended to join repatriation transports and return to Poland, either to resettle there permanently, or to wait for an opportunity to immigrate legally to Palestine. 

Dwight D. Eisenhower. File Copy of a letter from Gen. Eisenhower to Gen. Keyes, 1 page (8 x 10.5 in.; 203 x 267 mm.), Headquarters, U.S. Forces, European Theater, Office of the Commanding General, 12 September 1945. Concerning a survey among 
”troops in all theaters.” In part: ”It showed that 43% of the men interviewed reported that their officers had nothing to say concerning the reasons for delay in separating; that 74% of the men reported that reason advanced for this delay was lack of transportation facilities; that 15% reported the nonavailability of replacements as the reason. It is a tribute to the intelligence of the American soldier that despite the large percentage who reported that their officers failed to proffer any reason, they understood the problem involved and accepted the situation at its face value. I realize that many significant events have occurred since this survey was conducted. However, it is evident that prior to the capitulation of Japan … our officers failed to keep the men informed of the reasons for delays in returning them home. It is imperative that appropriate instructions be issued to all echelons to the effect that both officers and enlisted men will be fully informed of the reasons for any delay in connection with their return home and that no frivolous answer be given to any inquiry on this subject. I believe that if such an indoctrination program is rigidly adhered to and our soldiers fully informed of just what is happening, a high state of morale in the men and officers will be maintained …” 

Also included are Gen. Keyes’ unsigned typed “Notes on Talk to Third Army Officers – April 1946”, “Notes of Address to 250 Officers, EM. Civilians of USFA, Yank Theater, Vienna, 21 March 1947”, “Notes of Talk to Graduating Class” (Regular Army Officers), and an address to “Third Army War Department Civilian Employees,” 13 pages in all. 

Provenance: From the Estate of Lieutenant General Geoffrey Keyes. $3,000 - $5,000

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June 11, 2015 11:00 AM PDT
26662 Agoura Rd
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