Very rare, possibly one of a kind. A secret memorandum regarding the handling of German POW's in America after V-E day. This was before the end of the war so the camps were preparing for repatriation. Probably only seen by the camp commanders and high rank officers. Very interesting, a full transcript is below:
SECRET
Chicago, Illinois
14 April 1945
Memorandum for: Director, Security and Intelligence Division
Subject: V-E Day Program for German Prisoner of War Camps
The following informal advance Information on above mentioned subject is passed on for your personal information.
The Adjutant General is about to distribute a secret directive on above mentioned subject which will contain an address by General Somervell to be read at a special formation of prisoners and all prisoner of war camp personnel. This address will be furnished you in English as well as in German. It contains, roughly speaking, information regarding the future treatment of German prisoners of war in this country, and is to be put in the form of a proclamation signed by General Lerch, The Provost Marshal General, for General Somervell, which will outlaw the Nazi salute: which will confiscate all Nazi insignia worn on the uniforms of the soldiers, and will generally confiscate any insignia or other emblem which might associate the prisoner of war with the then defunct Nazi Government.
It will prohibit any threat toward anti-Nazis on the part of Nazi supporters, and will subject any prisoner of war who violates these instructions to courts martial, a prescribed by U.S. Army Courts Martial Manual.
It will, in addition to the above, direct that the camp commander will read to the prisoners of war a "canned" address, in which he will state that the German Army has been defeated twice within the last 25 years, and that there no longer exists a German Government; only a free election, held at some future time, will take its place. During the interim period, the Allied Military Government of Occupied Germany is the sole authority for the handling of prisoners of war in this country, and this Government will comply with the instructions issued by it. Prisoners of war should be told that the question of repatriation or priority of repatriation depends entirely on their willingness to cooperate with us, and they are warned that any disobedience on their party will only postpone for an indefinite time, their repatriation to their "cherished fatherland."
Above proclamation and speech, after being read to the prisoners of war, will be posted at various conspicuous places within the compound.
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Prisoners of war will not be told that the United States Government intends to continue to adhere to the provisions of the Geneva Convention, but they will be left guessing.
It is hoped that the above short synopsis of the forthcoming directive will be of some help to you. It should not be considered an official directive, but purely an informal advance informational memorandum.
ROY M INBODY Major, Infantry
Special Projects Officer
SECRET