Posted: 2/22/2008 1:13:07 PM EDT
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I was just reading about Patton and apparently he smuggled a copy out in violation of some law: From Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_Laws An original typescript of the laws signed by Hitler himself was found by the 203rd Detachment of the U.S. Army's Counter-Intelligence Corps (CIC), commanded by Martin Dannenberg, in Eichstätt, Bavaria, Germany, on April 27, 1945. It was appropriated by General George S. Patton, in violation of JCS 1067. During a visit to Los Angeles, California, he secretly handed it over to the Huntington Library. The document was stored until June 26, 1999 when its existence was revealed. Although legal ownership of the document has not been established, it is on permanent loan to the Skirball Cultural Center, which placed it on public display three days later. Anyone know why this violated the JCS 1067 law and why that would be a big deal? Also, I recall reading something about two watches meaning something or causing controversy in the famous Riechstag Building flag raising. Anyone know what the deal was with that? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Reichstag_flag.jpg (The officer below the guy raising the flag has two watches.) |
I know nothing about 1067, but I think the two watch thing was controversial because it was viewed as a blatant example of looting. That or he was a fan of I Am Legend. |
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JCS Order 1067 was issued to collect, protect and retain any and all papers, materials, etc, of a military related scientific nature. In particular regarding the Nazi rocket program. "On April 26 the Joint Chiefs of Staff issued Order1067, directing General Eisenhower to preserve from destruction and take under your control records, plans,documents, papers, files and scientific, industrial and other information and data belonging to,.,Geman organizations engaged in military research" It is also why a complete research/production facility, with all records and plans (including the plans for the Nazi's intercontinental rocket) were preserved and not destroyed. They ended up being turned over to the Russians. It was the plant at Nordhausen (?), I think. Not sure what it would have to do with anything regarding the Nuremberg laws and Patton. |
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Patton brought a LOT of "souvenirs" back with him. IIRC, he appropriated one of the very large Nuremburg imperial eagles for himself, which was one of the largest brought back to these shores. It might be in the West Point museum today, or else the Patton family probably still owns it. BTW - I have a massive railroad eagle from the Third Reich in my collection. It has a four foot wingspan. |