Bernard Bernstein
| Bernard Bernstein | |
|---|---|
| Born |
November 30, 1908 New York City, New York |
| Died |
February 6, 1990 (aged 81) New York City, New York |
| Nationality | United States |
| Alma mater | Columbia Law School |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Known for | Advisor to Dwight D. Eisenhower |
Bernard Bernstein (30 November 1908 – 6 February 1990) was an American economist and public official. As a U.S. Army colonel, he served as a financial adviser to General Eisenhower in World War II, and after the war was on the Control Commission for Germany, but was removed when the Morgenthau Plan, with which he was associated, was not adopted.[1][2] Additionally, he held multiple offices concurrently. From 1933 until 1948, he was an Attorney for the U.S. Treasury Department. From 1942 through 1943, he was a Financial Adviser, North African Economic Control Board. From 1944 through 1945, he was Director, Finance Division and Director of the Division of Investigation of Cartels and External Assets, U.S. Group Control Commission for Germany. From 1942 through 1945, he acted as Financial Adviser to Gen. Eisenhower for Civil Affairs and Military Government, European Theater of Operations and MTO.[2]
In 1945 he was in charge of producing a paper that documented the culpability of I.G. Farben for its part in the Holocaust and German militarism. He so testified before the U.S. Congress.[3]
After returning to civilian life, he served as a legal counsel to the American Jewish Conference.[4]
On February 6, 1990, at New York Hospital he died of cardiac arrest. He was survived by his wife, Bernice Bernstein née Lotwin and three children.[1]
His accumulated papers date from 1933 to 1955 in bulk. They include documents from 1863 to 1993. The collection — 10.8 linear feet in 27 boxes amounting to 22,500 pages — is deposited in the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library. In the main, they document Bernstein's army officer work investigating “the economic resources of the Third Reich (its looted gold and other assets, as well as the activities of German cartels), and in formulating financial policies for Germany and other areas of Europe under Allied occupation.”[4]
References
- 1 2 "Obituary". New York Times. 7 February 1990. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
- 1 2 McKinzie, Richard D. (23 July 1975). "Oral History Interview with Bernard Bernstein". New York, New York: Harry S. Truman Library. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
- ↑ Bernstein, Bernard (December 1945). "Without IG Farben,WWII Would Not Have Been Possible!". Elimination of German Resources for War. Washington, D.C.: War Department/Government Printing Office. Retrieved 12 November 2012.
- 1 2 Bilger, Dennis; Sowell, Randy. "Bernard Bernstein Papers". Harry S. Truman Library. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
Further reading
- Petrov, Vladimir (1967). Money and conquest; allied occupation currencies in World War II. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins Press. pp. 228–29.