IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 1556 WL MF 3
Held at: Wiener Library
Title: Archives du Comité international de la Croix-Rouge (ACICR): G44 Hostages and Political Detainees (microfilm)
Date(s): 1939-1952
Level of description: Collection level (fonds)
Extent: 16 reels
Name of creator(s): Comité international de la Croix-Rouge (International Committee of the Red Cross)
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
Created (or rather re-activated) in 1942 by the Comité international de la Croix-Rouge, the Commission des prisonniers, internés et civils (Commission PIC) was mandated to deal with all questions relating to the treatment of POWs and civilian internees (which included victims of racial persecution and political detainees). It was incumbent upon the PIC to pass on all necessary instructions to those around the world tasked by the CICR to deal with POWs and internees. The PIC acted in the name of the CICR with respect to the practical execution of the latter's directives. It also had to take initiatives in numerous cases where conventional arrangements either no longer existed or had become inooperatve. During the Second World War the PIC worked closely in collaboration with the Division d'assistance spéciale (DAS) to provide material and moral assistance to victims of racial persecution not protected by the Geneva Convention.
In effect up to 1942-1943, questions relating to the persecution of Europe's Jews as well as hostages and political detainees had been dealt with by a variety of different agencies. From 1942 the PIC was charged with the principal questions relating to victims of racial and political persecution. Its activities continued up to the immediate post war period where it became involved with repatriation of deportees.
In addition the Service des colis aux camps de concentration (Service CCC) was created in 1943 and integrated into the DAS in 1944. This organisation worked specifically towards providing assistance for Jews and other civilians in Nazi concentration camps.
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Archives du Comité international de la Croix-Rouge (ACICR) collection, 1939-1952, comprises files, reports and correspondence on the following subject areas: general background on hostages and political detainees; hostages and political detainees in Germany; hostages and political detainess by country and nationality (except Germany); assistance to hostages and political detainees; repatriations of deported; case files (all nationalities); civil war in Greece.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: French, German, English, Italian, Spanish and some Slavic languages
System of arrangement:
The original order has, where possible, been retained. The 7 sub-series are arranged geographically (assistance to hostages and political detainees in different countries); thematically (repatriation of deported, visits to camps, prisons and ghettos, admininstrative questions); and by correspondent (Red Cross, government agencies, organisations).
Conditions governing access:
Open
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copies can be made for personal use. Permission must be sought for publication.
Physical characteristics:
Microfilm
Finding aids:
Additional finding aids can be found within Wiener Library reading room.
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information:
Accruals:
Archival history:
The series G44 conmprises dossiers produced by different commissions of the Secretary General of the International Committee of the Red Cross all of which were transferred to the central archives of CICR.
Immediate source of acquisition:
Comité international de la Croix-Rouge (International Committee of the Red Cross)
ALLIED MATERIALS
Existence and location of originals:
Comité international de la Croix-Rouge, Geneva
Existence and location of copies:
Related material:
Publication note:
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Note:
Archivist's note: Entry compiled by Howard Falksohn.
Date(s) of descriptions: January 2008