Forced Labourers

In December 1945 and January 1946, the Commander-in-Chief of the Occupation Forces in the western zones of Germany (American, British and French forces) issued an order (order § 163) to the German authorities to secure all information pertaining to United Nations military and civilian personnel and all other foreign citizens, German Jews and stateless persons residing in these zones after September 2, 1939 or who were brought there by force. Similar records exist in those parts of the Soviet zone that were occupied at the time by US troops.

Tracing offices were set up in the towns and counties to collect all possible records and to make lists of the information collected.

The information in these records includes grave notification documents, residence lists, medical records and civil status certificates.