Franz Lehman letters and other material

This collection consists mostly of letters, both handwritten and typed, most of which were written by Franz Lehman to members of his family and recount his experiences with a military government unit of the U.S. Army in the European Theater of World War Two and in postwar occupied Germany (1943 to 1946). Other letters relate to Lehman’s relationships with friends in Germany after his departure for the United States, from 1947 to 1949. A few letters are to and from other members of Lehman’s family. Some of the letters have attached photographs. The collection also includes a note of permission, signed by his commanding officers, allowing Lehman to send war trophies home. The collection addresses many topics of interest to historians, including the experience of soldiers during the Allied campaign in Western Europe 1944-45, American preparations for military government in postwar Germany, the conduct of military government and Denazification, Allied efforts at locating Nazi archives and protecting art and artifacts, and Lehman’s efforts to find and aid a relative, Aunt Hedi, held at the German concentration camp at Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia. Lehman’s letters include lengthy reflections on the difference between the French Zone of Occupation and the American one, as well as reflections on relations between the American occupiers and the Germans and on the Displaced Persons issue in postwar Germany.