Description:

Collection including letters, speeches, documents, and relics owned by Lieutenant General Geoffrey Keyes relating to his years serving as Commanding General U.S. Forces in Austria and U.S. High Commissioner in Austria – includes his remarks upon the signing of a 1947 "Relief Agreement" between the USA and Austria to help the Austrian people economically before Marshall Plan aid would arrive in 1948

(WORLD WAR II) During World War II, Major General Geoffrey Keyes was Deputy Commanding General Western Task Force [North Africa] under Gen. George S. Patton, Jr. (1942-1943), Deputy Commanding General I Armored Corps [North Africa] under Gen. Patton (1943), Deputy Commanding General 7th Army [Sicily] under Gen. Patton (1943), Commanding General Provisional Corps [Sicily] appointed by Gen. Patton (1943), and Commanding General II Corps [Italy] (1943-1946). Lieutenant General Keyes was Commanding General 7th Army [Germany] (1945-1946), Commanding General 3rd Army [Germany] (1946-1947). and Deputy Commanding General U.S. Forces in Austria under Gen. Mark Clark (1947). He was Commanding General U.S. Forces in Austria and U.S. High Commissioner in Austria from 1947 to 1950.

Secretary of State George C. Marshall's European Recovery Program, developed at a meeting of the participating European states, was established on June 5, 1947. Austria finalized its program at the end of 1947 and received its initial Marshall Plan economic aid in March 1948. Lieutenant General Keyes felt that aid to Austria was needed immediately. Included in this collection is Keyes' typed address, possibly his reading copy, delivered in Vienna on June 25, 1947, in the presence of the leaders of the Austrian government, "on the occasion of the signature of the Relief Agreement Between the United States and Austria." He concluded, "I sincerely trust this assistance from the American people which you are accepting today will bring happiness and relief to the Austrian people and some measure od recovery to Austrian economy."

(1) United States Passport of Geoffrey Keyes signed twice "Geoffrey Keyes" (Signature of bearer) and on 2.5" x 2.5" "Photograph of bearer" affixed on page 4, 48p, 3.75" x 6". "No. 369 / Passport / Legation / of / The United States of America / at / Vienna Austria." Completed in manuscript. Issued in Vienna on February 12, 1948. Stamped inside at the British Legation Visa Section in Vienna and the French Legation in Vienna in 1948 and, in 1949, stamped permission to travel in the US, British, French Zones of Germany, and from Vienna to France, Switzerland, and Holland. Never cancelled.

(2) Lieutenant General Keyes' uniform shoulder patch of the U.S. Forces Head Quarters, Austria, 2" x 2.75".

(3) Significant Typed Letter Signed "John J. McCloy" as Assistant Secretary of War, 1p, 7" x 9". Washington, August 19, 1945. To "Lt. General Geoffrey Keyes / Commanding General, 2nd Corps / Salzburg, Germany [sic, Austria]." In full, "I would like to express my thanks to you and the members of your Staff for their thoughtfulness and hospitality during my recent visit to Salzburg. I am sorry that my time was such as not to permit a longer visit with you. I should have liked to see more of the U.S. Zone in Austria, and to discuss in more detail the problems of our occupation there. Immediately upon our return to the United States we have been involved in the Japanese surrender business, and now the end of the long, hard fight has come. For the moment it has obliterated German and Austrian occupational problems but they will be on us again before the ink is dry on the Japanese surrender. My talks with General Clark at Verona has given me a greater insight into his problems. You may rely upon us here in Washington to do everything in our power to help you solve them." The occupation and annexation of Austria, including Salzburg, into German Third Reich (Anschluss) took place on March 12, 1938. Germany unconditionally surrendered on May 7, 1945. Salzburg became the center of the American-occupied area in Austria. On August 15, 1945, Emperor Hirohito announced Japan's unconditional surrender. McCloy later served as a member of the Warren Commission (1964-1965).

(4) Photo album, 14 separate pages, 6.75" x 4.75". Beige cloth over marbled purple boards. Gilt-lettered on the front cover "Headquarters Zone Command Austria / Farewell Reception and Luncheon / in Honor of / GENERAL MARK W. CLARK / Kavalier House Salzburg Austria / 5 May 1947." A 3.25" x 4.5" b&w photograph on each page including two of Keyes with Gen. Clark and other officers, one of Headquarters Zone Command Austria with a statue of Mozart in front, and interior and exterior views of Kavalier House. The Truman Library has the identical photograph album in their collection. This one also includes two loose photographs including an original 5" x 4" b&w with Keyes and Gen. Eisenhower.

(5) Unique oval wooden plaque, in color, 9.5" x 6.5" x 0.375", with a map of Austria, its nine states, major cities, and connecting roads. In the upper left is the emblem of United States Forces Austria (same design as on patch above). Engraved at top: "MISSION: To reestablish a free, independent and / democratic AUSTRIA with a sound economy, / capable of insuring an adequate standard / of living."

Keyes' typed speeches delivered in Austria:
• "Restitution of Austrian Gold Reserve Vienna, 19 February 1947"
• "V-E Day Message 8 May, 1947"
• "Memorial Day Message" 30 May 1947
• "Flag Day Message 14 June 1947"
• "British-American Ceremony, 15 June 1947"
• "Notes on Talk to Visiting Clergymen Vienna Austria, 30 June – 2 July '47"
• "Opening of the Salzburg Festivals, 27 July, 1947"
• "Fellow Americans" message approaching Christmas season 22 October 1947

From the Estate of Lieutenant General Geoffrey Keyes

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