Background
Bernstein, Bernard was born on November 30, 1908 in New York City. Son of Henry and Annie (Goldstein) Bernstein.
Bernstein, Bernard was born on November 30, 1908 in New York City. Son of Henry and Annie (Goldstein) Bernstein.
AB, Columbia, 1928; Juris Doctor (Kent scholar 1927-1930), Columbia, 1930.
As a United States. Army colonel, he served as a financial adviser to General Eisenhower in World 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. Additionally, he held multiple offices concurrently. From 1933 until 1948, he was an Attorney for the United States. 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, United States. Group Control Commission for Germany. From 1942 through 1945, he acted as Financial Adviser to General
Eisenhower for Civil Affairs and Military Government, European Theater of Operations and Mediterranean Theatre of Operations. 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 United States. Congress.
After returning to civilian life, he served as a legal counsel to the American Jewish Conference.
On February 6, 1990, at New York Hospital he died of cardiac arrest. 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 South. 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.”.
Commissioned lieutenant colonel United States Army, 1942. Promoted colonel 1944. Financial adviser to General Eisenhower for Civil Affairs and Military Government 1942-1945, European Theatre of Operations, Mediterranean Theatre of Operations.
Member New York County Lawyers Association (chairman committee foreign law and international law 1964-1969), American Society International Law, Military Government Association, American Bar Association, American Legion, Bar Association City New York, American Foreign Law Association, American Society French Legion of Honor, Tau Delta Phi., B'nai B'rith.
Married Bernice Lotwin, August 4, 1938. Children: Elinor (Mistress Sigmund R. Balka), Kate, Anne (Mistress Harold Chesnin).