On March 19, 1944, Germany occupied Hungary. The War Refugee Board, along with most of the outside world, including the OSS operating in Switzerland, don’t get confirmed reports of the invasion and occupation for another two days.
So this is the WRB’s finances for the month of February 1944. As you can see, the WRB spent $209,811.93 by giving it to the Intergovernmental Committee on Refugees in London. Because the State Department committed the funds, then didn’t ask for the money, so they figured the WRB could just give it out of their $1,000,000 allotment. (Don’t worry, they get the money back. Eventually).
Otherwise, they allocate $18,000 for Hirschmann, a ridiculously large sum. In reality, they don’t actually give that much to Hirschmann, but the funds are allocated just in case. Then there is $318.13 for WRB staff (again, secretaries, since everyone else is paid by Treasury or some other organization), $344.50 for travel, $300 for cables, and $17.80 for agent-cashiers (government money-handling dealers).
Seriously, that’s it. That’s what they spent on stuff.
