Roberts Commission's reports on Skopje

Roberts Commission - Protection of Historical Monuments

The Roberts Commission was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, on December 18, 1941. Owen Josephus Roberts, an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, was appointed by Roosevelt to head the commission. The Roberts Commission, was created to help the U.S. Army protect works of cultural value in Allied-occupied areas of Europe. The formal name of the commission was the American Commission for the Protection and Salvage of Artistic and Historic Monuments in War Areas. The commission also developed inventories of Nazi- appropriated property. Along with the U.S. Military program known as Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives (MFAA), the commission worked to rescue and preserve items of cultural significance. This commission took place from 1943 until 1946.

There are some reports for Yugoslavian historical monuments, especially from Vardar part of Serbia, or at that time Bulgaria.

Declassified for Executive Order 12958, Section 3.5
NND Project Number: NND 750168 By: NND Date: 1975


Conclusion: According to Roberts Commission's reports on Skopje and Ohrid, these cities although under Bulgarian rule, they were part of Yugoslavia (Serbia, Vardar). Also according to these reports, Bulgaria wasn't classic occupier, because at the time when Skopje and Ohrid were under Bulgaria at WW II, there were founded new museums. And most importantly is that Samuel is referred as Bulgarian King.

Source: US National Archive