On September 2 , 1949 , McCloy replaced the previous five successive military governors for the US Zone in Germany as the first US High Commissioner for Germany and held the position until August 1 , 1952 . He oversaw the further creation of the Federal Republic of Germany after May 23 of 1949 . At the strong urging of the German government , he approved recommendations for pardoning and commutation of sentences of Nazi criminals including those of the prominent industrialists Friedrich Flick , Alfried Krupp , and Einsatzgruppe commander Martin Sandberger . McCloy granted the restitution of Krupp 's and Flick 's entire property . He pardoned Ernst von Weizsäcker as well as Josef Dietrich and Joachim Peiper , convicted of mass murder for their roles in the Malmedy massacre
Malmedy massacre
Malmedy massacre
John J. McCloy