Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1951 - 1954 (Creation)
Level of description
Subseries
Extent and medium
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
The TOSHAP chronological sub-series contains messages sent by the Standing Group (SG) secretariat. Many of the TOSHAPs are replies to messages from SHAPE or SACEUR (SHAPTO). They were sent: for action, to: -SHAPE or SACEUR -the British, then French Ministry of Defence -(sometimes also the Ministry of Defence of other NATO nations)for information, to:- the SG Liaison Office in London, then Paris -NATO commands -SG agencies
Repository
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
The TOSHAPs concern high-level military policies.
The preserved TOSHAPs consist of:
- national defence policies in NATO member nations and these countries' contributions to NATO forces
- military exercises and training
- organization of the NATO high commands and SG agencies
- yearly force and infrastructure review and objectives
- appointments of senior management (in the SG or NATO command structures)
- referencing, classification and distribution of military information
On the cover page, the SG secretariat gave (in varying order) the originator, the recipient, the double reference (DEF-TOSHAP) and the date of the document, and the reference of the SHAPTO message to which it was responding.
The (very short) message communicated the SG's position (decision, recommendation, suggestion, request for information).
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
TOSHAP documents are arranged in numerical order. The message is given a registration number (e.g. DEF-948080) and a reference (the acronym followed by the publication number: e.g. TOSHAP-487) SHAPTO messages are given a registration number (e.g. SH-30423) and a reference (the acronym followed by the publication number: e.g. SHAPTO-482).
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
NATO publicly disclosed information is available for research and education purposes. Any commercial use requires the written permission of NATO. Please credit the NATO Archives should any documents be used for publication. Guidelines for the proper citation of NATO publicly disclosed information can be found on the NATO Archives website (http://www.nato.int/archives).
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
TOSHAP documents were issued in English.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Around 600 TOSHAPs were produced. Of these, 20% have been preserved and digitized. The remaining documents were destroyed during the successive moves and at the time of the final transfer to the International Military Staff (IMS) Registry.