Ritchie Boys: Difference between revisions
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I question that the number was actually about 10,000 |
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The '''Ritchie Boys''' were a group of approximately 10,000<ref>Jeffreys, Keith: [http://www.keithjeffreys.com/ritchieboys.htm Remembering the Ritchie Boys]. Retrieved [[2007-02-12]]</ref> young, mostly [[Jew]]ish, [[Germany|Germans]] who escaped from their country of birth and immigrated to the US. |
The '''Ritchie Boys''' were a group of approximately 10,000<ref>Jeffreys, Keith: [http://www.keithjeffreys.com/ritchieboys.htm Remembering the Ritchie Boys]. Retrieved [[2007-02-12]]</ref> young, mostly [[Jew]]ish, [[Germany|Germans]] who escaped from their country of birth and immigrated to the US. (One reader strongly doubts this number 10,000. When one remembers the difficulty German Jewish refugees had to go through to obtain visas to enter the USA under the very limited quota system, and then ask how many of those where likely to have the physical and emotional strength to enter the program and return to the war in Europe, I am sure that this number is highly overstated.) These Ritchie Boys chose to join the [[United States Army]] and were trained at the Military Intelligence Training Center, also known then as Camp Ritchie, and now as [[Fort Ritchie]] in [[Maryland]]. They were especially trained in methods of [[psychological warfare]]. They were suitable for this kind of task because they knew the [[German language]] and mentality better than any American-born soldiers. The role of these soldiers was therefore to study the enemy, and demoralize him in order to achieve an [[unconditional surrender]]. |
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After the [[Declaration of war by the United States|US declared war]] on [[Nazi Germany|Germany]], the Ritchie Boys became a decisive weapon for the [[Allies (World War II)|Allied powers]]. They entered Europe on [[Normandy Landings|D-Day]] on [[June 6]] [[1944]] along with the other Allied troops. Shortly after reaching land they left their units and pursued their special tasks. They were able to feed the Allies valuable information. Moreover, the Ritchie Boys helped break German resistance by demoralizing them in both open and covert operations. They interrogated [[prisoner of war|POWs]] and [[defection|defectors]] to ascertain information about German force levels, troop movements, and the physical and psychological state of the Germans. By means of targeted [[disinformation]] via newspaper announcements, flyers, radio broadcasts, and sound trucks, the German population and military was prompted to cease their resistance against the Allied invasion. |
After the [[Declaration of war by the United States|US declared war]] on [[Nazi Germany|Germany]], the Ritchie Boys became a decisive weapon for the [[Allies (World War II)|Allied powers]]. They entered Europe on [[Normandy Landings|D-Day]] on [[June 6]] [[1944]] along with the other Allied troops. Shortly after reaching land they left their units and pursued their special tasks. They were able to feed the Allies valuable information. Moreover, the Ritchie Boys helped break German resistance by demoralizing them in both open and covert operations. They interrogated [[prisoner of war|POWs]] and [[defection|defectors]] to ascertain information about German force levels, troop movements, and the physical and psychological state of the Germans. By means of targeted [[disinformation]] via newspaper announcements, flyers, radio broadcasts, and sound trucks, the German population and military was prompted to cease their resistance against the Allied invasion. |
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After the war, many of the Ritchie Boys served as translators during the [[Nuremberg Trials]]. After that there were no veteran reunions or similar events, as [[World War II]] had only been a short period in the lives of most of the soldiers. Many of them had successful political, scientific, or business careers. |
After the war, many of the Ritchie Boys served as translators during the [[Nuremberg Trials]]. After that there were no veteran reunions or similar events, as [[World War II]] had only been a short period in the lives of most of the soldiers. Many of them had successful political, scientific, or business careers. |
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The Ritchie Boys included several prominent men such as [[Hans Habe]], [[Klaus Mann]], [[Stefan Heym]], [[Hanus Burger]], and [[David Robert Seymour]]. |
The Ritchie Boys included several prominent men such as [[Hans Habe]], [[Klaus Mann]], [[Stefan Heym]], [[Hanus Burger]], [[Ambassador Richard Schifter]], and [[David Robert Seymour]]. |
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In 2004, the group and its work was the subject of the documentary [[The Ritchie Boys]] by film-maker Christian Bauer. Featuring ten of the actual Ritchie Boys, this film has since received many awards. |
In 2004, the group and its work was the subject of the documentary [[The Ritchie Boys]] by film-maker Christian Bauer. Featuring ten of the actual Ritchie Boys, this film has since received many awards. |
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Revision as of 14:50, 26 October 2009
The Ritchie Boys were a group of approximately 10,000[1] young, mostly Jewish, Germans who escaped from their country of birth and immigrated to the US. (One reader strongly doubts this number 10,000. When one remembers the difficulty German Jewish refugees had to go through to obtain visas to enter the USA under the very limited quota system, and then ask how many of those where likely to have the physical and emotional strength to enter the program and return to the war in Europe, I am sure that this number is highly overstated.) These Ritchie Boys chose to join the United States Army and were trained at the Military Intelligence Training Center, also known then as Camp Ritchie, and now as Fort Ritchie in Maryland. They were especially trained in methods of psychological warfare. They were suitable for this kind of task because they knew the German language and mentality better than any American-born soldiers. The role of these soldiers was therefore to study the enemy, and demoralize him in order to achieve an unconditional surrender.
After the US declared war on Germany, the Ritchie Boys became a decisive weapon for the Allied powers. They entered Europe on D-Day on June 6 1944 along with the other Allied troops. Shortly after reaching land they left their units and pursued their special tasks. They were able to feed the Allies valuable information. Moreover, the Ritchie Boys helped break German resistance by demoralizing them in both open and covert operations. They interrogated POWs and defectors to ascertain information about German force levels, troop movements, and the physical and psychological state of the Germans. By means of targeted disinformation via newspaper announcements, flyers, radio broadcasts, and sound trucks, the German population and military was prompted to cease their resistance against the Allied invasion.
After the war, many of the Ritchie Boys served as translators during the Nuremberg Trials. After that there were no veteran reunions or similar events, as World War II had only been a short period in the lives of most of the soldiers. Many of them had successful political, scientific, or business careers.
The Ritchie Boys included several prominent men such as Hans Habe, Klaus Mann, Stefan Heym, Hanus Burger, Ambassador Richard Schifter, and David Robert Seymour.
In 2004, the group and its work was the subject of the documentary The Ritchie Boys by film-maker Christian Bauer. Featuring ten of the actual Ritchie Boys, this film has since received many awards.
Footnotes
- ^ Jeffreys, Keith: Remembering the Ritchie Boys. Retrieved 2007-02-12
References
- Template:De icon Baron, Ulrich: Wir waren nicht mehr wehrlos in Die Welt. Retrieved 2007-02-12.
- The Ritchie Boys Comprehensive website with history, media and contact information. Retrieved 2007-02-17
Notes
External links
- The Ritchie Boys - official website
- The Ritchie Boys - The Ritchie Boys film at the Internet Movie Data Base