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Draft:Frederic C. Teich, Jr.

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  • Comment: I would have quite wanted to accept this, but the sources simply aren't sufficient to satisfy WP:GNG / WP:BASIC, being a mix of passing mentions and primary sources. And I don't think the prison commandantship, even in connection with such a high-profile event as the Nuremberg trials, is enough of a justification to ignore all rules and publish regardless, even if it might indicate certain noteworthiness. DoubleGrazing (talk) 09:41, 17 July 2024 (UTC)

Frederick C. Teich, Jr.
Teich in Nuremberg in 1947
Born(1915-06-22)June 22, 1915
Newington, Connecticut
DiedNovember 25, 1965(1965-11-25) (aged 50)
Buried
Allegiance United States of America
Service / branch United States Army
Rank Colonel
CommandsCommandant of the Nuremberg Prison
Battles / wars
Awards Silver Star
Legion of Merit
Alma materUnited States Military Academy

Colonel Frederic C. Teich, Jr. (June 22, 1915 - November 25, 1965) was a US Army career officer. He served as commandant of the Internal Security Detachment and director of the Nuremberg jail during the subsequent Nuremberg trials for war crimes committed by leaders of Nazi Germany.

Military career

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Having graduated from the US Military Academy in West Point in 1938, Teich saw action as a battalion commander in the 66th Infantry Regiment, 71st Infantry Division in the European theatre during World War II.[1] In 1945, he was awarded a Silver Star for his service.[2]

After the war, Teich served as deputy to Colonel Burton C. Andrus, the commandant of the 6850th Internal Security Detachment (ISD).[3] The ISD was charged with running the jail and providing security during the Nuremberg trials. After the trials of the main defendants and under public scrutiny over Hermann Göring's suicide, Andrus returned to the United States in October 1946. At the same time jurisdiction over the Nuremberg facilities was transferred to the US Army's local post and Teich appointed as the new commandant.[4][5]

Major Teich (right) on a tour of the Nuremberg jail with Major General White, General McNarney, and Brig. General Watson in 1947.

During his command, Teich tried to reassure the public and his superiors that security would remain tight for the following military tribunals and that there would not be another incident like Göring's suicide.[6][7] Yet, some prisoners appreciated Teich's administration. Albert Speer recalled thanking Teich for his men's friendly conduct before being transferred to Spandau prison.[8]

In the early 1990s, documents written by Rudolf Hess at the Nuremberg jail were discovered in the National Archives. Hess had intended to send these to British fascist leader Oswald Mosely. It is assumed that Teich intercepted and stole these private documents to remove them to the United States.[9]

In 1964, Teich received the Legion of Merit for his work as Director of Plans, Joint Task Force FOUR, Fort Monroe.[2][10][failed verification]

Retirement and death

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Teich retired as a US Army colonel. After his death in 1965, was buried at the West Point Cemetery.[11]

References

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  1. ^ United States Army; Clinger, Fred; Johnston, Arthur; Masel, Vincent (1946-01-01). "The history of the 71st Infantry Division". Regimental Histories.
  2. ^ a b "Frederic Teich - Recipient -". valor.militarytimes.com. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  3. ^ Persico, Joseph E. (1994). Nuremberg: Infamy on Trial. Viking. p. 100. ISBN 978-0-670-84276-6.
  4. ^ "Article clipped from The Decatur Daily Review". The Decatur Daily Review. 1946-12-08. p. 6. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  5. ^ "Final report to the Secretary of the Army on the Nuernberg war crimes trials under control council law no. 10". Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  6. ^ Goda, Norman J. W. (2007). Tales from Spandau: Nazi Criminals and the Cold War. Cambridge University Press. p. 39. ISBN 978-0-521-86720-7.
  7. ^ Weintraub, Robert (2013-04-02). The Victory Season: The End of World War II and the Birth of Baseball's Golden Age. Little, Brown. ISBN 978-0-316-20590-0.
  8. ^ Speer, Albert (1978). Spandauer Tagebücher (in German). Frankfurt/M: Verlag Ullstein GmbH. p. 109. ISBN 3548035132.
  9. ^ Goda, Norman J. W. (2007). Tales from Spandau: Nazi Criminals and the Cold War. Cambridge University Press. p. 263. ISBN 978-0-521-86720-7.
  10. ^ "Army Publishing Directorate". armypubs.army.mil. Retrieved 2024-03-16.
  11. ^ Administration, National Cemetery. "VA.gov | Veterans Affairs". www.cem.va.gov. Retrieved 2024-03-16.