This “second” post covering Jewish military casualties on February 6, 1945 (you can read the first post, covering aviators, here) pertains to soldiers who served in the ground forces of the Allied armies. Also mentioned is the one (that I know of…) Jewish soldier who was captured by the Wehrmacht on this February Tuesday: PFC David Schneck of the United States Army.
Following the format of my prior posts in this series, soldiers’ biographies present information in the following format:
Name, Hebrew name if known, rank, serial number, and awards or decorations (if any)
Military unit
Next of kin and wartime residential address.
Place and date of birth
Place and date of burial
Periodical or publication where a soldier’s name was mentioned or recorded.
For American Jewish soldiers, page number in the 1947 two-volume set American Jews in World War II (specifically, the “second” of the two-volumes) on which a soldier’s name is recorded.
And so, a list of names…
And so, some photos…
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For those who lost their lives on this date…
Tuesday, February 6, 1945 / Shevat 23, 5705
– .ת.נ.צ.ב.ה. –
…Tehé Nafshó Tzrurá Bitzrór Haḥayím
May his soul be bound up in the bond of everlasting life.
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Killed in Action
United States Army
Aronson, Max, T/4, 33117372, Purple Heart
37th Infantry Division, 148th Infantry Regiment
Mr. Jacob Aronson (father) (1883-?); Mrs. Fannie Myers (mother) (1891-?)
435 Boyles Ave., New Castle, Pa.
Born New Castle, Pa., 11/18/14
Tifereth Israel Cemetery, New Castle, Pa.; Buried 6/48
Casualty List 3/24/45
American Jews in World War II – 509
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Cohen, Kurt N., T/Sgt., 32797213, France, Colmar
75th Infantry Division, 289th Infantry Regiment
Mr. Robert Groger (friend), 150 West 91st St., New York, N.Y.
Born Vienna, Austria, 3/5/21
Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, Ca. – Section O, Grave 1240
American Jews in World War II – Not Listed (Both NJWB cards are marked “No Publicity”)
Here (via Ancestry.com) are the two National Jewish Welfare Board information cards for T/Sgt. Kurt Cohen, prominently stamped “NO PUBLICITY”. Perhaps there was concern about the implications of his Austrian birth becoming known to the Wehrmacht or Gestapo in the eventuality of his capture, with repercussions for this upon Kurt Himself, or any family members still surviving in Europe. Alas: By May 9, 1945, these concerns were sadly moot. (A similar instance of requesting no publicity for a Jewish soldier occurred in the case of First Lieutenant Albert Frost, who was killed in action on December 14, 1944.)
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Epstein, Irwin (Yisrael Reuven bar Zelig ha Levi), PFC, 42135153, Medical Corps, Purple Heart, France, Alsace-Lorraine
70th Infantry Division, 27th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Medical Detachment
Mr. and Joseph and Fannie Epstein (parents), Bernard and Morris (brothers),
1936 75th St., Brooklyn, N.Y.
Born Bronx, N.Y., 3/7/26
Mount Lebanon Cemetery, Glendale, N.Y. – Block WC, Section 5, Line 26, Grave 15, Society Workmen’s Circle
American Jews in World War II – 303
The shoulder insignia of the 3rd Infantry Division
This image of the matzeva of Irwin Epstein, at Mount Lebanon Cemetery in Glendale, New York, is via FindAGrave contributor S. Daino.
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Gottschalk, Arthur Heinz, PFC, 35063350, Purple Heart
3rd Infantry Division, 7th Infantry Regiment
Mr. and Mrs. Bernard and Selma (Strauss) Gottschalk (brother and sister in law)
10802 Orville Ave., Cleveland, Oh.
Mr. and Mrs. Julius and Hilda (Gottschalk) Rothschild (sister and brother in law)
Mr. and Mrs. Oscar P. and Gussi (Feiner) Gottschalk (brother and sister in law)
Born Coblenz, Germany, 1/21/25
Epinal American Cemetery, Epinal, France – Plot A, Row 10, Grave 51
Cleveland Press & Plain Dealer, February 27, 1945
Aufbau 3/9/45, 3/16/45
American Jews in World War II – 488
From the March 9, 1945 issue of Aufbau, PFC Gottschalk’s obituary….
Here’s a transcript and translation of the obituary and memorial tribute to PFC Gottschalk, from Aufbau:
Für die Freiheit gefallen
Pfc. Arthur Heinz Gottschalk
ist am 6. Februar rim Alter von 20 Jahren bei Strassburg gefallen. Er wurde in Koblenz geboren und lebte sieit seinem 11. Lebensjahr in Cleveland, Ohio. Mit 16 Jahren, noch zu jüng fur die Armee oder die Flotte, ging er in die Rüstungsindustrie. Als er sich 1942 freiwillig bei der Navy meldete, wurde er abgewiesen, weil er noch kien Bürgen war. Endlich, im Mai 1943, wurde er in die Armee eingezogen und seun heissersehnter Wunsch, gegen die Nazis kämpfen zu konnen, ging in Erfüllung.
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Fallen for freedom
Pfc. Arthur Heinz Gottschalk
died near Strasbourg on February 6th at the age of 20. He was born in Koblenz and has lived in Cleveland, Ohio since he was 11 years old. At the age of 16, still too young for the army or the navy, he went into the armaments industry. When he volunteered for the Navy in 1942, he was turned away because he [had] not yet a sponsor. Finally, in May 1943, he was drafted into the army and his long-cherished wish to fight against the Nazis came true.
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…and, in the newspaper’s Memorial section, under the heading “Pro Libertate” – “For Freedom” – appear tributes to Arthur by his parents and brothers. The aforementioned two-word heading typically appeared atop all such tributes in Aufbau. Notice that the phrase is Latin, not Hebrew or Yiddish? (Just sayin’!…) This is a very small example of how the WW II content of Aufbau seems to indecisively straddle a secular enlightenment universalism on one hand, and, Jewish solidarity, nationhood, and Zionism on the other.
Hey, what else is new?
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FÜR SEINE NEUE HEIMAT GEFALLEN!
Wir erhielten vom War Department die traurige Nachricht, dass unser inningstgeliebter, unvergesslicher Sohn, Bruder, Schwager, Onkel, Neffe and Vetter.
Arthur H. Gottschalk
ausgezeichnet mit Infantry Men Combat Badge
am 6. Februa rim Alter von 20 Jahren den Heldentod für sein neues geliebtes Vetraland in Frankreich erlitten hat. Nach fünfmonatiger Ausbildung kam er am Tage nach Jom Kippur 1943 overseas. Er kämpfte mit der 7. Army 3. Division in Afrika und Italien. Nach der Invasion in Südfrankreich war er stets in vorderster Linke kämpfend, bis er bei Strassburg gefallen ist. Alle, die ihn gekannt haben, Wissen, was wir verloren haben.
In tiefster Trauer:
BERNHARD GOTTSCHALK und Frau Selma, geb. Strauss (früher Koblenz)
OSKAR GOTTSCHALK und Frau Gussi. Feiner
JULIUS ROTHSCHILD und Frau Hilde, geb. Gottschalk (früher Koblenz und Mainz)
10802 Orville Avenue
Cleveland 6, Ohio
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FALLEN FOR HIS NEW HOMELAND!
We received the sad news from the War Department that our dearest, unforgettable son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, nephew and cousin.
Arthur H. Gottschalk
awarded the Infantry Combat Badge
suffered a heroic death for his new beloved fatherland in France on February 6th at the age of 20. After five months of training, he came overseas the day after Yom Kippur 1943. He fought with the 7th Army 3rd Division in Africa and Italy. After the invasion of southern France, he was always on the front left until he fell near Strassburg. All who knew him know what we lost.
In deepest sorrow:
BERNHARD GOTTSCHALK and his wife Selma, née Strauss (formerly Koblenz)
OSKAR GOTTSCHALK and his wife Gussi Feiner
JULIUS ROTHSCHILD and his wife Hilde, née Gottschalk (formerly Koblenz and Mainz)
10802 Orville Avenue
Cleveland 6, Ohio
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Hoffer, Murray G., Pvt., 42017338, Medical Corps, Purple Heart
4th Infantry Division, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 4th Medical Battalion, C Company
Mr. and Mrs. Harry (1901-1986) and Gertie (Guss) (1904-1986) Hoffer (parents)
42 Wade St. / 295 Stegman Park Way, Jersey City, N.J.
Born Jersey City, N.J., 7/13/26
Baron De Hirsch Cemetery, Staten Island, N.Y.
Casualty List 3/27/45
American Jews in World War II – 239
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Loeb, Albert K., 2 Lt., 0-1329603, PH, France, Neuf-Brisach area (southeast of Colmar)
75th Infantry Division, 289th Infantry Regiment
Mr. and Mrs. Raphael J. (2/23/94-1/14/65) and Myrtle Catherine (Kaufman) (12/25/96-1/21/91) Loeb (parents)
405 Felder Ave., Montgomery, Al.
Born in Alabama, 1925
Epinal American Cemetery, Epinal, France – Plot A, Row 7, Grave 72
Casualty List 3/14/45
American Jews in World War II – 35
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Pearl, Sigmund Selig, PFC, 14172990, Purple Heart
78th Infantry Division, 309th Infantry Regiment, C Company
Mr. and Mrs. Charles (1/4/90-4/25/79) and Kate (Stadiem) (10/16/95-4/20/78) Pearl (parents)
1721 Madison Ave., Greensboro, N.C.
Martin Goldman (cousin)
Born Greensboro, N.C., 10/30/22
Greensboro Hebrew Cemetery, Greensboro, N.C.
American Jews in World War II – 479
This portrait of PFC Sigmund Selig Pearl is via FindAGrave contributor Mark Childrey, who records that the image is credited to Dorothy Hamburger, and is from the Duke University Center for Jewish Studies webpage titled, “We Are Soldiers”.
The shoulder patch of the 78th Infantry Division
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Rothwax, Harold (Tsvi bar Yosef ha Levi), PFC, 42068353, Purple Heart
102nd Infantry Division, 407th Infantry Regiment, I Company
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph and Anna Rothwax (parents)
Jack, Louis, Manny, and Marty (brothers)
1339 Noble Ave., New York, N.Y. / 1311 Commonwealth Ave., Bronx, N.Y.
Born in New York in 1926
Mount Hebron Cemetery, Flushing, N.Y. – Coretz Brith Bacherum Society, Block 9, Reference 15, Section F, Line 17, Grave 3; Buried 10/27/48
Casualty List 3/27/45
New York Times Obituary Section (“In Memoriam” column) 10/27/48
American Jews in World War II – 422 (Indicates that he served in the Army Air Force (incorrect!))
This picture of the matzeva of Pvt. Rothwax is by FindAGrave contributor DMC.
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The biographical profile of Captain Bernard Yolles and his family, at FindAGrave.com, is very extensive – and very moving – in terms of both photographs and information, and has internal links to information about his parents, brother, and especially his wife, Babette Armore “Bobbi” Rubel Aronson, who passed away in 2003.
To very briefly summarize… Captain Yolles volunteered for the Army in December of 1940, and received basic training at Camp Forrest, in Tennessee. Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant after completing Officer’s Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was eventually assigned command of F Company, 365th Infantry Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division, nicknamed the “Buffalo Soldiers Division”.
Captain Yolles was killed in action – reportedly by a mortar shell – on the morning of February 6, while leading F Company in an attack to capture the Lama di Sotto Ridge and Hill 940.
In January of 1948, according to the wishes of his widow Babette, Captain Yolles’ permanent place of burial was designated as the Florence American Cemetery.
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Yolles, Bernard, Capt., 0-1285688, Purple Heart, Company Commander
92nd Infantry Division, 365th Infantry Regiment, F Company
Mrs. Babette Armore (Rubel) Yolles (wife) (6/12/17-8/3/03), 2952 Midvale, Los Angeles, Ca; Barbara (daughter; born 6/26/43)
Mr. and Mrs. David Leon (5/23/59-12/23/54) and Ray (Shapiro) (12/23/83-8/6/59) Yolles (parents)
Samuel S. Yolles (brother) (5/23/13-4/25/63)
Born in Mississippi, August 14, 1916
Florence American Cemetery, Florence, Italy – Plot F, Row 6, Grave 16
Winona Times 3/2/45, 6/22/45
American Jews in World War II – 206
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Captain Yolles in January, 1945. (Photo via FindAGrave contributor 47604643.)
Another January, 1945 image of Captain Yolles. (Via FindAGrave contributor 47604643.)
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On March 2, 1945, notice of Captain Yolles’ Missing in Action status appeared in the Winona Times…
Captain Bernard Yolles, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leon Yolles of Winona, has been reported missing in action since February 6th in Italy. He was one of the first three to volunteer from Montgomery County, the three leaving here together on December 5th, 1940.
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…while on June 22 of the sane year, the Times confirmed his death in combat.
Capt. Bernard Yolles was killed in action in Italy February 6, 1945, the War Department has wired his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Yolles, after previously reporting him missing in action. He was with the 92nd Infantry Division.
Entering service as one of this county’s first volunteers December 5, 1940, he was given basic training at Camp Forrest, Tenn., received his commission at Officers Candidate School, Fort Benning, Ga., and sailed overseas in October 1944.
His wife, Mrs. Babette Yolles, and daughter, Barbara, reside in Memphis. Pfc Samuel S. Yolles, a brother, is in California.
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Babette and daughter Barbara in August of 1944. (Photo via FindAGrave contributor Andy.)
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England
Schul, Pinkus, Pvt., 13117960, Royal Army
Royal Sussex Regiment
Burma
Born 1925, in Germany
Taukkyan War Cemetery, Taukkyan, Rangoon, Myanmar – 27,G,1
We Will Remember Them – Volume I – 156
Private Pinkus Schul of the Royal Sussex Regiment is buried at the Taukkyan War Cemetery, Taukkyan, in Rangoon, Myanmar. This image of his matzeva is by FindAGrave contributor Mary Jo C. Martin. Though Ancestry.com reveals that he was born in Germany in 1925, other information about him is unavailable.
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France
Armée de Terre
Levy, Jacques, Armée de Terre, France (Maroc (Morocco)), AC-21P-76695
1ere Groupe, 2eme Compagnie du Génie
Tué par eclat d’obus (“Killed by shrapnel”)
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Soviet Union / U.S.S.R. [C.C.C.Р.]
Red Army [РККА / Рабоче-крестьянская Красная армия]
Biris (Birzh), Zelman Iosifovich (Бирис (Бирж), Зельман Иосифович), Captain (Капиитан)
Battery Commander – 76mm gun (Командир Батареи – 76-миллиметровая пушка)
271st Guards Rifle Regiment, 88th Guards Rifle Division
Born 1909, city of Tiraspol
Wounded in action 2/4/45; Died of wounds 2/6/45
Buried in Germany
Elkin, Samail Iosifovich (Элькин, Самаил Иосифович), Guards Lieutenant (Гвардии Лейтенант)
Rifle Platoon Commander (Командир Стрелкового Взвода)
47th Army, 77th Guards Rifle Division, 218th Guards Rifle Regiment
Born 1906, city of Novgorod-Severskiy, Chernigov Oblast
Killed in action
Buried in Germany
Farber (Forber), Benitsian Davidovich (Фарбер (Форбер), Бенициан Давидович), Captain (Капитан)
Deputy Commander (Заместитель Комагдира)
212 Rifle Regiment, 49th Rifle Division, 33rd Army
Born 1904, city of Mozir
Killed in action
Buried in Germany
Feldman, Leonid Filippovich (Фельдман, Леонид Филиппович), Lieutenant (Лейтенант) or Private (Рядовой)
Machine Gun Platoon Commander (Командир Взвода Автоматчик), or, Machine Gunner (Автоматчик)
297th Rifle Division
Born 1913, city of Kiev
Killed in action
Buried in Hungary
Frid, Natan Moiseevich (Фрид, Натан Моисеевич), Junior Lieutenant (Младший Лейтенант)
Self-Propelled Gun Commander (Командир – Самоходной Установки)
1889th Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment
Born 1924, Minsk Oblast, Byelorussia
Killed in action
Buried in Poland
Genov, Khatskel Tankelevich (Генов, Хацкель Танкелевич), Lieutenant (Лейтенант)
Mortar Platoon Commander (Командир Минометного Взвода)
137th Guards Rifle Regiment, 47th Guards Rifle Division
Born 1923
Killed in action
Glikin, Vladimir Moiseevich (Гликин, Владимир Моисеевич), Major (Майор)
Editor, Magazine “For Defense of the Fatherland” (Редактор Газета “На защиту Отечества”)
Transcaucasian Front, 47th Аrmy, 339th Rifle Division
Born 1910, city of Baku
Died of wounds
Kagno, Isaak Moiseevich (Кагно, Исаак Моисеевич), Lieutenant (Лейтенант)
Rifle Platoon Commander (Командир Стрелкового Взвода)
212th Rifle Regiment, 49th Rifle Division
Born 1907
Killed in action
Latishev, David Moiseevich (Латышев, Давид Моисеевич), Guards Senior Lieutenant (Гвардии Старший Сержант)
Rifle Platoon Commander (Командир Стрелкового Взвода)
95th Guards Rifle Division, 287th Guards Rifle Regiment
Born 1911, Kurganskiy Raion
Killed in action
Livshits, Moisey Efremovich (Лившиц, Моисей Ефремович), Guards Captain (Veterinary Services) (Гвардии Капитан (Ветеринарной Службы))
Senior Regimental Veterinary Doctor (Старший полковой ветеринарный врач)
33rd Guards Artillery Regiment, 14th Guards Rifle Regiment
Born 1914, city of Proskurov
Killed in action
Buried in Poland
Lyakhovetskiy, Izer Iosifovich (Lyakhovitskiy, Ozer Iosifovich) (Ляховецкий, Изер Иосифович (Ляховицкий, Озер Иосифович)), Guards Lieutenant (Гвардий Лейтенант)
Battery Control Platoon Commander – 76 mm gun (Командир Взвода Управления Батареи – 76-миллиметровая пушка)
21st Guards Cavalry Regiment, 7th Guards Cavalry Division
Born 1923, Belorussia
Killed in action
Buried in Poland
Maerkovich, Vadlen Isaakovich (Маеркович, Вадлен Исаакович), Lieutenant (Лейтенант)
Mortar Platoon Commander
1064th Rifle Regiment, 281st Rifle Division
Born 1924, in city of Cherkasy
Killed in action
Buried in East Prussia
Mayzel, Pinya Geydalovich (Майзель, Пиня Гейдалович), Major (Майор)
Chief of Artillery Supply (Начальник Артиллерииского Снабжения)
Western Front, 57th Tank Division (147th Rifle Division), 115th Tank Regiment, Artillery-Technical Services
Born 1910, Kamenets-Podolsk Oblast, Ukraine
Missing in action
Buried in Poland
Nekhamkin, Matvey Abramovich (Нехамкин, Матвей Абрамович), Major (Майор)
Deputy Commander – Technical Section (Заместитель по Технической Части Командира)
271st Autonomous Special Purpose Motorized Rifle Brigade (271 Отдельная мотострелковая бригада особого назначения)
Born 1921, Kriovorozhskiy Raion
Killed in action
Buried in Russia
Reznikov, Boris Vulfovich (Резников, Борис Вульфович), Guards Senior Lieutenant (Гвардии Старший Лейтенант)
Rifle Platoon Commander (Командир Стрелкового Взвода)
323rd Rifle Division, 1090th Rifle Regiment
Born 1909, city of Borzna, Chernigov Oblast, Ukraine
Killed in action
Buried in Poland
Spevak, Leyb Mordukhovich (Спевак, Лейб Мордухович), Senior Lieutenant (Старший Лейтенант)
Machine Gun Platoon Commander (Командир Пулеметного Взвода)
1348th Rifle Regiment, 399th Rifle Division
Born 1908, Parichskiy Raion
Killed in action
Buried in East Prussia
Vulfeon (Vulfson?), Ilya Yakovlevich (Вульфеон (Вульфсон?), Илья Яковлевич), Senior Lieutenant (Старший Лейтенант)
Battery Commander (Командир Батареи)
596th Light Artillery Regiment
Born 1910, Shumyachskiy Raion
Killed in action
Yankelovich, Semen Ilyich (Янкелович, Семен Ильич), Guards Junior Lieutenant (Гвардии Младший Лейтенант)
Battalion Party Organizer (Парторг Батальона)
12th Guards Rifle Division, 37th Guards Rifle Regiment
Born in Leningrad
Killed in action
Buried in Germany
Zamanskiy, Isaak Samoylovich (Заманский, Исаак Самойлович), Captain (Капитан)
Regiment Engineer – Rifle Platoon (Полковой Инженер Стрелкового Взвода)
185th Rifle Division
Born 1918
Died of wounds
Zilberbord, Lazar Aronovich (Зильберборд, Лазарь Аронович) Senior Lieutenant (Старший Лейтенант)
Deputy Commander for Political affairs (Заместитель Командира по Политчасти)
271st Autonomous Special Purpose Motorized Rifle Brigade (271 Отдельная мотострелковая бригада особого назначения)
Born 1912, city of Kharkov
Killed in action
Buried in East Prussia
Zilberman, Izidor Leonovich (Зильберман, Изидор Леонович), Lieutenant (Лейтенант)
Rifle Platoon Commander (Командир Стрелкового Взвода)
1st Polish Army, 6th Polish Infantry Pomeranian Division, 16th Infantry Regiment (1-я армия Войска польского, 6-я Польская пехотная Померанская дивизия, 16-й пехотный полк)
Born 1913, city of Rapka
Killed in action
Buried in Poland
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Poland
Apperman, Chaskiel, First Sergeant
10th Infantry Regiment
Poland, Wielkopolskie, Skorka
Mr. Salomon Apperman (father)
Born Zagorze, Poland, 1923
JMCPAWW2 I – 4
Bar, Herszel, Pvt.
16th Infantry Regiment
Poland, Wielkopolskie, Nadarzyce
Mr. Icchak Bar (father)
Born Wisnowiec (d. Krzemieniec), Poland, 2/2/19
JMCPAWW2 I – 5
Gruber, Grzegorz, Pvt.
Poland, Dobrzyce
Mr. Abram Gruber (father)
Born Mazowieckie, Warsaw, Poland, 1923
JMCPAWW2 I – 26
Kaplan, Ignacy, Pvt.
16th Infantry Regiment
Poland, Wielkopolskie, Nadarzyce
Mr. Aniel Kaplan (father)
Born Mazowieckie, Warsaw Poland, 8/20/03
JMCPAWW2 I – 34
Kozak, Aleksander, Pvt.
1st Infantry Division, Intelligence Company
Poland, Podgaje
Mr. Samuela Kozak (father)
Born Ukraine, Male Koskowce (d. Tarnopol), 1906
JMCPAWW2 I – 40
Kozlowski, Julian, W/O
11th Infantry Regiment
Poland, Dobrycza
Mr. Jakub Kozlowski (father)
Born Lodzkie, Lodz, Poland, 1921
JMCPAWW2 I – 40
* * * * *
Lipszyc, Marian, W/O
18th Infantry Regiment
Poland, Wielkopolskie, Nadarzyce
Mr. Maksymilian Lipszyc (father)
Born Czestochowa, Slaskie, Poland, 1896
JMCPAWW2 I – 46
Marian Lipszyc, a rifle platoon commander, is alternatively listed as “Lipshits, Maryan Maksimovich (in Russian “Липшиц, Марьян Максимович”), with the rank of “Junior Lieutenant (Младший Лейтенант)”. While Volume 1 of Benjamin Meirtchak’s Jewish Military Casualties in the Polish Army lists his unit as the “18th Infantry Regiment”, he’s alternatively listed as having served in the 118th Rifle Regiment of the 6th Infantry Division, in the 1st Polish Army. The correct designation is indeed the former: the 18th Infantry Regiment, or, “18 Kołobrzeski Pułk Piechoty”.
* * * * *
Majer, Jozef, Pvt.
Poland, Mazowieckie, Otwock, Field Hospital 2138
Andriolli Street Cemetery, Otwock, Mazowieckie, Poland
JMCPAWW2 I – 467
Szulklaper, Leon, W/O
14th Infantry Regiment
Poland, Ilowiec
Mr. Hersz Szulklaper (father)
Born Mazowieckie, Warsaw, Poland, 11/11/21
JMCPAWW2 I – 68
Wilk, Edward, Pvt.
18th Infantry Regiment
Poland, Wielkopolskie, Nadarzyce
Mr. Lejb Wilk (father)
Born Switochlawice, Slaskie, Poland, 1926
JMCPAWW2 I – 74
Winner, Nisim, Cpl.
10th Infantry Regiment
Mr. Icchak Winner (father)
JMCPAWW2 I – 75
Zilberman, Izidor Leonovich (Зильберман, Изидор Леонович) Lieutenant (Лейтенант)
Rifle Platoon Commander (Командир Стрелкового Взвода)
1st Polish Army, 6 Polish Infantry Division, 16th Polish Infantry Regiment
Born 1913
Buried in Poland
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Wounded in Action
France
Armée de Terre
Assous, Ange, 2ème Canonnier, Citation à l’ordre du Régiment
22ème Groupe de Forces Terrestres Anti Aeriennes, 2ème Batterie
Obersaasem
During the attack on Obersausem on February 6, 1945, his officer and two of his comrades were wounded and he immediately rescued them in spite of a violent artillery bombardment.
(Au cours de l’attaque d’Obersausem, le 6 février 1945, son officier et deux de ses camarades ayant été blesse, s’est porté immédiatement à leur secours malgré un violent bombardement d’artillerie.)
Livre d’Or et de Sang – 97
Though perhaps little known (I didn’t know about the book until some six years ago!), F. Chiche’s Livre d’Or et de Sang – Les Juifs au Combat: Citations 1939-1945 de Bir-Hakeim au Rhin et Danube (The Book of Gold and Blood – The Jews in Combat – Citations 1939-1945 from Bir-Hakeim to the Rhine and Danube) is an utterly invaluable reference concerning military service of Jews in the French armed forces in the Second World War. The book contains many half-tone photos of Jewish soldiers, primarily men who were casualties, or, who received military awards…
…such as this image of 2ème Canonnier Ange Assous, upon whom was bestowed a Citation à l’ordre du Régiment.
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Prisoner of War
United States Army
Among the Jewish veterans who I’ve had the good fortune of interviewing has been Mr. David Schneck, originally of Long Island, and later of Bel Air, Maryland, who I met on April 13, 1991, forty-six years and two months after his capture by the Wehrmacht on February 6, 1945. The result of the interview was a lengthy and detailed account of David’s experiences in the military, being a POW (specifically, at Stalag 12A – Lumburg an der Lahn), the genealogy of his family, his thoughts about such topics as German reunification (well, this was shortly after the end of the (first?!) Cold War), reflections on how being Jewish affected (or, did not directly affect) his experiences as a POW, as well as his musings about history, politics, and social issues. Interestingly, after his retirement David undertook a project of identifying – through written correspondence; this was just before the advent of the Internet, after all! – other Ex-POWs who’d been interned in Stalag 12A.
I don’t know the degree to which he completed his project which, three quickly-gone-by decades later, can ironically be done with a few keystrokes and an internet connection. But, perhaps it doesn’t matter. Oftimes the worth of an endeavor lies in the work itself, rather than the result.
Born at Bushwick Avenue, Brooklyn on March 30, 1925, David was the son of Harry and Clara (Schoenfeld) Schneck, his family residing at 99-01 97th Street, in Ozone Park. A Private First Class (32974137) in C Company, 290th Infantry Regiment, 75th Infantry Division, David’s status as a liberated POW was reported in the Long Island Daily Press on May 4 and 16, 1945.
A recipient of the Purple Heart, David’s name appears on page 431 of American Jews in World War II.
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A man who came back: PFC David Schneck, in a photo taken on July 23, 1943.
On May 4, 1945, the Long Island Daily Press published this brief news item about David’s liberation from Stalag 12A. (This and the next article were found via FultonHistory.com)
Twelve days later, on May 16, the Daily Press published this additional news item about his liberation, specifically alluding to the conditions of his imprisonment.
As part of David’s efforts to compile information about Ex-POWs of Stalag 12A, he acquired several photos of the POW camp taken, shortly after its liberation by American forces. Given the visual style of these pictures, and, their captions, I believe that they’re actually official United States Army photographs. However, these pictures – at least, the copies then in David’s possession – had no identifying serial numbers. Regardless, they give a good impression of living conditions at the camp.
Three of these pictures, with transcriptions of original captions, follow below:
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U.S. TROOPS INSPECT GERMAN PRISON CAMP
Troops of the First U.S. Army are shown at the entrance to the German prisoner-of-war camp at Limburg, where American, Russian, and French prisoners were liberated. Twenty miles east of the Rhine, Limburg was first entered by elements of the Ninth Armored Division. The next day, First Army infantry units, following the armored spearheads, cleared the town.
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U.S. PRISONERS LIBERATED
The letters “P.O.W.” mark the roof of barracks at Nazi Stalag XIIA, a prisoner-of-war camp where American captives were liberated by their advancing countrymen. Although the camp was made immune from Allied air attacks by the painted letters, prisoners received inadequate rations of a bowl of thin soup and a piece of bread each day, and hospital cases lay on wooden beds with little covering.
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U.S. PRISONERS LIBERATED
This is the straw-strewn floor of a barn at Nazi Stalag XIIA, where hundreds of American prisoners-of-war were forced to sleep. Each man had only one blanket. All the roofs leaked, half of the windows were out, and there was no heat. The Americans were fed a bowl of thin soup and a piece of bread a day.
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The war is over. (Long, long over!) David Schneck and his wife Zita, at Bel Air, Maryland, on April 13, 1991. (Photo by me. (On Kodachrome. Remember Kodachrome?))
References
Just Three Books
Dublin, Louis I., and Kohs, Samuel C., American Jews in World War II – The Story of 550,000 Fighters for Freedom, The Dial Press, New York, N.Y., 1947
Meirtchak, Benjamin, Jewish Military Casualties in the Polish Armies in World War II: I – Jewish Soldiers and Officers of the Polish People’s Army Killed and Missing in Action 1943-1945, World Federation of Jewish Fighters Partisans and Camp Inmates: Association of Jewish War Veterans of the Polish Armies in Israel, Tel Aviv, Israel, 1994 (“JMCPAWW2 I”)
Morris, Henry, Edited by Gerald Smith, We Will Remember Them – A Record of the Jews Who Died in the Armed Forces of the Crown 1939 – 1945, Brassey’s, United Kingdom, London, 1989